Cape Cod realty dreams

Native Cape Cod Realtor sharing the secrets of Cape Life & helping make Cape Cod dreams come true.

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

Best of Cape Cod 2014 - Lower Cape

This is a list compiled by Cape Cod Life in their annual Best of Cape Cod for 2014 for the lower cape (Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans. While the Brewster General Store didn't make the list, I thought I would give it some photographic love. However some of my very favorites are on this list! The nightlife at The Woodshed, Mahoney's cocktails, The Cape Rep Theater, The Sparrow, JoMommas, Guapo's, Stephen Gallant Jewlers, and of course Agway for dog food (and plants/nursery) are just a sampling of places I love. Look out for more detailed write-ups and photos of these gems! And let me know if there are any places you love that I should visit!

Activities & Events

DAY SPA Gold | The E Spa, Brewster Silver | Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham

FAMILY ACTIVITY Gold | Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster Silver | Harwich Junior Theatre, Harwich

GOLF COURSE Gold | The Captains Golf Course, Brewster Silver | Cranberry Valley Golf Course, Harwich

GYM Gold | Fitness Revolution, Orleans Silver | Body Strong, Chatham

HAIR SALON Gold | Hair Affinity Cape Cod Salon, Chatham Silver | Heather’s Hairport Salon & Spa, Harwichport

KIDS ACTIVITY Gold | Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster Silver | Meryl’s Music and Arts Centers, Harwich

MUSEUM Gold | Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster Silver | Atwood House Museum, Chatham

NIGHTLIFE/MUSIC Gold | The Woodshed Cocktails, Brewster Silver | Chatham Squire, Chatham

RAINY DAY ACTIVITY Gold | Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster Silver | Orleans Bowling Center Inc., Orleans

SIGHTSEEING Gold | Monomoy Island Excursions, Harwichport Silver | Blue Claw Boat Tours, Orleans

THEATRE/PLAYHOUSE Gold | Harwich Junior Theatre, Harwich Silver | Cape Rep Theatre, Brewster

WEDDING VENUE Gold | Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Harwich Silver | Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham

Dining

BAKERY Gold | Cottage Street Bakery, Orleans Silver | Bonatt’s Bakery & Restaurant, Harwichport

BREAKFAST Gold | Hole In One Breakfast & Lunch, Orleans Silver | Larry’s PX, Chatham

CATERER Gold | Sumptuous Events & Catering, Orleans Silver | Pampered Palate Inc., Chatham

CHOWDER Gold | Chatham Squire, Chatham Silver | JT’s Seafood, Brewster

COCKTAILS Gold | Mahoney’s Atlantic Bar & Grill, Orleans Silver | Wequasset Resort and Golf Club, Harwich

COFFEE Gold | Hot Chocolate Sparrow, Orleans Silver | JoMama’s New York Bagels & Coffeehouse, Orleans

ETHNIC RESTAURANT Gold | Abba, Orleans Silver | Guapo’s Tortilla Shack, Orleans

FARM STAND/FARMER’s MARKET Gold | Orleans Farmers Market, Orleans Silver | Satucket Farm Stand, Brewster

FAMILY DINING Gold | Lobster Claw, Orleans Silver | Land Ho!, Orleans and Harwichport

FINE DINING Gold | Captain Linnell House, Orleans Silver | Impudent Oyster, Chatham

FRIED CLAMS Gold | JT’s Seafood, Brewster Silver | Sir Cricket’s Fish & Chips, Orleans

ICE CREAM Gold | Schoolhouse Ice Cream, Harwichport Silver | Sundae School Ice Cream, Harwichport

LUNCH Gold | Beacon Room, Orleans Silver | Brewster Fish House, Brewster

OUTDOOR RESTAURANT Gold | Brax Landing, Harwich Silver | Wequasset Resort and Golf Club, Harwich

PIZZA Gold | George’s Pizza House, Harwichport Silver | Ember Pizza, Harwichport

RAW BAR Gold | The Port Restaurant, Harwichport Silver | Chatham Squire, Chatham

RESTAURANT REACHABLE BY BOAT Gold | Wequasset Resort & Golf Club, Harwich Silver | Orleans Waterfront Inn, Orleans

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT Gold | Captain Linnell House, Orleans Silver | Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham

SANDWICH Gold | The Corner Store, Chatham Silver | JoMama’s New York Bagels & Coffeehouse, Orleans

SEAFOOD MARKET Gold | Chatham Pier Fish Market, Chatham Silver | Chatham Fish & Lobster Co., West Chatham

SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Gold | Brewster Fish House, Brewster Silver | JT’s Seafood, Brewster

SUSHI Gold | Noble House, Harwich Silver | OKI Japanese Cuisine, Brewster

WATERVIEW RESTAURANT Gold | Orleans Waterfront Inn, Orleans Silver | Brax Landing, Harwich

WINE LIST SELECTION (Restaurant) Gold | Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham Silver | Buca’s Tuscan Roadhouse, Harwich

Outdoors

BEACH Gold | Nauset Beach, Orleans Silver | Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Chatham

PARK or NATURE AREA Gold | Nickerson State Park, Brewster Silver | Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster

PICNIC SPOT Gold | Nickerson State Park, Brewster Silver | Drummer Boy Park, Brewster

SUNSET VIEW Gold | Rock Harbor, Orleans Silver | Skaket Beach, Orleans

WALKING or BIKING PATH Gold | Cape Cod Rail Trail, Brewster, Harwich, and Orleans Silver | Nickerson State Park, Brewster

Shopping

ANTIQUES Gold | Kahn Fine Antiques, Chatham Silver | Packet Galleries, Brewster

ARTS and CRAFTS Gold | Artful Hand, Chatham Silver | Yankee Ingenuity, Chatham

BIKE STORE Gold | Orleans Cycle, Orleans Silver | Idle Times Bike Shop, Orleans

BOOKSTORE Gold | The Brewster Book Store, Brewster Silver | Yellow Umbrella Books, Chatham

BRIDAL SHOP Gold | Chatham Beauty & Bridal, Chatham Silver | Vintage In Vogue, Orleans

CANDY SHOP Gold | Chatham Candy Manor, Chatham Silver | Hot Chocolate Sparrow, Orleans

CHILDREN’s SHOP Gold | Red Balloon Toy Shop, Orleans Silver | Kid & Kaboodle, Orleans

FINE ARTS GALLERY Gold | Tree’s Place, Orleans Silver | Addison Art Gallery, Orleans

FLOWER SHOP Gold | Flowers by Mary, Orleans Silver | Thayer’s Flowers, Harwich

GARDEN CENTER Gold | Snow’s Home & Garden, Orleans Silver | Agway of Orleans, Orleans

GIFT SHOP Gold | Yankee Ingenuity, Chatham Silver | Oceana, Orleans

JEWELRY Gold | Forest Beach Designer Goldsmiths, Chatham Silver | Stephen Gallant Jewelers, Orleans

LIQUOR/WINE STORE Gold | Luke’s Super Liquor Stores, Brewster Silver | Windmill Liquor & Fine Wines, Orleans

MEN’s CLOTHING Gold | Puritan Cape Cod, Chatham Silver | Watson’s Men’s Store, Orleans

PET STORE Gold | Agway of Orleans, Orleans Silver | Chatham Beach Dog, Chatham

SHOP FOR HOME Gold | Snow’s Home & Garden, Orleans Silver | Sea Salt & Pepper, Chatham

WOMEN’s CLOTHING Gold | Sundance Clothing Co., Chatham Silver | Beth Bishop, Orleans

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

December 2014 Was a Good Month for Cape Cod Real Estate

The volume of sales was up nearly 13 percent from December 2013 to December 2014. The total value of sales last month was up 26.7 percent from December 2013. For 2014 as a whole, sales value was up 7.5 percent, with a 0.2 percent increase in volume of sales. There was a 21 percent drop in foreclosures on the Cape last year. (source CapeCod.com)

Things are shaping up to be a very active 2015 in the real estate market nation wide and I'm glad we're seeing proof of this already here in our community. The amount of inventory available to buyers is an important factor in how healthy a market is. As we start heading into the spring 2015 sales season it's smart to start early and get your house on the market, or start looking for your dream house by the end of January. Things really heat up mid February over the school vacation week. Summer may seem far away but in truth it comes faster than you think and when dealing with the transfer of property it can take a few months. I advise starting the process no later than just after the Superbowl. It also helps give you something warm to think of during these cold months. 

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

Buying a "Cape House" May Lengthen Your Life

Owning a home on the Cape is not only a good real estate investment, it's a good lifestyle investment. The slower pace and the proximity to nature both add to a quality of life that is unparalleled. A client recently said that he could feel his blood pressure lower as soon as he crossed the bridge. I know that feeling!

Being outdoors is a way of life here. We swim, fish, kayak, surf, bike and simply walk. Whatever your activity of choice is you can find some of the best conditions here..even yoga on the beach! The fresh seafood, local farmers markets, and backyard gardens give some of the freshest most nutritious foods. However you take care of yourself you're sure to find opportunity here to slow down, recharge and feel your best. That's priceless.  

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

4 Easy, Pretty & Cheap Tips For Staging Your Home

Create Space

It’s easy to let clutter accumulate over the years, and during a move it seems to multiply. Use this opportunity to create space in your life, literally by getting rid of stuff. It will allow perspective buyers to see their life clearer in your house and help your move go much smoother.

Potted Plants A well-kept garden or flower bed can add a lot of curb appeal, but can also be a lot of work to maintain. If you don’t have that sort of time, try arranging a few potted plants on your front steps—it can make a big difference.

Change Hardware on Your Cabinets You might be moving precisely because you want an upgraded kitchen but you don’t have to entirely redo your existing kitchen to make it look fresher. Modern hardware on your cabinets could do wonders in the eyes of prospective buyers.

Shine Your Stainless Steel Everyone's favorite blue glass cleaner can really make your stainless steel pop, especially your appliances and sinks. It’s an instant upgrade for your kitchen and bathrooms.

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

Three Tips For Buying Your Cape Cod Home

Three Tips For Buying Your Cape Cod Home

Buy a smaller house than you think you will need. We are accustomed to living in large homes, so a vacation property tends to look to small. It's not. Think sleeping bags and picnic tables, not guest rooms and dining tables. Forget about storage, the holiday decorations are staying home. Focus on a large deck, outside shower and a pretty back yard.

Pay less than you can afford. Buying a small house will generally take care of this rule, but be vigilant about staying slightly under budget. Pick a price before you go house shopping and refuse to look at homes over this price. Of course a house that is 50K over your top price will be more appealing - until it comes time to pay for it. You want to buy a house you can love forever, not one that makes you flinch each time you write the mortgage check.

Give up the idea of perfection. All homes have quirks or flaws, but most of them are only skin deep. Seek out houses that are structurally sound and in a good location. Then ignore the hideous wallpaper or formica counter tops. A tired interior can be updated, but there is nothing you can do to improve a bad location. Flippers know that pretty sells. They make lots of money by picking up cheap houses in poor locations and making them beautiful.

[capecodrealtydreams-blog]

Cape Cod

BY GEORGE SANTAYANA

The low sandy beach and the thin scrub pine,

The wide reach of bay and the long sky line,—

      O, I am sick for home!

The salt, salt smell of the thick sea air,

And the smooth round stones that the ebbtides wear,—

      When will the good ship come?

The wretched stumps all charred and burned,

And the deep soft rut where the cartwheel turned,—

      Why is the world so old?

The lapping wave, and the broad gray sky

Where the cawing crows and the slow gulls fly,

      Where are the dead untold?

The thin, slant willows by the flooded bog,

The huge stranded hulk and the floating log,

      Sorrow with life began!

And among the dark pines, and along the flat shore,

O the wind, and the wind, for evermore!

      What will become of man?