It's Getting Busy on the Cape

Real estate activity on Cape Cod increased last month with new listings jumping 21% above March 2018. Days on the market also decreased from 126 a year ago to 120 this past month.

According to preliminary data from the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS® (CCIAOR), 355 homes sold in March, 291 single-family homes and 64 condominiums. Median sales price was $421,500 for single-family homes and $261,500 for condominiums. Last March, 325 homes (262 single-family homes and 63 condos) sold at a median price of $412,050 for single-family homes and $275,000 for condominiums.

Sales pending at the end of March were 347 for single-family homes and 82 for condominiums – a 7.1 percent increase for single-family and a 15.5 percent increase for condominiums, which will show up in closed home sales in the coming months. Last March, there were 324 pending single-family homes and 71 pending condominiums.

The increase in median sales price indicates that it remains a sellers market. But with all the leading indicators trending up, we anticipate a healthy spring market.

If you’ve been thinking about selling, there’s no better time than now. We’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your options and design a strategy to put you in a position for a successful sale at the right price. Please contact us using the comment section or call us at 508-568-8191. We look forward to meeting with you.

What To Consider When Choosing a Home for Retirement

In the second part of our series courtesy of industry resource KCM, we discuss four additional factors to consider when thinking about what kind of home you want to live in during retirement. (For Part 1, please click here.)

Security

Older homeowners can be targets for scams or break-ins. Living in a home with security features, such as a manned gate house, resident-only access and a security system can bring peace of mind.

As scary as that thought may be, any additional security is helpful. An extra set of eyes looking out for you always adds to peace of mind.

Pets

“Renting won’t do if the dog can’t come too! The companionship of pets can provide emotional and physical benefits.”

Consider all of your options when it comes to bringing your ‘furever’ friend with you to a new home. Will there be necessary additional deposits if you are renting or in a condo? Is the backyard fenced in? How far are you from your favorite veterinarian?

Mobility

“No one wants to picture themselves in a wheelchair or a walker, but the home layout must be able to accommodate limited mobility.”

Sixty is the new 40, right? People are living longer and are more active in retirement, but that doesn’t mean that down the road you won’t need your home to be more accessible. Installing handrails and making sure your hallways and doorways are wide enough may be a good reason to look for a home that was built to accommodate these needs.

Convenience

“Is the new home close to the golf course, or to shopping and dining? Do you have amenities within easy walking distance? This can add to home value!”

How close are you to your children and grandchildren? Would relocating to a new area make visits with family easier or more frequent? Beyond being close to your favorite stores and restaurants, there are a lot of factors to consider.

When it comes to your retirement home, evaluating your current house for its ability to adapt with you as you age can be the first step to guaranteeing your comfort in the future. If after considering all these factors you find yourself curious about your options, please let us know. We can evaluate your ability to sell your house at the right price and work with you to find your dream retirement home!

Earlier this week, Mari attended “Marketing Edge,” an intensive two day seminar sponsored by the Tom Ferry organization. Ferry is the leading real estate coach and trainer in the country. In addition to presentations from industry leaders, Mari had the opportunity to meet with more than 500 professionals from across the country to share ideas about the most effective methods to market homes and properties. We look forward to implementing what she learned to benefit our Cape Cod clients.

Enjoy your week…

Mari and Hank