Just happened into the new Crepe Cod on Main St. in Falmouth for lunch today, not realizing it was Bastille Day. They were celebrating, and in addition to berets, t shirts and a special menu, two ladies from The Brazen Belles, a burlesque group, charmed us with Francophile songs. Take a look! (And if you like them, you can catch a full performance at the Cotuit Center for the Arts soon). Vive la France! And the Brazen Belles!
Old-Time Falmouth Lilacs
Hard to believe, but this charming vignette of lilacs in bloom is in Homeport, amid offices and parking lots!
Both Ends of the Price Spectrum
Recently I spent some time with prospects who live in a spectacular reproduction Cape directly on the ocean in East Sandwich. Their home is on the market, and they’ve been looking for their next nest in Harwichport and Barnstable Village, places they’re familiar with.
They like the idea of being able to walk to village amenities, and approached me because of my Westwind Cottages listings in West Falmouth Village. They also want to downsize somewhat.
There aren’t many homes currently for sale that are close to a village. After looking at the two for sale in Westwind, we looked at what’s available within a mile of Main Street. There are four between $600,000 and $1,100,000: 373 Walker, 166 Siders Pond, 102 Fresh River Lane, and 19 Clinton. Each one comes with some important trade-off, whether it’s a large flood insurance premium (Walker and Fresh River), or needing a lot of work (Siders Pond), or on a busy street (Clinton).
They were enthusiastic about Westwind because of the charm, detail, quality of construction, and proximity to the market, cafe, bike path, and beach. They just need that buyer for their Sandwich home!
At the other end of the price spectrum, I was out with a young couple and their three kids looking for their first home. Their decision will be based on price – what’s the most spacious home in a good neighborhood setting for under $350? This is what we saw:
#21608129
280 Riverbay Way, Falmouthport
$350,000
This 1,950 s.f., 3-bedroom, 3-bath condo in Falmouthport offers a lot of comfortable space on 3 levels and is directly on the river. No garage, and a smallish kitchen, but the pool might be a more than acceptable trade-off. It’s in good condition, too.
#21608120
17 Weatherglass Lane, Falmouth
$369,000
In Davisville, and with access to Green Pond at the end of the street, this is a pretty cute house in great condition. But small – only 1,080 s.f., with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. The lot is good-sized, if the buyer wanted to build an addition, and the woods behind the house are appealing for a family with kids.
#21608947
27 Candace Way, Falmouth
$339,000
Another very cute house, this one also smallish, with 1,112 s.f., 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths. But it’s been renovated, so it’s fresh, bright, and very attractive. In a tucked-away neighborhood off Brick Kiln, this is either a plus or a minus, depending on the buyer.
Trade-Offs, Part 1
I often say that every home – even the most expensive – comes with trade-offs. Here are some current examples:
#21606219
32 Jeffrey Lane, Falmouth
$279,000
Not a tiny house, but a small house – 908 s.f. The bedrooms are decent-sized, the closets are good, the house is younger (1994) and nicely built and maintained, the lot is 12,000 s.f., and there’s a good buffer of trees in back. The street is a nice cul-de-sac of similar homes. For under $300K, it’s probably the nicest house in town. Trade-off? No garage.
#21605721
5 Roberta Jean Circle, Falmouth
$369,900
Here’s a cute, 1,296 s.f. ranch with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, a one-car garage, central air, hardwood floors, gas heat, irrigation, and a private yard that’s just the right size. And it’s in great condition! The trade-off? It’s a corner lot, and one of the streets is Old Meetinghouse, which gets quite a bit of traffic. But this is on the garage side of the house, so it’s invisible, and even the sound is buffered by the garage. I was not aware of the traffic when I was inside the home. So maybe this is an easy trade-off. The home is certainly well-priced, and offers good value.
#21606539
21 Pine Street, Falmouth
$539,900
This is a young, 3-bedroom, 3-bath, 1,799 s.f. condo that’s nicely built and in a nice location. It has that much-wanted first-floor bedroom suite, as well as 2 bedrooms and a loft upstairs. The living-dining area is a little tight as a result of the first-floor garage. The trade-off for this unit is that the location within the complex is such that views are of the street or the house to the rear.
Come with Me to Work, Part 2
#21504031
$639,000
This is a new construction condo in the heart of North Falmouth Village. With 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 2,286 s.f., this Megansett Shores condo has great style, reminiscent of older New England homes and with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect in 2016. It’s in an intimate village setting, one block from the bike path and less than a mile to the highway. The limitation that I see is that this unit has no first-floor owners’ suite, although other units being built do.
#21510544
$699,000
Here’s your classic 1960 contemporary ranch, with all that the term means: it’s a true Mid-Century Modern, with a cathedral ceiling and lots of glass across the back, overlooking the acre lot to Rands Canal. But it also has a kitchen most of us wouldn’t like, and a huge red brick chimney straight ahead as soon as you come in. If you’ve ever seen a revamped Mid-Century Modern house, they’re really terrific. But it takes vision, money, and time to make it happen. At this asking price, I feel this is a worthwhile project, as it would sell over $1 million once it’s done.
#21510573
Huge! Ginormous! Bigger than any you’ve ever seen! This 4-bedroom, 4-bath condo is actually about 8,000 – yes, you read that right – 8,000 s.f., so the price per square foot is eensy compared to any other homes or condos. I don’t know what the story is behind this, because it is so much larger than anything else there or anyplace else, but it provides a huge (lol) opportunity for a buyer. It could also be divided into two not-equal units, but one would still be huge and ginormous. It’s new construction and has lovely detail, with columns, moldings, hardwood floors, a gourmet kitchen, and luxurious baths. This is unique, and definitely worth considering.