Dinner at Water St Kitchen in Woods Hole is a delight – imaginative menu, attention to detail, superior service, and really good food! Their iconoclastic point of view inspired me.
Wings Neck Rental Available
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The owners of the wonderful home I rented by the lighthouse on Wings Neck called to let me know the house is becoming available again. If I could live in two places at the same time, I’d jump on it.
It’s a wonderful, young home in a spectacular setting at the very tip of Wings Neck. (The photo of the lighthouse on the header above is one I took during my time there. Dramatic!)
Spread the word, and call me if you or someone you know wants to see it! It’s a fabulous 3-bedroom, 2-bath home for $2,100 a month in a million-dollar neighborhood with one of the most sensational views on Cape Cod. Opportunities like this don’t come up very often. I loved living there![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Trade-Offs, Part 2
#21606308
581 Locustfield Road, East Falmouth
$569,000
This is a charming home, one I describe as a “sophisticated farmhouse”. What’s that? A simple home, with exposed beams and nice detail; an updated kitchen and bathrooms; an unusual floor plan that includes entry through a screened porch; and orientation to the 2 acres of grounds with heated pool and hot tub. What’s not to like? Probably the sound of traffic going by, which included the rumble of lots of construction trucks the day I was there. But also, there’s no garage or central air, and the house is set sideways on the lot, without much curb appeal. This all would be an acceptable trade-off at a lower price, but I feel there are better choices in this price range.
#21605527
80 Eel River Road, Falmouth
$2,595,000
Going to the other end of the price spectrum, here’s a good example of an expensive house that still has trade-offs. The good: It’s young, built in 2011, so has a super floor plan, nice detail, fabulous kitchen and baths, and lovely expansive views of the water from the living spaces and the decks and patio that run the entire length of the house. The trade-offs: The next-door house is really close. In addition, the bedrooms are, well let’s just say, not large. Not small, but smaller than what we usually see in this price range. Also, there are three bedrooms in the main house, and the other two are part of a suite over the (3-car) garage. This could be good, or not, depending on the buyer.
#21605646
223-217 Meadow Neck Road, East Falmouth
$5,295,000
This is among the most expensive homes currently on the market, and the reason is obvious: It’s two homes, on two separate waterfront lots. One home is young, large, gracious, on two acres and with a lovely sandy beach on Waquoit Bay. The day I visited, there were a couple of clamdiggers in front. The other home is a small guest house, very cute, clean and comfortable on its own acre and with an in-ground pool. This smaller home would probably sell in the million-dollar range (although the listing agent estimated $1,800,000). Either way, is the other home and property then in the $4,000,000 range? We’ll see, but seems high to me. There is no dock and Waquoit Bay is shallow. In my experience, it’s the boaters who spend the bucks on expensive waterfront properties, and this one wouldn’t be conducive to keeping the boat at home. At least, if the boat is bigger than a kayak or a dinghy!
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.
High, Low, and In Between – Part 3
This is Part 3 of my top picks of some great homes that have recently come on the market.
I was looking forward to seeing this house because it is on Wings Pond, but when I got there, although the house has lots of glass along the back and a big deck, the leaves on the trees obscure the view, so this is probably a great view in the winter only. Good floor plan, with first-floor main bedroom suite, and the finished basement, and a two-car garage; but also sporting that Florida ambience.
Now we hit the big time in terms of price. This is really a beautiful home – young and well-designed, built, and decorated. But there’s a big new house on stilts going up across the street that is smack-dab in the middle of what used to be the view from this house.
This is in another one of our secret little neighborhoods. Black Beach is a private continuation of public Chapoquoit Beach, so it’s sandy, gorgeous, and has those spectacular Buzzards Bay sunsets. The neighborhood consists of small, windy dirt roads that have been here for 100 years. It’s really charming! This is an older home that’s been redone, and has charm, space, comfort, and location.
Vernon Ave. is classic Falmouth Heights, and this is a classic Falmouth Heights beach house! Set high on a hill, the views of Vineyard Sound and the Vineyard are all-encompassing. With 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, it will graciously accommodate most buyers’ needs. When you add in the wrap-around deck, bow windows, beautiful hardwood floors, a balcony, and an outstanding renovation that kept the provenance of the house uppermost, this home is a joy to see and to be in. If I win the lottery, this is the one I’ll buy!
Carey Lane is yet another private, exclusive Falmouth neighborhood. Perched high above Buzzards Bay and adjacent to The Knob, there are probably only about 20 homes here, most with stunning west-facing views. I’m guessing this was the original home on Carey Lane, because it is quite a bit older than the others, and it shows its age. Rooms are small, floor plan not what we look for today, and the floors are uneven. It’s not out of the question that even at this price, the house could be a “knock down” because the setting is exponentially stunning. The one thing I would save is the cutest “she-shed”. Click on the picture above to see it.