Every purchase has a story. The story this month has a lot of drama, nail-biting, uncertainty, and fun. It's too wonderful not to share. Read on...

Every Purchase Has a Story

Moving day

The Pickle Jar Kitchen is co-owned by two couples: Liz and Kevin, Casey and Ben. During the winter, Casey and Ben used the "downtime" from the restaurant business to look for a new home. They were great buyers, always being available immediately to look at new listings, plowing through mountains of snow, and being resilient even when their great offers were rejected.

But the clock was ticking, and after the third offer didn't fly, they told me they needed to suspend the search until the fall. They sensibly didn't want to be going through the process of buying a home and moving during the restaurant's busy season.

The day after Casey told me this, I saw a new listing. As I drove down the driveway and got out of the car, I stood still and all I could think about was this family. Between the yard, the privacy, and the town land just beyond the backyard, I had visions of dinners on the deck, and the boys and their friends running and romping through the acres of woods and trails just behind the house. When I went inside, the house had charm, character, and space. I couldn't wait to tell them about it. I bagged the rest of MLS tour, drove right over to the restaurant, and after apologizing for possibly changing the plan, urged them to drive by this magical place as soon as possible.

They did. Their reaction was the same as mine. We negotiated an offer that was ultimately accepted, and they were off and running.

Now this is ordinarily a demanding enough process with strict deadlines and lots of things that buyers have to do. It would have been challenging enough as we headed toward Memorial Day and the start of "the season" for these restaurant owners. But simultaneously, they had been contacted by "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives", a show on The Food Network hosted by Guy Fieri, for tentative filming the last week in May. This was literally the opportunity of a lifetime, and not one to pass up just because they were buying a new house during the same week.

All I can say is, I've never seen any buyers manage - with grace and aplomb - the amount of stress that Casey and Ben experienced between May 27 (when they were filmed for almost a full day) to June 2 (when they closed on their new home). Hats off to this great couple! They deserve every good thing that comes their way.

And get to the Pickle Jar Kitchen soon, before the show airs and the line will be out the door, around the corner, across the street, and into treetops!

On a personal note, Casey and Ben invited me to be one of the "diners" during the filming. Since Triple D shoots 20 hours for a 15-minute segment, I don't think this is going to be my 15 minutes of fame. Or my 15 seconds. But it surely was fun! I was like a teenager seeing the Biebs when I saw Guy Fieri in front of the restaurant. He and his crew couldn't have been nicer. They were relaxed, mellow, and really great. The show will probably air in early fall.

475 Wings Neck

#21503812

475 Wings Neck Road, Pocasset (Bourne)

$1,990,000

Back in the day when I lived on Wings Neck, I spent many happy moments in this wonderful house. On over two acres and with a beach on Buzzards Bay, the setting is outstanding, with sunrise to sunset views. In between east and west is south, where you see a parade of boats coming, going, and fishing. The photo of the lighthouse below should look familiar - it's the header I use. (It shows up again in the Falmouth Library exhibit, described below.)

The house packs a lot of living into an efficient and functional floor plan, with owners' suites on both the first and second floors, and an additional two bedrooms in the full walk-out lower level. It's actually a very good value for this location; the lot across the street - with no house - has the same asking price. This home is in terrific condition, but knock-downs and rebuilds in Wings Neck can go for up to $5 million. So live in it as is, or create something new - either way is pretty fabulous.

Come by Saturday from 1:00-3:00. It's even better than the photos!

Biggest Bang for the Buck

Part of my job with buyers is to curate and edit all the possibilities to show those that come closest to meeting the "wish list". During this process, I also look for homes that offer value within their category. In many cases, it still comes down to location, location, location. That's one piece that can't be changed. Houses can be refreshed, upgraded, added on to, but they are where they are. So buying the worst home on the best street really is a smart idea. The selections below meet this criterion.

#21502645

7 Heather Lane, North Falmouth

$455,000

Seven Heather Lane surprised me, in a good way, when I saw it for the first time. It's a raised ranch, not a style that's either popular or plentiful. But this one has been completely redone. It's light, bright, and refreshing to be in. This made the list because it's rare to find a tastefully redone home in a nice neighborhood at this price.

#21410655

110 Ransom Road, Quissett (Falmouth)

$499,000

When I first viewed this house, I tried to mentally keep it from being a knock-down, but there are just too many structural issues. The good news is there have been two recent sales on the street that make this the right price, even for just a lot of land. The setting is beautiful, up high overlooking Oyster Pond. Knock it down, build something fabulous!

#21503168

123 Curley Blvd., North Falmouth

$525,000

This home has privacy and an open floor plan, along with being just up the road from Old Silver Beach, that make it very appealing and a great value. It's set down a long driveway and surrounded by woods. You'd never know that you're minutes from the beach, stores, restaurant, and highway. Very few homes in this neighborhood sell in the low $500's - most are higher, so this meets the benchmark for "good bang for the buck".

#21505143

84 Two Ponds Road, Falmouth

$529,000

In a downtown neighborhood near the hospital, but set on a spacious lot surrounded by homes on equally generous lots, you'd never know that this home is only minutes from Main Street. The house is your standard-issue Colonial; not much personality, but a good floor plan and good space - and personality is easy enough to add.

#21505260

6 Anchor Lane, East Falmouth

$599,999

The Anchor Lane neighborhood is on the ocean at the foot of Davisville Ave. Many of the original homes here have been knocked down and replaced with charming and very expensive new homes. The private beach is breathtaking; and with the two homes on one lot that this listing offers, there's a lot of flexibility in how to use the space. Owners could live in one house while the other is rented; or use one as the guest house.

#21504786

14 Quanon Way, West Falmouth

$639,900

Quanon Way is a younger neighborhood in West Falmouth, with all homes being more expensive than this one. The house has been renewed with paint and floor sanding, and looks really good. This is one of those hidden gems, the classic least expensive home in the neighborhood. Good value!

#21504809

28 Greengate Road, Falmouth

$640,000

You've seen this house before in this space. It didn't sell last year, so was withdrawn from the market. But now it's back on, at a better price. Just past downtown, on the way to Woods Hole, the homes in Greengate have presence, large lots, and tall, old trees. Again, this is good value for the neighborhood, even with its two bedrooms.

#21503405

97 Beach Street, East Falmouth

$2,250,000

Here's your real estate porn for the day. Just click on the listing and have fun!

Same House, Different Price Range

Here's where location REALLY makes a difference! These two homes actually have almost the same floor plan. One is ordinary; the other is on the water and has been redone with sophistication and care. My own new house shares this floor plan, so you can just imagine how fun it is for me (whose middle name is Martha) to see the possibilities that these other houses suggest.

#21502570

7 Joshua Lane, East Falmouth

$475,000

#21503296

35 Cove Street, Falmouth

$1,899,000

Coming Attraction

Westwind Cottage #2

$695,000

This is one of the last two new cottages for sale at Westwind in West Falmouth. Thoughtfully planned by Warren and Debi Dalton, and meticulously crafted by Pinsonneault Builders, this community is unique.

Westwind reminds me of a mews in England. It's in the center of the village, with the West Falmouth Market on one side and the West Falmouth Library on the other; fresh and tasty breakfasts and lunches at the Village Cafe across the street, topped off with delectable ice cream at Eulinda's; the bike path and private tennis just down the road; and Chapoquoit Beach an easy and very pretty mile away. The cottage has charm and detail that's just not found anyplace else. Everything about Westwind Cottages delights! Come by Sunday from 11:00-1:00. Seeing it in person is so much better than reading about it!

It's hard to find new; it's harder to find well-located; and it's hardest to find well-done. Westwind has them all! Please call me for your private tour.

Cape Cod Makes The New York Times!

Do you like to read, as I do, what others write about the Cape? It's similar to the experience of hearing how someone has described you. This always interests me: the person described usually bears little semblance to the person I'm familiar with, me. But fun to consider these alter egos!

A recent article in The New York Times describes the entire Cape, from the point of view of a writer who worked hard to capture the essence of our special place.

Go ahead and read it - is this an accurate description? I think so, at least on the surface. But like any other place, peeling away the layers is so much more accurate!

Falmouth Chamber Booklet

I was tickled to see that the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce used this image of mine for the opening page in their annual booklet. I took it when I was on a whale watch.

If you're in the Main Library this summer between July 1 and August 7, look for the Upper Cape Camera Club exhibit. Two of my photos, the Wings Neck Lighthouse and the Lobster Pot, will be on display. Enjoy!

And enjoy this wonderful season. We earned it.

Cordially,

Nadine

Nadine Krasnow

Falmouth Fine Properties

P.O. Box 664

Falmouth, MA 02541

(617) 921-7552

nadine@falmouthfineproperties.com

www.falmouthfineproperties.com

Good times, good friends & a great Cape Cod life!

Know someone else who

would love this?

Not yet signed up to

receive my newsletter?

Check me out on Social Media!