Bogside Farm in Cataumet

Phew, summer's over! For us Cape Codders, summer is a horse race. It's our "season", and we run right through it to the finish line.

In addition, we all host friends and family during these glorious days. As wonderful as it is to layer on new great memories with those we love, we barely see our September to June friends because everybody has company!

I like the summer, but I looove September. Read on to see what I've been doing and what's ahead.

Tales from the Trenches

Celebrating! Renovation is done, just small stuff left. Can finally place furniture, unpack, and start life in my new home.

It's been a long, hot summer

of living in a construction site, with chaos, noise, and dust everywhere. But worth it. My tired 1994 "contemporary" is fresh and breezy.

I had the best crew on Cape Cod: John Barrett tearing down and opening walls (and building the new ones, adding trim everywhere, shingling, and and and); Dan Knowlton, who understood and accomplished a complicated plumbing plan that involved relocating a bathroom and laundry, as well as adding a second floor laundry, new heating, and all the plumbing for the new kitchen; Brian Sullivan, "The Lone Painter" par excellence; and Jeff Mower, otherwise known as Jiffy Jeff, who can and does do whatever else is needed.

The guys came to work happy, razzed each other and me every chance they got, and did outstanding work. I'm happy to recommend them, and feel fortunate they were my crew.

The first time my grandgirl Taylor watched HGTV with me, she asked me after House Hunters what happened after the people found the house. I think she was 4 or 5 at the time, so I made it simple and told her that they moved in and lived happily ever after.

That's me - happily ever after, for as long or as short as that may be.

Kitchen, after demo

What's left of the "private" sign
on the bike path

Rejected half round

Where I've Been Lately

My book of business is usually just about evenly divided between buyers and sellers, but at any one time, it can sometimes be more heavily weighted in one direction or the other.

Here are some of the houses that I've been showing lately to buyers:

#21505603

134 Nursery Road, Falmouth

$360,000

This is a sweet little house in the middle of town, a much-wanted location. It's tired and needs work, but the seller has just installed a radon remediation system and is about to install a new septic system. Important upgrades! The asking price is right, and because of the neighborhood, will hold value once updated. With 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, and 1,176 s.f., it's a great first, second, or retirement home.

#21504086

21 Blue Shutters Lane, North Falmouth

$529,000

On a charming cul-de-sac off 28A in North Falmouth, this traditional Cape is in great condition, has a new kitchen, and the bike path is at the end of the street. But the best aspect is the magical backyard. I am seduced every time I'm there. The sellers have moved into their new home, so this is ready to go. With 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and almost 1,900 s.f., this is a classic, comfortable Cape.

#21507813

34 Marla Lane, East Falmouth

$560,000

With 2,406 s.f., 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, an attached two-car garage, a half-acre lot, and access to crystal-clear Coonamessett Pond, this is an eminently livable home. Built in 1989, it will be sufficiently updated for some buyers, although not for others. But the bones are good, the floor plan perfect, and the price fair.

#21506088

35 Alder Lane, North Falmouth

$745,000

Here's a really nice house with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and 2,100 s.f. It's in Wild Harbor Estates, which is a lovely, self-contained neighborhood in North Falmouth with its own beautiful sandy beach, boat launch, and tennis. The house has been tastefully remodeled and is in superb condition. Probably priced where it should be.

#21505922

90 Meadow Neck Road, Waquoit (Falmouth)

$1,349,500

Waterfront! Boat slip! Views! Young, immaculate, spacious (3,257 s.f.) - wow, wow, wow! But you'll have to walk to the beach.

#21505824

23 Sunset Point Road, North Falmouth

$2,100,000

This one is all about the setting. The house is older, but it sits up high, directly overlooking Buzzards Bay, with views and a half acre! It's dated. Buyers would take that into consideration when making an offer. I always say you can change a house, but you can't change where it is - this is the perfect example of that.

My Own Listings

#21507890

7 Oak Ridge Drive, Pocasset (Bourne)

$374,900

There's an offer on the table, but it's not accepted yet. John Barrett, my contractor, bought this house in 2007 and has done a top-to-bottom renovation. The quality is exceptional. At the end of a friendly cul-de-sac (the neighbors have placed chairs in the circle for late afternoon socializing), on a private, treetop half acre, the house has a huge main bedroom suite, as well as a fabulous new kitchen. And a new roof, new siding, new windows, new heat, new insulation - if you care about quality, location, and price, this is the one.

#21507848

597 West Falmouth Hwy, #12, Falmouth

$775,000

Here is the very last unit at Westwind Cottages in West Falmouth. I featured #2 in the last newsletter; that's now under agreement. This is what I said back then:

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.

#12 is one of the larger models, with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and 2,400 s.f. If you were to build a new home in this location, you could never find a lot as good as this, they're gone - but if you did, it would be $500,000. It would then cost $400,000 to build this unit with its detail, finishes, and quality of construction. So, don't laugh - this is really kind of a bargain.

Come by Sunday from 11:00-1:00 to my open house. Seeing the home 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.

#21503812

475 Wings Neck Road, Pocasset (Bourne)

$1,990,000

This fabulous home also has an offer currently on the table, but I can't say with confidence it's going to be accepted.

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 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.

Straight from the Mouths...

"We had a wonderful experience with Nadine Krasnow. With her expertise and knowledge of the Bourne and Falmouth area, we were able to find a condo that we loved in record time.

In addition, we found Nadine's advice and support to be invaluable during the buying process. We particularly appreciated her attention to detail and follow through. Overall, it was an excellent experience and given the opportunity, we will definitely recommend Nadine to family and friends in the future."

~ Gail and Bill H.

Come With Me to Work

Here's when being a Realtor is so fun: I showed two homes this afternoon, very different from each other, that were a joy to see and show to my buyer.

#21506287

55 Bournes Pond Road, East Falmouth

$1,475,000

55 Bournes Pond could be one of the most perfect homes I've ever seen. It has everything - location fronting on a dirt road in the Manauhant Yacht Club district (magical!) and rearing directly on its own west-facing waterfront, perfect for kayaking, clamming, sunfishing; a size that's not too big but big enough, with a first floor owner's suite complete with office/exercise room with windows on three sides overlooking the view, and lower level guest rooms, all also facing the water; fabulous updated condition, with not only kitchen and baths that meet Ms. Fussy's approval, but even paint colors, trim, and hardware that earn my admiration. Even new systems! Not a bad price, either, at $1,475,000. Location, views, Menauhant Yacht Club, floor plan, detail, systems, condition...oh my!

#21508168

19 Atamannsit Road, East Falmouth

$780,000

This home is next door to the one house I've owned that I regret selling. The setting is like nothing else in town, or anywhere else I've ever been. Atamannsit was 100 acres of dairy farm back in the early years of the 20th century, owned by two or three brothers who each had a home on the property. As their children grew up and started their own families, the brothers built simple knotty pine cabins for each of their children, and the woods began to fill in the pastures. The cousins and then their kids spent their summers in this idyllic setting on spring-fed Coonamessett Pond. In around 2005, I bought one of these cottages, along with its acre and a half and 150 feet of soft, sandy beach on the pond. We spent a couple of memorable years there. But I couldn't ever get quite comfortable alone there in my cabin in the woods at night, and so I sold it after the second year. For $550,000! As I said, the setting is unbelievable.

Around the time I sold, someone bought the cabin next door, knocked it down, and built a simple but pleasing and totally energy-efficient 2-story, 4-bedroom, 3-bath home, complete with a full basement, giant screened porch, and solar panels. They too have an amazing sandy beach, all 160 feet of it. This is the property that's for sale now, for $780,000. I think it's a good deal. It's certainly an unusual opportunity for someone to own an almost-new, interesting home in a spectacular setting for a fair price.

This is why I love my job - who wouldn't love showing great homes in amazing places to nice people?!

R.A.D. Women's Self Defense

A little-acknowledged negative aspect of the practice of residential real estate is that agents are sometimes in a position in which their personal safety could be compromised. We welcome strangers into our cars; we meet strangers at empty homes, often in secluded locations; and our vulnerability isn't always just connected to someone we don't know.

I've been in some uncomfortable situations over my lifetime in real estate, and I didn't react well - I froze. So when, a few years ago, Wendy Bryant of Falmouth's 241 Fitness (and my own fitness instructor) offered R.A.D. Women's Self Defense, I signed up. It's been transformative. My awareness has sharpened, and I've developed skills I never had. I absolutely feel empowered, and I'm grateful to Wendy.

She offers the class twice a year. The next one is on Sunday, September 13 at 1pm at the Falmouth Sports Center on Highfield Drive. It's four hours long and is only $25 (and you can refresh at no charge for the rest of your life). It could save a life - yours and mine. I urge you to sign up.

Don't forget to watch (or set your DVR for) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on The Food Network this Friday night (9/11) at 10pm.

Falmouth's Pickle Jar Kitchen and Dana's Kitchen will be featured for the first time! I was one of the "diners" when they filmed last Memorial Day Weekend, and can't wait to see what made the 15-minute cut after their 20 hours of filming.

At the very least, Casey and Ben, and Liz and Kevin from PJK, and Dana and Art from D's K, deserve every accolade that comes their way. Woohoo - way to go, guys!!

______________________

Early morning, Old Silver Beach

Early evening, Old Silver Beach

September is here, and I couldn't be happier. This is my favorite month of the year. The weather is gorgeous, the ocean is warm, the crowds are gone, the sun still sets over the water every night - it doesn't get better than this. Enjoy!

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!

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