Month: December 2011

School Choice a Consideration of Homebuyers

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A report by the National Association of Realtors profiling the wants and needs of buyers and sellers indicates that school quality is considered a priority by 27% of all buyers. Proximity to schools is listed as a deciding factor by 21% of buyers. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education offers consumer information on Massachusetts…
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Cleaning Up After Irene

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Spared a direct hit from Irene, the Cape still suffered much wind damage including downed power lines and the uprooting and limbing of trees. Wide-spread damage means much of the Cape is still experiencing power outages. If you plan to check into a summer rental (yes, it is still summer!), it is advisable to call…
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Consumer Caution Urged Regarding Online Rentals

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Despite consumer education and widespread warnings, online scams involving rental properties continue to flourish. The old adage “if it sounds too good to be true” should raise the antenna of a prospective tenant. Many of these scams target renters for year round properties but may also involve summer and seasonal rentals. A classified ad placed…
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Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program

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$1 billion worth of emergency mortgage assistance has been made available for qualified homeowners who are unemployed or underemployed due to the economy and at risk of foreclosure. HUD has developed the program (EHLP) via the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. For eligible homeowners, funds are available for 0% loans for past-due…
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Expecting Irene

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Mostly, those of us lucky enough to live on the Cape realize our stature as year-round residents means we must bear with whatever visitors drift our way each summer on the incoming tide. But even the worst company that might darken your doorstep, leave a sideboard full of dishes, and loads of linens in their…
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Cape Cod Sun and Fun

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A summer rental tenant phoned the Steele Associates Real Estate office the other day with a plaintive query. “Is there anything to do on Cape Cod besides go to the beach?” It’s hard to imagine not wanting to simply lounge away your vacation days on our beautiful beaches–but if you’ve become just a little restless…
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Homeowners’ Heating Oil Regulations

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If you heat your home with oil, or are buying or selling a property that does, you should be aware of the new Massachusetts heating oil regulations that went into effect as of September 30, 2011. While the upgrade is a relatively small expenditure (estimated to be $150 – $350 including labor, parts, and local…
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There’s Music in the Air on Cape Cod

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It has always amused me when city dwellers vacationing on Cape Cod describe our natural surroundings as “noisy.” It is true, from evening peepers to the whir of insects; from the early morning screech of soaring gulls and flocks of blackbirds; surely, even the most rural areas of Cape Cod do not lie silent. Having…
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Fresh from a Cape Cod Farmer’s Market

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Eat fresh, eat local… for a true taste of Cape Cod, visit one of the seasonal farmers’ markets that have sprouted up and down the Cape. Vendors offer locally grown produce and products from Buzzards Bay to Provincetown from late spring to mid-to-late fall (dates vary from market to market). You’ll find Cape Cod specialties…
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Enraptured By Raptors

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If you’re looking for some entertainment beyond the sun and surf of Cape Cod this summer, check out the Live Birds of Prey Program sponsored by the Harwich Conservation Trust. I can personally attest that last summer’s show was fascinating, well attended by young and old, summer visitors and residents. I am sure this year’s…
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