Real Estate Confidential is a bi-weekly chit-chat about new listings, sales, or other insider info on the Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate market, presented by Fred Roven, owner/broker of Martha’s Vineyard Buyer Agents. It appears every other Friday in The Minute.
I am cautiously encouraged by the number of new listings this week in every price range, although the average days on market remains extremely low at 39 days for new contracts. Looking at just the down-Island towns of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven, that drops to 23 days on the market. The median price of down-Island homes is $1,095,000, compared to $750,000 just a few short years ago, when average days on market hovered around 150.
With interest rates remaining at the lowest point in memory and many off-Island families still looking to soften their lives by leaving the cities to work from home, I do not see much change in the direction of home prices. Hopefully the trend of more new listings every week will slow activity a bit but what happens when tens of thousands of visitors arrive in the weeks to come? If we do in fact increase inventory quickly, prices might stabilize, but with a larger on-Island population, there is good reason to have to act quickly.
I often wonder how to explain to buyers the importance of acting quickly. Just in the last month I had three families miss out on an Island home because they could not get here quickly enough. Even for homes that have been on the market for years, it seems the stars align and everyone wants that house. If I tell buyers they must act today I am met with suspicion by some and joy of home ownership from others.
The new listings this week include some possibilities for Island families and an array of spectacular homes both down-Island and up-Island, some with luxurious swimming pools. I am encouraged that the list of new-to-market properties remains the same since yesterday.
90 Campbell Road has just about everything you could want in your new Vineyard home at a reasonable price for this market. I am very partial to post and beam construction because of the large, open space possible, the soaring ceilings and towering stone fireplaces. This custom built post and beam home is set on 4.6 acres of landscaped rolling terrain, stone walls, and mature trees extending to the Tiasquam River. There are many custom finishes throughout including a large open chef’s kitchen. This very convenient location is steps to the Grey Barn, 1 km to Alleys, and easy access to your Chilmark Beaches.
The custom designed home at 154 Franklin Terrace is a reproduction of an Arts and Crafts style bungalow within walking distance to town. The house is constructed as an energy efficient “Tight House” with propane radiant heat, a/c splits, and feels brand new.
There is a very generous front porch, a three-season screened porch, and a spacious basement with pine shiplap that is heated and ready to be finished as a home office or gym. Great proximity to Owen Park with beach, band stand, and deep water dock, the village shops, market and restaurants, school, library, tennis courts, Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, the ferry dock, and access to Tashmoo Beach.
This expansive year round Colonial at 171 Otis Bassett Road has abundant natural light, vaulted ceilings and a wood burning soaring custom fireplace. The home has 5,555 square feet of living area covered with many exotic hardwoods. The property is on a dead-end road and steps to 5300 acres of state forest for hiking, biking and horseback riding. The home is on a large enough lot for multiple gardens or create your own small farm, and is centrally located close to town, schools, shopping, Lamberts Cove Beach, Long Point Beach, local farms and farmers markets.
Every Edgartown village buyer’s wish is included in the 68 North Water Street expansive compound at the prestigious address of 68 North Water Street. The home had a stunning renovation by Stern McCafferty Architecture + Interiors, creating a home that seamlessly blends the old and new, the historic with the contemporary. The 4,100 square foot main house and 660-square foot guest house with sweeping lawn, lovely manicured gardens and oversized swimming pool is an oasis in bustling North Water Street with its brick sidewalks, traditional streetlights, and signature Greek Revival homes. You can spend your summer watching sailboats pass through the harbor and strolling to town for that all important scoop of ice cream.
Click here for a list of other new to market homes
For more Real Estate Confidentials, click here.
I find it incredibly sad that you think a 3 million dollar property is reasonably priced. What a depressing article.
“There could be more reason to have to act quickly” As house prices rise and inventory shrinks, no truer words have been spoken in recent months. Which is why after 40 years on island I am acting quickly to leave. After 15+ years in my small rental in WT, I was told I have to be out in Sept. as the house has been sold. And with rentals nonexistent and what is available being overpriced, and figuring in the overall negitive turn this island has taken over the past few years, I’m joining the list of long time islanders calling it quits. I want to enjoy where I live, and for myself and a lot of the other people who keep this place humming year round, it’s just not enjoyable here anymore. Poor Martha….
I thought the gist of the article was going to be that people have woken up and realized to get the hell out of the vineyard while the getting is good. As Jim Donovan so appropriately mentioned it’s ridiculous to be middle class resident on Martha’s Vineyard only to move around seasonally to find another place to live to service the 15%ers when they arrived the following summer. Let alone subject your children to the same thing moving forward. cash in and get out there’s so many wonderful places to live in the US where you are a member of the community at large not just the service community
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