Rick Tourgee’s Provincetown Real Estate Blog

It’s that time of year again!  Every year during the third week of August, we have “Carnival Week”.  This is the event that attracts people from all over!  Carnival is probably one of the most popular weeks to be in Provincetown, especially for the Carnival Parade itself, which is always on Thursday of Carnival Week.

This years theme is “Wild, Wild, West”.  We at Century 21 Shoreland are going to have a float in this years parade for the first time!!  I am not going to tell you what we are doing as it will spoil the fun- I am going to leave it as a huge surprise!  I will post photos this Friday and spill all of the fun details!

The Thursday Parade is a huge attraction.  However, there are various events planned all week all over town!  It is truely a fantastic, fun week to visit Provincetown!!  To see a list of events, go to:  http://www.ptown.org/Carnival.asp

Don’t forget, if you cannot make it town this week, check back on my blog to see the great photos!!

Many Brokers and Agents have said over and over again:  “A home needs to be priced correctly or slightly below market in order to sucessfull sell the property.”  Many have blogged about this time and time again.

Here in Provincetown, there is clear evidence of this fact.  I had a Buyer looking for a single family home in a certain location and a certain price range.  Many of the homes currently for sale were over-priced in my opinion as well the opinion of my Buyers.  There was one home for sale that came to market about $150,000 over priced.  Thus, we didn’t go see it.  30 days later, it was reduced by $100,000 (still $50,000 over priced).  Then, 30 days later it was lowered $80,000 more!  Now was the time for my Buyers to get in quickly and make a serious reasonable offer.  I am delighted to say that my Buyers are buying one of the lowest priced homes in this location of Provincetown for even less than the last list price!!  This makes a win-win situation all the way around!

Another short example:  a condo came on the market listed at about $100,000 under market value…..it lasted about 30 minutes on the market.

The point here:  Buyers ARE out there!  Buyers will buy!  There is no shortage of Buyers!  The shortage we have in the marketplace are realistic Sellers!  The above examples prove my point 100%

Sellers:  Please, please, please, listen to your reputable respected Real Estate Broker or Agent!!  If you need an opinion here on Cape Cod, I am only a phone call away!

When looking to buy or sell your piece of Provincetown Real Estate or in the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.

I am thrilled and pleased to say this 4 bedroom Cape sytle home with more than 1,700 square feet was sold (6-30-08) at full price in under 90 days!!  Not only did it sell quickly at full price, it only took several showings to get an accepted offer.  My Seller Client took the time to listen to my advice and follow my direction.  The home was listed at a very reasonable price ($669,000) and the Seller made sure it showed like a model home during all showings!  This wonderful property had the advantage of maximum exposure by way of multiple photos, virtual tour, video tour, posted on many websites, etc.

When looking to buy or sell your piece of Provincetown Real Estate or in the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.

Another sucess story!  SOLD FOR $360,000!  2 bedroom home with an in-ground swimming pool on a very spacious lot with total privacy located in North Truro, close to the Provincetown border, sold in only 49 days!!  We celebrated closing on 7-11-08!

When looking to buy or sell your piece of Provincetown Real Estate or in the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.

As we all have learned during the last 12-18 months, tighter standards from lenders is making is making harder to finance a real estate purchase.  Here on Cape Cod, especially in Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet- many Buyers are buying real estate here as a second home.

Up to about 2005, Buyers could purchase their dream second home here on Cape Cod with as little as 5% down.  However, times have changed!  If you are Buying a second home today, you will need to be prepared to have a credit score higher than 680, plan to put at least 10% down, and plan on being able to provide documents verifying income and assets.

If you are not able to provide income and asset documents, the qualifications might increase to a credit score higher than 720 and you might need to put down 20%-25%.

Also, many properties here on Cape Cod are “seasonal use”, which means the property cannot be occupied during the off-season, which tends to be November 1 - March 31.  If you are buying a seasonal use property, be prepared to put down at least 20% and be able to document your income and assets.

Lender guidelines are changing by day and varies from Lender to Lender.  Speak with a local, reputable Lender to learn all the facts and figures based on your profile prior to looking at any property.  This will put you in a much stronger position should you find a second home of your dreams!

One Lender I use is Maryann Taormina from Mortgage Master, Inc.  Maryann can be reached at 508-237-1424 or you may e-mail her at MTaormina@MortgageMasterinc.com

To look through a wide selection of Provincetown properties as well as properties throughout Cape Cod, please visit my website or call me at 508-487-6002.

Recent revisions to the state building code are making it harder for contractors to work without a license and will increase the cost of some building projects by as much as 20 percent, according to people in the construction industry.

Provincetown Building Inspector, Russell Braun, said about 100 pages of revisions to the state building code went into effect earlier this year.

Among the changes are new licensing requirements for builders. Prior to the recent change, contractors doing roofing, windows, siding,  and other minor projects had to have a home improvement contractor certificate. Now, with the new changes, those jobs will require a builder to have a construction supervisor license, which is a more stringent and expensive licensing process, as well a taking and passing an test.

In addition, because of new rules requiring that coastal properties be able to handle 110 MPH winds, there are tighter structural requirements for construction of new house and additions. Also, newly built or renovated homes here on Cape Cod located within a mile of the coastline must now install windows able to withstand hurricane-force winds, which are much more expensive. And a structural engineer will have to be hired on all new home construction and certain additions to be sure the rules and regulations are being followed.

Bottom line:  be sure to hire a reputable, licensed Contractor that knows the area and knows the Federal, State, and local building codes.  It might cost a little more upfront.  But, it might save you big money down the road!  Any questions for the Building Inspector, Russell Braun, feel free to call him at 508-487-7000 or visit him on the lower level of Town Hall.

Saturday I had the pleasure of dining at Victors, a new restaurant that just opened on May 20.  I am very much looking forward to going there again for dinner as well as lunch!This new addition to Provincetown’s culinary landscape offers a unique dining experience, especially geared toward people who like to enjoy upscale, casual dining with friends. Victor’s offers a quick, delicious bite to eat at lunch, and a “small plates” dinner menu of New American cuisine, sized for tasting and sharing with friends.

Chef Mike Fennelly takes pride in using as many local and organic ingredients as possible to create dishes like the Local Baked Stuffed Clams with linguica, herbs, and crouton stuffing, served on a bed of rock salt. The Lobster Spring Rolls, flash fried and served with thin pasta, lettuce, mint, and a chile-lime sauce and BBQ Oysters with crispy pancetta and Korean barbecue sauce are delicious small plates to share.  

Victor’s dishes are served individually at their hottest, freshest, and best for lunch and dinner in an open, airy, light atmosphere. Our cottage-style restaurant, with its cathedral ceiling, central stone fireplace, and tables hand-crafted by owner Victor Depoalo gives diners a comfortable, yet elegant place to enjoy these delicacies.

Vistor’s specialty cocktail list, the Seven Sins of Summer, is a must to try, as well, and includes a “Passionate Margarita” and  Too Hot Caipirinha.

The weekly Farmers’ Market held in the center of town in the Ryder Street parking lot in Provincetown will begin for the season this Saturday, May 17.

The market is open each Saturday from May 17 through Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors from Cape  Cod offer an extensive variety of produce and other locally made products. You will also find organic greens and Cape-grown flowers along with the home-baked breads and other tasty bits!  I am hungry….I wonder why?? 

When looking to buy or sell your piece of Provincetown Real Estate or in the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.

Aaauugghhh……Spring is here with tulips showing their bright colors, people are putting their patio furniture out so they can be ready for cook-outs with family and friends, people are buying suntan lotion so they can have a lazy day on the beach…….but, guess what eveerybody should be doing?!?!?!? Call your local licensed Chimney Sweeper and have your fireplace and wood stove chimneys inspected and swept!! Not many people think of having their fireplaces cleaned during the Spring and Summer. But, in fact, now is an excellent time to have it done while the weather is more favorable for the Chimney Sweeper and to beat the last minute rush of others calling him or her when snowflakes start to fall in only 6 months!! My chimneys were inspected and swept yesterday. When was the last time you saw your Chimney Sweeper??

When looking to buy or sell your piece of Provincetown Real Estate or in the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.

During the winter months, many people who heat their homes with oil or propane, have regular deliveries every couple of weeks of fuel throughout the winter months.  This avoids potentially running out of heating fuel at 2:00am when it could be 15 degrees outside!

However, this time of year, if you have about at least 1/4 tank of fuel- call your fuel provider and tell them to stop deliveries until October or November!!  Why pay for inventory of fuel that is just going sit in your tank for 5-6 months?!?!

Most businesses try to operate at the lowest amount of inventories as possible because inventory is expensive!  You need to think the same way about that expensive fule oil or propane!

When looking to buy or sell Provincetown Real Estate or the surrounding area, please call me at 508-487-6002 or e-mail me at Rick.Tourgee@Century21.com

I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and a Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) with a successful track record servicing many Buyers and Sellers. I follow the Golden Rule and look out for my Clients needs above my own.