A McPhee Associates of Cape Cod Quarterly Newsletter |
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Greetings!
Winter is marching on, and with the exception of one good cold snap earlier this month, we have been fortunate to have a pretty mild one. I am proud to say that our Property Management Team was on the ball with that cold spell, and their swift action may very well have prevented home damage during record-breaking, freezing temperatures. Read more about property management later on in this issue.
I personally managed to escape part of that cold weather while I was at the NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas. It was my first time going to this show, and my first time in Vegas, so it was quite an experience overall. There were more than 70,000 residential construction professionals in attendance and thousands of exhibitors and events.
It was astonishing to see so many new innovations out there – from robotic building systems, to carbon-negative building materials, to foldable houses – but impossible to see it all in a couple of days. However, one big takeaway from the show for me was that the building industry is thriving more than ever and moving forward at a pace consistent with advancing technologies and consumer demand. A big thanks to Mid-Cape Home Centers for spearheading this trip with other local trade professionals.
That brings me to our business here. You will read in the Cape Cod Real Estate Market Report for 2022 below that while the pace did slow last year compared to 2021, new listings and home sales declined and home prices still increased. As a reflection of these market conditions, in part, our business is seeing a demand for home remodeling and full rebuild projects, which makes sense.
Before the housing surge, homeowners who outgrew their space or were ready for an upgrade, would sell and buy something new. Today, with so few choices out there, owners are staying put and putting their resources into their existing property. We can’t ignore the fact that in some ways, this has a negative impact on the housing market as inventory for smaller, more affordable homes dwindles.
With the holidays behinds us, we have noticed an increase in inquiries. These range from tear downs to new homes, turning seasonal homes into year-round homes, and requests for general updates throughout as homes have aged and deferred maintenance. Despite the uncertainty of the economy, the interest in the Cape housing market persists and remains quite active at this point. If you have any projects you are considering for the future, we strongly suggest you plan ahead and reach out to us early so we can work together on the details and try to accommodate your desired schedule as best we can.
To all of our clients and partners (past and present), thank you again for your consideration and the trust you place in McPhee Associates. We are grateful for your business and the relationships we have built.
We look forward to the rest of 2023 and hope you are enjoying your winter, wherever that may be.
Sincerely,
Rob McPhee
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WINDWARD EAST & WINDWARD VILLAGE
Located on the north side of East Dennis, Windward East and Windward Village are exclusive McPhee Associates neighborhoods. The homes in both neighborhoods are set on pristine, wooded lots and are protected by special covenants that ensure new homes are designed and built to be compatible with Cape Cod and New England styles.
As many of you know by now, Windward East has sold out and construction is near completion on several homes in the community. We hope to share gallery photos of these in the coming months. To see our Windward East gallery of completed homes, click here.
In Windward Village, two lots are still available for custom-built homes, as well as the model home on 38 Winding Oaks Lane. Visit the Windward Village web page for more details.
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38 WINDING OAKS LANE, EAST DENNIS
We recently completed the model home on 38 Winding Oaks Lane in Windward Village and it is now available for purchase. This two level finished home offers 2615 square feet of living space with a walk-out lower level, a spacious 2-car garage and a wooded view.
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It's all in the details... |
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The kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances, custom-built cabinets, two inch quartz counter surface and matching backsplash. |
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This classic Cape Cod home is set in a prime location within the community and has a welcoming front entrance with a covered, wrap-around porch. |
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Our interior design team selected top fixtures throughout including the trending Kohler Purist faucet and oval mirror in the powder room. |
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Each closet has built-in shelving including a walk-in kitchen pantry and this closet, which is one of two walk-in closets in the primary suite. |
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Exquisite carpentry with custom trim and molding are found throughout the home. The staircase at the main entrance descends to the lower level. |
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A full laundry room with cabinets, sink and LG washer and dryer are at the mudroom entrance. There is a second laundry room on the lower level. |
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If you're considering a move, or if you know anyone who is thinking about owning a luxury home on Cape Cod – part time or year round – feel free to share the details of our latest custom-built home in Windward Village.
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In this issue, we've selected two home designs created by our in-house architectural design team. Both homes are in Dennis, close to Bay beaches, and are currently in the construction phase. See how some recent progress pictures show these designs coming to life!
BELOW: The original Cape Cod-style home on this property was demolished and rebuilt with an expanded Cape-style home that includes a full length covered (with automated screens) porch on the first floor rear elevation, and a deck on the second floor with access from both the center hall and the primary suite.
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Progress photo taken from the back yard shows the covered porch and deck. |
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Upper deck progress photo shows Andersen black frame windows and sliding doors. |
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BELOW: This family beach house was completely gutted and a primary suite was added onto the main level (left). Some modifications have been done post design to the windows and doors on the back of the house, but progress photos below show the reconstructed decks that offer views of the Bay from the second level. |
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Progress on the back of house with rebuilt decks surrounding the bump-out window. |
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Another progress view shows the window and door replacements. |
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This new construction home in Windward East was designed by McPhee Associates and recently completed. It has coastal/modern farmhouse accents found in the exposed driftwood beams. |
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The kitchen of the same Windward East home is clean white accented by warm wide-plank flooring, oversized rattan pendants, a shell light fixture and driftwood trim on the base of the range hood. |
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Another home in Windward Village designed by McPhee also has a coastal farmhouse vibe. Shown is an elaborate, built-in office/work station at the top of the stairs on the second floor. |
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More built-in details at the same home show the shelving beside the fireplace, ship lap paneling and one of four old bronze sconce/barn lights set over a wall of sliders. |
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This full kitchen remodel by McPhee Associates is now part of our project gallery. The kitchen was designed by Plymouth Rock Kitchens and the cabinets were custom built by Benchcraft. Our interior design staff helped with the selections including the hardware, the Cambria Notting Hill quartz surface and the stunning pendants over the island.
Photography by David Ward
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The Sub Zero refrigerator with paneled
French door seamlessly blends into the rest of the kitchen.
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A separate coffee bar with complementary Cambria Helmsley countertop is equipped with a 24" Sub Zero undercounter fridge. |
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Follow us on social media to see progress photos and more McPhee projects. |
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Jill Polvinen, Project Coordinator |
We'd like to introduce Jill Polvinen, our new Project Coordinator. Jill joined McPhee Associates in late 2022 with over 12 years of professional experience in the construction industry. Her project management background in the field spans from affordable housing development to commercial construction to residential design and build.
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The McPhee carpenter crew gathered on a brisk Fall afternoon to pose for a team photo. Pictured from left to right are Aaron Iszler, Andrew Moison, Jim Iszler, Richie Mallone, Paul Beitler, Jordan Doyans, Eric Johnson and John Landry. |
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The traditional Cape Cod home is common in New England. Despite the charm of a Cape Cod-style home, many homeowners struggle with its modest size and the unconventional layout of its floor plans. Learn about Cape Cod home additions and some McPhee solutions.
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Coastal Farmhouse Inspiration |
The coastal farmhouse style has been growing in popularity in recent years. Many of McPhee's projects incorporate this style, or elements of this style, in one way or another. Learn about how "farmhouse" evolved and how you can add it to your home – whether you live near the beach or not.
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Cape Cod Coastal Dining Rooms |
The dining room is a place to gather. Therefore, it is an ideal space to display your personal style. This can be done through room design, lighting, color and furnishings. Whether you’re entertaining for the spring holidays, hosting summer guests, or throwing a small dinner party, these coastal dining rooms are sure to inspire.
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SEASONAL CHECK-IN
Overall, we've had a mild (and wet) winter on Cape Cod so far. But, all it takes is one good cold snap – like the one we experienced the weekend of February 3rd – to wreak havoc.
Our Property Management Team took the necessary measures before the temperatures dropped that weekend to prevent potential pipe freezing and water damage. With the exception of a couple cases that were undetectable, there were no issues, thankfully.
Looking ahead, it's always good to take preventative measures before the season hits. An overall check on home heating efficiency (proper insulation, furnace and thermostat function, generator maintenance, window leaks, etc.) is strongly recommended.
Here are some more tips for leaving your home in the winter:
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Turn off your water – Whether you are leaving for the the entire season, or coming back and forth periodically, be sure to turn off your home’s water access and let your sinks run for a few minutes to drain the pipes of any excess water.
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Lower your heat – Turn the temperature down to 55 degrees.
- Open cabinet doors below sinks.
CLEANING OUT?
We often get requests from our PM clients to remove and dispose of unwanted furniture or household items. If you are cleaning out or replacing furniture and/or household items like rugs, light fixtures or newer appliances, please consider donating them to ReStore/Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod. Donations and proceeds are used to help build strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter for those in need.
With two locations (Falmouth and West Yarmouth), they are open for drop off Monday through Saturday or can provide free pick-ups upon request. To see a list of what ReStore does and does not accept, or to schedule a free pick-up, click here.
GETTING READY FOR SPRING
We are now in the process of scheduling spring services and house activations for our Property Management clients. If you haven't yet, you should be hearing from us on available dates and time slots for activation, including irrigation, maintenance and HVAC.
Your home means everything.
Let us help you protect it.
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Rob and Bob McPhee Named Legends in the Industry
Last November, Bob and Rob were honored to receive the 2022 Legends of the Industry Award from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA). The prestigious Award was created in 2006 to recognize members across the state who drive change and innovation in the home building industry and have made significant contributions to their communities. This is the first time in the history of the Award that a father-and-son duo was recognized.
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REAL ESTATE MARKET NEWS
Early in the year, the real estate market statistics for all of the previous year are published. Below are the highlights for 2022 compared to 2021 for Cape Cod taken from the Real Estate Market Report for Barnstable County 2022. As expected, the annual report shows home sales (closed sales) and new listings were down, while the median price still rose.
However, one promising nugget from this report is the Months Supply of Inventory. This statistic refers to the number of months it would take for the current inventory of homes on the market to sell given the current sales pace. It is still at a major low historically, as we ended 2022 with just 1.5 months of inventory. However, 1.5 months is actually up 50% from 2021, which is one good indicator of a slowing market.
Here are the highlights:
2022 Annual Real Estate Report for Barnstable County (compared to 2021):
- Closed Home Sales: 4,141 (-21.8%)
- Median Sales Price: $638,500 (+12%)
- Cumulative Days on the Market: 29 (-19.4.5%)
- New Listings: 4,732 (-15.1%)
- Months Supply of Inventory: 1.5 (+50%)
(Note: highlights are combined Single Family and Condominium home sales)
What can we expect in the coming months?
We know that Cape Cod is a unique real estate market in comparison to the national statistics. However, the Housing Snapshot for January 2023 may hold some relevance as to what may be coming our way.
You will see from the graphic published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) below, that in January of 2023 home sales decreased by 36.9% compared to January of 2022, BUT only down .7% since December. And, the Months Supply of Inventory is up to 2.9 compared to 1.6 in January in 2022. Finally, Median Sales Price is up, but just slightly at 1.3%. These are all indicators of a national slow down.
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We recently visited a McPhee newly constructed home in Brewster and the client is in the process of settling in. Hanging in the dining area is this gorgeous original painting of the Brewster flats by local artist Jack Dickerson of Dickerson Gallery. If you've traveled along 6A in Brewster, you may have seen some of his ocean scape pieces lined up outside the gallery (across from Kates Seafood). They can't be missed! As a self-taught fine artist, Jack has been in the creative industry for years and now resides on Cape Cod.
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Located in East Dennis, the Marshside Restaurant is a beloved local landmark. Not only does it offer panoramic views of Sesuit salt marsh, the building itself is an architectural marvel. A renovation designed by Morehouse MacDonald Associates, the farmhouse style porch and beamed interior with cathedral ceilings provide a warm and scenic dining experience. Oh, and the food is delicious too -- fresh seafood and more. Be sure to visit soon, because come summer, there is a line out the door every night.
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Nauset Vintage is a hidden little gem in Orleans. It's a boutique vintage store that specializes in authentic mid-century modern furniture, vintage home decor (think boomerang ashtrays Madmen style), clothing and vinyl records. Located at 26 Main Street in Orleans, it's not easy to find but for reference, it's across the bike path from Snows Home and Garden. You won't find a website, but they are on Facebook and the hours are limited so call in advance, 774-561-2316. Inventory changes all the time.
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At McPhee, we truly believe that our clients are the heart of our business. Our goal is to consistently provide the best service possible, and in doing so, we would love to receive feedback from our clients.
We would be incredibly grateful if you would take a moment to leave us a Google review. This will help us let others learn of the value of our service.
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WE LOVE TO SHARE OUR WORK |
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