Cape Cod (to live in, bus, beach)

[bryfry]

Originally Posted by jumbolaw

I miss Chappaquiddick...

So does Mary Jo Kopechne. Just ask Ted. He'll tell you all about her.

[jumbolaw]

I'll be sure to. I'd never done the whole "college kid spending the summer on MV" thing but was lucky enough to study for the Bar Exam at my fiancee's family's place on Chappy. I think it took about 3 days to feel localized and get bitter about the tourists clogging up the car lines for the Chappy ferry and walking in the middle of the road in Edgartown.

[hermajesty0825]

arbucle- unless you personally know someone with property on cc, and they owe you a favor, you are not going to find rent that cheap on cc. During the off-season, rents go down, but a lot of residents have to find temporary housing during the summer because they can't afford the summer rates. Apartments are a little harder to come by, but they do exist- Hyannis is a good place to look for apartments/townhouses. As far as a safe place to live (in MA), you can't get much safer than cape cod , and that is all over the cape. Some towns are more upscale (and more expensive) than others, but crime and such is pretty low, and i personally don't feel that any town is "safer" than the others. You do have one thing working in your favor, though, and that is that you mentioned that your wife may go alone...a one bdrm apt/condo will be much easier to find. Try looking in Sandwich, Hyannis, Dennis, and Yarmouth- these towns usually have more listings for apts. Also consider what part of the cape you need to be in- upper, lower?

[RESouthShore]

I grew up in Dennis and my parents still live down on the Cape today. As a kid I remember going to other parts of the country and when we told people we were from Cape Cod, everyone said "wow you must be rich like the Kennedys" when in reality we were middle to upper middle class folks who lived there all year round. My father grew up in Brewster and will never leave. I live on the South Shore and will probably retire to the Cape someday. I loved going to the beach as a kid, we went pretty much every day in the summer. It was a fun place to be - Main Street in Hyannis was the place we cruised all summer. I was never really annoyed by the summer people but I know it has gotten worse over the years in terms of tourists with big money coming in and sometimes trying to take things over or treat the locals like peons. Other than that it can be a beautiful, peaceful place to live. Stay away from Rte. 28 and you'll be fine. As a local, you learn all of the shortcuts and can avoid traffic even during the summer. As a teen I felt like there wasn't a lot to do but every town is what you make of it. You can be bored in a town with every restaurant, shop & activity - it's all about perspective. I've traveled throughout the US and what I've seen lately is that so many towns/cities just look like versions of other places - everyone has a Wal Mart, Best Buy, Target, etc. The towns/places that I enjoy the most have character - something that sets them apart. The Cape is like that. Each town has it's own character. It's a great place to be at any time of the year.

[snowmuchfun]

Perfect reply REsouthshore ...

I could not have said it better myself ... I live in Brewster ... I know why your Dad will not leave. When my Husband and I go off Cape - we are stunned at all the people around.... even on July 4th weekend the Cape is only then as busy as the Malls (anywhere USA) on a saturday afternoon... We are Lucky ! :-)

[RLCMA]

I lived on the Cape for 8 years and I loved it for the most part. I would say if you're a recent college graduate or a young, single professional it's the last place in the world you should live because the job prospects are not great. If however, you're retired or raising a family it's a great place. I live on the West Coast for the time being and I have no desire to move back to the Northeast at this point in my life. I could definitely see myself having a summer house there though at some point in my life and possibly even retiring to the Cape.

[ferdy024]

Being a realtor in the lower cape, when are you going to start lowering real estate prices? I can't believe most everything is still a quarter to half a million dollars or more and for a small cape shack? Most of the homes here on my street have been purchased by outsiders from the cape that only come here on weekends in the summer. In the winters the houses are deserted as they only use them in the summer. The locals cannot afford to buy a house and the younger people are homeless. The cape is being ruined. No young people can afford to buy!! What are the elderly going to do for care? There is NOBODY in the winter.

[RMP059]

The Cape is cheaper to buy than most areas of eastern MA. There are plenty of houses under 300k in Barnstable and Mashpee. Compared to Essex County and the North SHore, I was getting more house for my money. I looked at many properties in the Barnstable area, comparable houses on the N. Shore were almost twice the price. Sure if you want to buy with an ocean view you're gonna have to pay a lot. But there are plenty of affordable houses on the Cape....well, affordable by MA standards.

[DarinsMom]

I have lived in MA my entire life, I relocated to the Cape (Hyannis area) almost 5 yrs ago.

My first year here I HATED it! HATED IT! I moved in January when it was dead and I didn't know anyone. I had a newborn and was commuting *off Cape* 1.5 hrs each way.

Fast forward 5 yrs and I like living here. Part of me wants to live somewhere else just so I can say I actually left Massachusetts at some point in my life. .

It's not for everyone. There are a lot of CC lifers who never go over the bridge. There is life beyond the bridge people! I can't tell you how many people would stare at me saying "OMG you drive over the bridge EVERY DAY?!?!" Crazy.

I find that if you're a parent with young kids, it's probably a good place to live, but it's really not geared towards young single people. I swear half the Cape closes up at 6pm - not much for night life....but I'm an old married mom now so I don't have time or energy for that stuff anymore.

Housing prices are dropping big time thanks to foreclosures, so it's a great time if you're a buyer - not so much if you're a seller, but you probably bought too high when people were being greedy a few years ago and you got trapped in the stupidity of an adjustable mortgage that you really couldn't afford anyway. Don't even get me STARTED on that stuff.

Taxes are cheaper here on the Cape, too....

It really depends on what kind of life you are looking for....I prefer mid-upper Cape to lower Cape....

[mnevi7]

Anyone who lives on the cape is lucky.And just because people live on the Cape it does not mean they all look alike.Orleans ,truro, plymouth,and all the other areas are beautiful.And the difference between Florida and cape cod ? Cape Cod has class .Would rather live on the cape then anywhere else.Most people are wonderful .And the teachers are great.