Should I move to Dennisport?

[saintsvalentine]

Thanks for all the great replies. I'm not so worried that we will be bored; we're into many eclectic things - i'm sure there's enough to keep our minds occupied at least for a few years. When we were there over the summer our minds were boggled with all the things we wanted to see and do: the museums, shops, beaches, trails, off-beat attractions, history, etc.

Again, i'm just worried about the cost of living, things like taxes, health care, utilities, food and gas, etc. We earn a modest income.
My other concern is finding work as a court reporter after I finish school, but then, maybe i could commute to boston or even providence.

we used to live in Salem, MA, well, for about a year. We liked it there very much, but it was costly to live there and the traffic/crowds were eventually nearly intolerable. it we earned more, I would consider living there again, but for now, it's not worth the expense.

Thoughts???

Thanks again, we really appreciate it!

Samantha

[saintsvalentine]

we're also looking at apartments in sandwich and chatham.

One small, but charming looking, cottage that sits on a larger estate in Dennisport is $700/mo + utilities.

One studio I've seen in Sandwich is $925, furnished, and includes utilities, washer/dryer, cable, internet. This seems to good to be true.

$1000/mo for 2br in Chatham, may or may not include utilities.

These seem reasonable to me, but this may be short-sighted.

I feel like we could technically move anywhere (near an airport with daily flights to laguardia), but we want to be able to afford the cost of living. I've heard the living is cheap in the south, but we're a little nervous about living in the south since neither one of us has ever even visited. that and, it's the south.

thoughts?

[capecodcathy]

If you want to be on the Cape but need access to an airport, your best bet is Sandwich. Much closer to the the bridges. You can still explore the lower Cape from there, as well.
Cable is negotiated with the towns. Comcast and Verizon offer internet service to most areas. You can call the utility companies, give them the address of the apartment/home you are considering. They'll be able to give you the average monthly bill and highest and lowest months. Be careful with "cottages" or "bungalows". They may not be insulated. Heat would be your greatest concern there. If it's gas or electric heat, the utility company is your best resource. If it's oil, ask the landlord who the current tenant has used. The oil company should be able to give you an idea of how much the current tenant has paid (providing they always use the same oil delivery service).
Also make sure smoke and CO detectors are installed and working properly. I assume you don't currently have children so lead paint shouldn't be an issue for you.
The rents don't sound out of the ordinary. Upper Cape usually runs $1000 to $1400 excluding utilities. Not sure about Chatham, Dennisport though.
You may also want to check out yearroundrentalsdotcom if you haven't already.
Good Luck!

[bryfry]

Originally Posted by saintsvalentine

Again, i'm just worried about the cost of living, things like taxes, health care, utilities, food and gas, etc. We earn a modest income.
My other concern is finding work as a court reporter after I finish school, but then, maybe i could commute to boston or even providence.

As for taxes, if you rent the only taxes you will pay are income tax and sales tax. Health care is adequate with Cape Cod Hospital. Utilities can be a bit high in winter of course, but being smart about heating and A/C can keep things in check. Food prices are ok, we also have a BJ's Wholesale Club in Hyannis to buy things in bulk.

Gas prices are a bit higher than the rest of the state. The station owners claim its "out of their hands". They say it's due to regional marketing from the fuel suppliers. I say hogwash. The cheapest I have seen in a week is $3.01 at a Cumberland Farms in Monument Beach near the Bourne Bridge. Last week my father saw $2.85 near Springfield. You be the judge. The highest I have seen is $3.24 at the Sunoco station in Centerville. Most seem to be between $3.03 and $3.09.

As for a court job, well, let's just say the three court districts on the Cape are pretty busy places. You might have a chance. I know lots of people who commute to Boston or Pro but that's a major pain. Besides, it takes you away from your family.

[RLCMA]

I would say Dennisport is a good choice for you. Finding part-time work should not be a problem since this area of the Cape is very seasonal. Your best bet would be in the hospitality industry. Also, since Dennisport is seasonal you could get a good deal on a year round rental since a lot of people who rent in this area only rent in the summer. Last I knew 60% of Dennisport is absentee owned. Landlords would be willing to negotiate a rental agreement with you if you signed a lease for 6 months-1 year.