Summer home in Cape Cod to rent out for eventual retirement (Boston: to buy, property taxes)

[bizcuit]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

It’s a really short summer. The ocean is very cold. The banana belt of New England with warmer water is the southern coastline of Cape Cod starting at Chatham and extending west into Connecticut. Even then, June is still cool if you’re right on the coast but it’s still warm water in the fall.

It's true, the water is very cold. I was in Kennebunkport last Summer during some of those 100° days. I couldn't even immerse myself in inlet water, even though the weather was very hot and it was the end of the Summer (so the water was as warm as it was going to get). I grew up swimming in the waters of Martha's Vineyard and I prefer cooler weather in general, so I am used to cold water. But it was too cold even for me.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by mdovell

I can't recall much of a downtown living on the south shore there or at least enough to validate a trip. Hill for Nantasket on the other hand..

Quaint little downtown shops are usually seasonal. Seasonal means drug use and selling in the off season or its just a hobby of a retiree. If you don't sell on the internet you really can't budget for that.

Actually, you can budget for that. Many seasonal businesses make enough revenue during the high season to carry them through. I know many small business owners living their dream because they hustle for 6-9 months out of the year. None of them are using or dealing drugs to do it either.

[stevepumpkinman]

Cape cod is going down due to the sharks scare (they are only on the cold side of the cape and not on the warm side where you would swim anyway) and higher taxes. You may not be able to rent it out during the summer

[OutdoorLover]

If you're looking at Maine and love Bar Harbor, I'd also suggest considering Camden, ME. It has similar ingredients - on the ocean, with lakes and mountains nearby, nice downtown shops, eateries and pretty residential streets. It is also less crowded than Bar Harbor in summer, doesn't take cruise ships, still has life in winter, has a small but lively arts scene in the area (along with neighboring Rockport and Rockland) and it has decent primary medical care and a community hospital closeby (Pen Bay Medical Center). And it's still a ways out, but it's about 1.5hrs to Portland, instead of 3hrs.

Camden is beautiful, and there is considerable tourism and summer rental activity there, and you can find a nice family size house there (or in Rockport) in the $400K-$600K range too.

[Seaheart33785]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

If you're looking at Maine and love Bar Harbor, I'd also suggest considering Camden, ME. It has similar ingredients - on the ocean, with lakes and mountains nearby, nice downtown shops, eateries and pretty residential streets. It is also less crowded than Bar Harbor in summer, doesn't take cruise ships, still has life in winter, has a small but lively arts scene in the area (along with neighboring Rockport and Rockland) and it has decent primary medical care and a community hospital closeby (Pen Bay Medical Center). And it's still a ways out, but it's about 1.5hrs to Portland, instead of 3hrs.

Camden is beautiful, and there is considerable tourism and summer rental activity there, and you can find a nice family size house there (or in Rockport) in the $400K-$600K range too.

Thank you, I’ve heard that town mentioned in many travel articles. I will definitely check it out!

[RichCapeCod]

Seaheart33785, I live (half the year) in Wellfleet. If Boston is an important place for you to go, then perhaps you'd best consider some location off-Cape, perhaps some place on the south shore area of MA (from Sagamore and up to Plymouth).

If you really do wish to come and go to your residence, then dealing with Sagamore (or Bourne) bridge traffic during the summer would be a nightmare.

Best of luck,

Rich

PS
There is no "shark-scare" affecting the Cape. My town was packed this summer. Although, us "locals" do refer to tourists as "chum." :-/

Eight year old niece and I discussing shark issues at Newcomb's Hollow Beach, Wellfleet.

[Seaheart33785]

Originally Posted by RichCapeCod

Seaheart33785, I live (half the year) in Wellfleet. If Boston is an important place for you to go, then perhaps you'd best consider some location off-Cape, perhaps some place on the south shore area of MA (from Sagamore and up to Plymouth).

If you really do wish to come and go to your residence, then dealing with Sagamore (or Bourne) bridge traffic during the summer would be a nightmare.

Best of luck,

Rich

PS
There is no "shark-scare" affecting the Cape. My town was packed this summer. Although, us "locals" do refer to tourists as "chum." :-/

Eight year old niece and I discussing shark issues at Newcomb's Hollow Beach, Wellfleet.

I love the picture!! Thank you!

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by Seaheart33785

Thank you, I’ve heard that town mentioned in many travel articles. I will definitely check it out!

Here are some photos I've taken walking in Camden and the adjacent towns...







http://www.city-data.com/forum/attac...den-cliff4.jpg

[Seaheart33785]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Here are some photos I've taken walking in Camden and the adjacent towns...







http://www.city-data.com/forum/attac...den-cliff4.jpg

Wow, those pictures are beautiful! It really does look like a lovely, special place. Thank you!

[huff100]

I love Provincetown! I would look there on the Cape as well and ferry to Boston as someone else suggested.
Portsmouth, NH and Southern ME are also great and love it there as well.