There's a Cape Cod App!

Do you have a smart phone? Either a Droid or an iPhone will do. I discovered that a company named Chimani has 2 different smartphone apps that apply strictly to Cape Cod - mostly the Outer Cape. The 2 apps (a free lite version and a $2.99 'regular' version) provide lots of interesting information, maps, with hiking and biking trails. The regular version adds tide and sunset charts, a photo gallery, picnic areas, restroom locations, and much more.

Check it out on your app store. I bought the $2.99 version and am pleased with the variety and scope of the information. Take a look at their Cape Cod website...Here.

My April Newsletter - Available Now!

Nauset Light, Eastham

My April Eastham real estate newsletter is available now! This issue has a new listing, a new Cape Cod smartphone app, and the sales results through the end of February. Go to http://newsletters.robertsheldon.com/ to download your copy.

Photo of the Day - Marconi Wireless Station

As part of our responsibility to show Flat Stanley a few of the sights of the Outer Cape, we took him Saturday to Marconi Beach to see the site of the Marconi Wireless Station, where Guglielmo Marconi first transmitted across the Atlantic Ocean in 1903.

Here, Flat Stanley is standing at the crest of the beach, overlooking one of the four tower bases that eroded years ago from the high bank to the water level, recently exposed only a low tide. The tower base is visible above Stanley's left shoulder. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Flat Stanley at the Marconi Wireless Station, Wellfleet, MA 

The Dune Shack Historic District

Dune Shack

When someone mentions the dune shacks, the response is often one of total ignorance. In what is known as the Provincelands, the wild sand dunes east of Pilgrim Lake between Truro and Provincetown, lie a few dozen tiny wooded shacks. They are nestled in the dunes and have minimal (if any) supporting utilities. They have been utilized over the years by writers, artists, students, and philosophers. The Dune Shack Historic District lies wholly within the Cape Cod National Seashore. Read about the history of these shacks and the District in an article from the Cape Codder....Here. 

One World Trade Tower - An UP-date!

Here is a photo, taken this morning, of the new tower being built on the site of the World Trade Center. It's beginning to have it's exterior 'skin'. This photo was taken from my son's 26th floor apartment in Battery Park City. Click on the photo to increase it's size.

Saving Lighthouses From Beach Erosion

As Cape Cod's ocean beaches have eroded, the familiar lighthouses have had to be relocated back from the 'edge'. In 1996, Truro's Highland Light, built (actually re-built) in 1857, was picked up and moved several hundred feet in 1996. Likewise, Nauset Light, in Eastham, was moved 300-ish feet, across the street that same year. Saving these lighthouses was important to preserving the history, and charm, of the Outer Cape, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

My family was vacationing in Eastham in 1996 when the Highland Light was being moved. The lighthouse moved so slowly that the movement was (almost) imperceivable. The project seemed almost surreal.

Read about the moving of these lighthouses on the Cape Codder's website... Here.

New Listing - Updated Bayside Beach Cottage

Eastham - This cozy 2 bedroom beach cottage is a piece of history. It was rescued from Nauset Light Beach when the Seashore was created and moved to the end of a Bayside dead end road. This cottage has been recently updated with a new roof, and new natural gas service with an on-demand hot water heater. This cottage is under 1/2 mile to Campground Beach. Inside, you'll see vaulted ceilings, a newly updated bathroom, wood floors, and a wood burning fireplace. Come see!  Listed at $349,000.

Go to http://160oldfarmlane.robertsheldon.com/ to see a Virtual Tour, map, and more photos.

Ten Key Factors When Applying for a Mortgage Loan

Most 'mere mortals' don't apply for home mortgages very often. Generally, for second home buyers, you've applied for mortgages before, but it may have been years ago. Anyway, they are all a little different. Since home prices are an order (or 2 or 3) of magnitude higher than most other large purchases, they need to be approached with care. Your credit-worthiness becomes a major factor. So what are the most important factors that need to be considered before you apply for that mortgage?

I found a great article on Dun & Bradstreet's AllBusiness.com website that should help in preparing for the trip to see the mortgage banker. A few of the factors need some time to resolve if you've made a few credit maneuvers lately. Check out the article... Here.

What Is APR for Mortgage Loans? What Is APR?

Very simply, APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. Unfortunately, that's where the 'simply' ends. The intent of APR is to provide a single number that consumers can use to decide which of many loans, with many parameters, provides the best (ie least) cost option. All lending institutions must provide a calculated APR for each and every loan they write.

But, calculating the APR is a complex task, depending on the various parameters enter into a specific loan. Terms such as 'prepayed interest', application fees, points, etc all enter into the calculation.  I found an article on AllBusiness.Com (a D&B Company) that nicely explains the APR. Check it out at AllBusiness.com.

Febuary 2011 Preliminary Sales Results

February's sales tend to be the lowest each year. February sales typically start as offers in December or January. This February was no exception. In fact, the only two sale closings for February happened on the last 2 business days of this short month.  The details....

• Only 2 homes sold in Eastham in February, compared to 7 in January, 2011
• Total sales were roughly $1.1M - the average home sale price was $555K
• The median sale price in February was $555K. (note - this is an anomaly of the way we calculate median when we only have 2 closings)

There are currently 81 active single family listings in Eastham, with an average list price of $540K and a medium price of $449K. The average days-on-market is currently 247 days.

For more details, graphs, and commentary, subscribe to my monthly newsletter...Here.