Nov/Dec 2025 The Cape Cod Anchor

It’s the season for cranberries! The best time to visit cranberry bogs on Cape Cod is during the fall harvest season from late September through November. Visitors can see the harvest, which involves flooding the bogs and harvesting with machines or by hand. Many farms offer tours, but Harwich is known as the "Cranberry Capital of Cape Cod".

MARKET UPDATE

Hello! The Cape is noticeably quieter as we are reaching the end of 2025. Real estate, however, has stayed busy. Here are some important things to be aware of happening specifically in Massachusetts.

Beginning October 15, a new Massachusetts regulation took effect regarding a buyer’s right to a home inspection. What you need to know:

• Sellers and listing agents may NOT: accept an offer unless all parties have signed the new Home Inspection Disclosure Form; condition offer acceptance on a buyer waiving or limiting their inspection rights; accept offers that contain terms that would "render a home inspection meaningless" (for example, unreasonably short deadlines, restricting the buyer from terminating the agreement if not satisfied with the results); buyers are not required to conduct an inspection—but they must have the right to do so.

  
  

Beginning November 1, for all sales where the gross purchase price is greater than or equal to $1,000,000 all sellers will be asked to complete a "Transferor's Certification" form prior to closing. MA Residents will state on this form that they are exempt from a tax withholding at closing. Sellers who are not full time MA residents will be subject to a tax withholding from their proceeds. This is not a new or separate tax for non-residents - this is an automatic withholding of MA income taxes that would be due at tax time anyway as a result of the sale.

As for market activity on the Cape, the median sales price increased 2.9% to $789,000 for single-family homes and inventory decreased 3.0% year-over-over with 753 homes for sale at the end of October according to Cape Cod & Islands Association or Relators®.

Please be in touch with any questions. Most importantly, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season. Thank you to my clients for making 2025 such a memorable year. I look forward to what 2026 will bring and wish you all the best!

CAPE COD LANDMARKS

Old Harwich Fire Station: I’m breaking from my traditional sharing of shops and restaurants to share something more personal and a special community place.

My father volunteered with the Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT). HCT seeks to preserve Harwich's quality of life by protecting priority lands for residents and visitors to enjoy all the beauty that Harwich has to offer.

Dad was passionate about the restoration of the Old Harwich Fire Station at 203 Bank Street in Harwich Port. The firehouse was built in 1927 and served as the headquarters for the Harwich Fire Department until 1995. After the building was no longer in use it fell into disrepair. Harwich Fire Association bought the building in the early 2000s and partnered with HCT who was working to restore the Cold Brook Preserve next to the building. Now completed, the building is used for community events and has three one-bedroom affordable housing apartments on the upper floor. The Cold Brook Preserve project restored native plantings and created a half-mile wheelchair accessible trail allowing people of all abilities and ages to experience the beauty of the area. Dogs are welcome too!

Many thanks to Dad’s friends from the committee: Elaine and Joe Shovlin and Marcie Smith. They were kind to honor how important this was to Dad with the dedication of a bench next to the firehouse and looking at the beautiful trail. We are so very touched.

A dedication plaque reads:

In Memory of

Robert E. Thomas

Harwich

“It doesn’t get any better than this”

LOCAL EVENTS

November 29           Small Business Saturday – Throughout the Cape and within your community, the Saturday following Thanksgiving is dedicated to celebrating small businesses and encouraging shoppers to support local as the holiday shopping season begins.

December 6             Santa Arrives at Patriot Square – Stop by Patriot Square to watch Santa arrive by helicopter at 1:00pm. Festivities are from 12:00pm-3:00pm. dennischamber.com 

December 12-14      Christmas by the Sea Stroll –Chatham hosts a fun-filled weekend celebrating the season. Enjoy the tree lighting, horse and carriage rides, breakfast with Santa, all the charm that Main Street has to offer and more!

chathaminfo.com

DID YOU KNOW? 

The old Harwich Fire Station at Bank Street will house a restored 1928 Maxim fire engine with rotary gear pumper. The Maxim Motor Company of Middleborough, MA, manufactured fire engines for municipalities across New England and beyond.

Compass is a licensed real estate broker. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.