Dear Cape Friends,
If you’re new here - welcome! Each week I share what’s happening in Cape Cod real estate, sprinkled with local flavor and the occasional detour.
Last weekend, our middle son Jack married a wonderful, smart, and beautiful woman, Dakota. (I’m still trying to figure out how he pulled that off - but I digress, as I often do.) Btw, it felt like half of Gettysburg College was there. Almost felt like a college brochure - minus the open bar of course!
Is there anything more romantic than a Fall wedding in Manhattan? The leaves turning gold in Central Park, sweater weather, the skyline glowing at dusk- it was pure movie-set magic.
Being back in New York pulled me right back to my roots. Long before real estate, I cut my teeth (and maybe a few knuckles) in the bar business - opening and operating stores across the city in the 1990s. It was exciting, fast-paced, and oh-so unpredictable. One of the most iconic spots of that era (not mine, but unforgettable) was a certain East Village saloon called Coyote Ugly, where hot bartenders -“Coyotes” - danced on the bar, poured shots, and kept the crowd ‘howling’ until 4 a.m. Kind of like the Manhattan real-estate market back then: high-energy, a little reckless, and always packed.
Coming home to Cape Cod afterward felt like stepping from that bar into another universe entirely - the NYC cabbies leaning on their horns to the gentle sound of the water hitting the beach, neon swapped for moonlight, stillness, the salt air, and, if you listen closely, the occasional real coyote calling in the distance.
The other night I watched one trot across the beach in front of my house and couldn’t help thinking of Wile E. Coyote - the cartoon trickster forever chasing the roadrunner with elaborate Acme contraptions that always blew up in his face.
There’s a real-estate lesson in that. Sometimes Buyers and Sellers try to out-engineer the market- waiting for perfect timing, the ideal price, or some magic gadget that guarantees success. But more often than not, simplicity wins.
For Sellers, it’s about staying grounded: realistic pricing, consistent presentation, and patience. The homes that sell this season aren’t always the flashiest - they’re the ones that are well-positioned and well-priced. Those who stay steady almost always come out ahead.
This time of year - the Fall - as the Cape quiets down, don’t mistake quiet for dead. It’s when some of the best deals happen: fewer tourists, less noise, and more genuine conversations between serious buyers and realistic sellers.
So if you hear a coyote howling this week, take it as a reminder that on Cape Cod - both in nature and in real estate - patience, timing, and adaptability always win the day.
And if you’re starting to think about buying or selling, PaulBorde.com is always a great resource to browse listings, catch past newsletters, and stay current on the market (and- if I may say so -read some Pulitzer Prize–level past updates).
If you’re around Friday morning, please swing by Chatham Perk for the very best coffee in town. I’ll be there - And remember, as always, it’s on me…
Best,
Paul