Dear Cape Friends,
If you’re new here, welcome. If you’ve been along for the ride for a while, welcome back. Each week I try to share Cape Cod real estate with a little common sense, a bit of humor, and just enough insight to keep you ahead of the curve.
North Beach Island
Just off the coast of Chatham facing east on the other side of Chatham Harbor (directly across from Chatham Bars Inn), sits North Beach Island, a long narrow barrier that most people know of, but few really know. In many ways it protects Chatham from angry storms - almost like the bunkers guarding the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf Club.
What many don’t realize is that, scattered along that stretch, there are still a handful of old camps - simple, weathered structures that have somehow managed to hold on over the years.
No roads.
No utilities.
No easy access.
Just sand, wind, and water.
I happen to know - more accurately, feel privileged to know - a couple of good people who still have ties to those camps. And every time I hear stories about them from their childhoods, I’m reminded how different the Cape once was - and in small pockets, still is.
And for us, it’s not just something to look at from a distance.
Nan and I try to get out there almost every summer weekend. We’ll take our little Whaler - The Oystercatcher - ease over from Ryders Cove, through Bassing Harbor and into Chatham Harbor before dropping anchor on the island side. From there, it’s a short walk across to the ocean side, where we’ll set up for the day – armed w lots of gear - looking out at the Atlantic (next stop… Portugal!). I’ll bring a fly rod and sometimes make a sight-cast towards a Stri-ped bass.. Most of the time, we just take it all in. (I ALWAYS have an American flag proudly stuck into the sand.) 🇺🇸
North Beach is about as majestic a place as you can imagine - honestly, as close to heaven as I’ve found on this planet. The water is spectacular. Crisp. Clean. Seals are almost always nearby. And every now and then, you’ll spot a great white moving through, hunting… which gives you just enough pause before wandering too far out. Ha - keeps things interesting.
There’s something about that kind of place. It doesn’t operate on convenience. It doesn’t care about market timing, interest rates or catching the Metro North train out of Greenwich into NYC. And it certainly doesn’t try to impress. It just exists - shaped by the same timeless forces that have been working the Cape for centuries: Sun. Wind. and Tides..🌞
And yet, in a strange way, it tells you everything you need to know about real estate here. Because while the houses, the prices, and the market conditions may change, the underlying appeal of this place hasn’t.
People are drawn here for a reason - For the water. For the space. For a sense of something a little more grounded, a little less hurried.
And now, as the spring market fully kicks in, you can feel that pull again.
More and more homes are coming on. Buyers are circling back. Decisions are starting to happen - and in many cases, happening quickly. It’s easy to get caught up in that pace.
But the lesson from a place like North Beach Island still holds: The best properties - the ones people hold onto, the ones that stand the test of time - tend to share a version of that same quality. They feel right. Not just in the moment, but over time. At some point, the right opportunity requires a decision. My grandmother used to say, “Time and tide wait for no one.” And in a market like this, that tends to hold true.
So whether you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just watching things unfold this season, it’s worth keeping that in mind.
Not everything has to move fast to be right.
Sometimes the best decisions are the ones that hold up… long after the moment has passed.
(And if you’re around Friday morning, I’ll be at my favorite - Chatham Perk from 8:00–9:00am. As always, coffee’s on me)
See you around the elbow (and hopefully Friday morning),
Paul
P.S. If you’re thinking about buying or selling, PaulBorde.com is a great place to browse listings, catch past NEWSLETTERS, and stay current on the market — and, if I may say so, revisit a few of my Pulitzer Prize–level hits. 😄