Five Things You Should Know Before Buying a Home on Cape Cod

Whether as a permanent or seasonal resident, relocating to Cape Cod is one of the best decisions you can make, as the community provides a beautiful quality of life and all the activities you could ever dream of in a relatively small region.

Before buying a home here, however, there are a few things you should know. Some of these features make the Cape a quirky place to live but also add character to one of the country's first permanent settlements.

Here are five things you should know about living on Cape Cod.

1) The Winters are Quiet

If you've only ever visited Cape Cod in the summer, you'll find your first winter here shocking. That's because the Cape's population shrinks exponentially in the fall and winter to the point where some neighborhoods look entirely deserted.

The Cape has about 213,000 year-round residents, while on any given weekend in the summer, there could be over 500,000 people in the area.

There's good news, however, as some towns don't require beach stickers after Labor Day, giving you a few weeks to enjoy the water in peace before temperatures begin to drop.

It's also far easier to get into your favorite restaurants during the offseason, assuming they stay open, and traffic nearly disappears, as well. Your first year on the Cape will present a bit of a learning curve, but you can use the fall, winter, and early spring to find your bearings before the crowds return for Memorial Day.

2) The Roads Don't Make Sense

Cape Cod is full of quirks that you'll have to acclimate to, including the somewhat confusing roadway system. Much of the confusion is present because the main roads are based on hunting trails from the 17th century. This historic configuration causes them to meander in strange directions before finally reaching their destination.

Think the quickest route between two points is a straight line? Not on the Cape, as you'll find yourself heading north on a road you thought was heading east, leaving you wondering if you've missed your turn. Not to worry, though; you'll get there eventually.

Another quirk with the road system is the street names, which can change on a whim. You could pass through a seemingly nondescript intersection, only to have the road you're on change from East-West Dennis Road to Bridge Street without warning. And just so you're clear, East-West Dennis Road runs in a north-south direction between East Dennis and West Dennis.

3) You'll Need a Car

Now that you're confused by the roads, you should know that you'll probably need a car to get around the Cape, at least if you want to do it conveniently. As you might have guessed, this isn't New York or Boston, so it doesn't have a subway system that makes it easy to travel from town to town.

However, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority does have a fixed-route bus service that operates all over the Cape. It even has regional offerings like the Whoosh Trolley in Falmouth, the Barnstable Villager, the Hyannis Crosstown, and the H2O Hyannis-Orleans. 

There's also the Plymouth & Brockton bus service, providing rides to Boston and Providence, and the Peter Pan bus service, offering service to Boston, New York, and Providence.

4) You Can Choose Suburban and Rural Neighborhoods

One of the great things about living on Cape Cod is that you can choose between the various neighborhood types when buying a home.

If you want to be close to restaurants and shops, you can buy near a busy downtown area like Chatham, Hyannis, Osterville, or Yarmouth. Likewise, if you're more into a rural retreat, Eastham, Truro, Brewster, and Wellfleet are excellent options. There are also suburban neighborhoods throughout the Cape that offer a rural property's serenity without being too far from the necessary amenities.

You can choose between properties on the ocean, near a river, overlooking a marsh, on a pond, in a downtown area, or the forest, as the Cape has something for everyone.

5) The Architecture is Incredible

Cape Cod architecture is something to behold because so many houses from the region's early days remain. That's not to say that every home on the Cape is hundreds of years old. Still, there are many from that era, and even some recently-built homes inspired by the past.

As you drive around the Cape, you'll see two predominant styles: the classic Cape and the Greek revival.

Early settlers favored Cape-style homes because of their simplicity. The first ones were often single-room, which they would add onto as their families grew. Eventually, Full Capes became the norm, and they are the large homes you'll see in many beachfront communities.

Greek revival homes often have columns to mimic the government buildings in ancient Greece. Wealthy sea captains built many of the Greek revival houses on the Cape, so they're old, grand, and full of character.

Of course, there's more than old homes on Cape Cod, as newer subdivisions have condos and single-family units that are more modern in design and appearance.

Have a look around Cape Cod's unique architecture because you're sure to find the perfect design to match your tastes.

So Much to Like on Cape Cod

The appeal of living on Cape Cod is nearly endless, as the region is full of excitement in the summer, serenity in the winter, and a family-friendly atmosphere all year-round.

If you've visited the Cape in the past, you're probably aware of everything it has to offer as a vacation destination. However, Cape Cod is equally as delightful as a full-time residence, so find the perfect home and become a Cape Codder for life.