Since the 1960s, Nantucket has been a premier second home destination, but for those of us who call Nantucket home year-round, we know how wonderful of a community it can be regardless of the season. Whether you are looking to live on Nantucket part-time or full-time, living on Nantucket is a little different from living in other places – below are some things to keep in mind when you are starting your home search. For more information about buying a home on Nantucket, contact Jordan Real Estate.
Consider Island Living
This one may seem like a no brainer, but before you even start looking at properties on Nantucket, you will want to ensure you are prepared to live life on an island. While the mainland is a relatively short ferry ride away, during bad weather it can be impossible to leave. Making sure you are prepared to pay more for things and have more limited access to big box stores than if you were on the mainland is something you need to be prepared for. That doesn’t mean that Nantucket doesn’t have conveniences like hardware stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
In addition to the convenience and cost of island living, you will also need to be prepared to live somewhere where everyone knows who you are. We are a small community that enjoys knowing each other and being there for each other when needed.
Identify Your Ideal Neighborhood
Nantucket may be a small island, but it is also home to more than 20 distinct neighborhoods. From Town where you are close to amenities to Quaise where you are one with nature, there’s somewhere for everyone’s taste on Nantucket. Before you start looking at homes for sale on the island, you should narrow down where you want to live. You can learn more about the island communities here.
Create Your Features Wishlist
Whether you are looking for a second home or primary residence, living on an island can be as minimal or as luxurious as you want. You should identify key features that you definitely want in your home so that one of our agents can show you the homes that fit your lifestyle the best. Making changes later down the road can be pricier and take more time since everything has to be transported to the island and you can’t just pop down to IKEA.
Budget for Upkeep
Something you will definitely want to keep in mind, especially if you are only planning to live in your Nantucket home part of the year, is the cost to keep your home well maintained while you aren’t there. Especially if you are going to be gone during the winter months, you will want to budget for expenses like snow removal so you don’t come back next season to major damage.
Be Prepared to Make an Offer
Nantucket is a small island, which means there is limited space for residential development. On Nantucket we take our ecosystem very seriously, so much of the island is designated as conservation land and will never be developed. Because of the limited space when you find a home you love you should be ready to place an offer quickly.
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