We've been riding a wild real estate wave since 2020 with home prices surging. Financial experts are now predicting a slow change beginning in 2023 with a continued decrease in home prices into 2024.

As stated in an article published by Appraisal Buzz

Experts Predict Prices to Fall 5% by the End of Next Year

Most financial institutions predict market prices will fall by around 5% by the end of 2023. Wells Fargo predicts the decrease will be over 5%, and analyst Ivy Zelman expects prices will drop by 4% in 2023 and another 5% in 2024.

Check out the full article: The Housing Market is Projected to Fall in 2023: What You Should Know

If you are looking to buy, build or renovate your home, kitchen or bath on Cape Cod, consider working with the REEF Builders team with complete real estate, design, permitting, and construction services.

Looking for costs per square foot for a new home on Cape Cod?  Click here to download our Construction Cost Guide

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As we head into November, the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday is at the forefront of our planning minds. What will we be serving, who will be coming, and most importantly, where will we be eating? Is your home ready to host family and friends?

Dining rooms have almost become a thing of the past, with the majority of our clients choosing open kitchen designs that include large island seating and full dining tables, which lend itself to a larger space for gathering. This is right on trend according to The National Kitchen & Bath Association, who have  released their annual Design Trends study for 2023. 

The NKBA study also shows:

• Designers are combining multiple elements to create unique styles for clients.
• Homeowners prefer kitchens with an open look and feel that have features to hide clutter.
• Large, multi-function islands for food prep, dining, work and device charging are gaining in popularity. 
• Primary bathrooms with a spa-like atmosphere will be in greater demand.

These bright new kitchens are breathtaking, but as is the sentiment of Thanksgiving, any space will do when you are fortunate enough to be together. 

If you are looking to build or renovate your home, kitchen or bath on Cape Cod, consider working with the REEF Builders team with complete design, permitting, and construction services.

Looking for costs per square foot for a new home on Cape Cod?  Click here to download our Construction Cost Guide

Follow us on social @thecapecodbuilder

•  The recent Covid-19 pandemic will have lasting impacts on society, specifically with regard to how people will live and work in the future.  Working from home was a novelty until a couple of years ago, and it has swiftly become the norm for many industries, and with people spending more time at home, we are seeing changes coming in home design that are probably here to stay.    Here are some of the changes that current and future generations are looking for in a new home or major renovation project:   
• Larger home offices, and often times multiple office rooms in one home
• Larger more elaborate bathrooms
• Relaxation spaces like rooms dedicated to video games, home theater, or golf simulators

Here's a great article with some additional information on how the pandemic is changing housing in the future:  How the Pandemic is Changing Housing

If you are looking to build or renovate your home on Cape Cod, consider working with the REEF Builders team with complete design, permitting, and construction services.

Looking for costs per square foot for a new home on Cape Cod?  Click here to download our Construction Cost Guide

Looking for land on Cape Cod for you new home?  Here's a fantastic opportunity for a family compound or estate property overlooking the Great Marsh of Barnstable and Sandy Neck.  This 8.98 acre parcel is located at 134 Route 6A, West Barnstable, with sweeping views of the marsh and dunes beyond. Due to it's size and location, this property would support multiple dwelling units, or it may be possible to subdivide subject to the Town of Barnstable Zoning By-law.

If  you are considering building new or renovating your home take a click here to download our 2022 Construction Cost Guide.  This guide provides up to date cost per square foot for all types of construction projects here on Cape Cod.

If you are looking for land for sale on Cape Cod, here's a link to our Cape Cod Land Search

The land buying process can be difficult and a bit overwhelming in today's regulatory environment, but the REEF team can make this process predictable as we are experts in Real Estate, Zoning, Permitting and of course full service design and construction for custom homes.

For more information about this fantastic land opportunity in click here for the full MLS Listing information for 134 Route 6A, West Barnstable, or contact the listing broker, Matt Teague at 508-394-3090

We're thrilled to see one of our recent projects in Chatham featured by the Lifestyle Asset Group as one of their flagship fractional ownership locations here in the New England area.  This home, designed and built by the REEF Team was selected to be the first property in the region offered for a vacation  co-ownership property due to it's unique location, stunning design and finishes.  We were proud to be part of this project and if you are looking to build or renovate a home here on Cape Cod, please consider the REEF Builders Team!  

Wondering what the cost per square foot might be for a new home on Cape Cod?  Click here to download our Cape Cod Construction Cost Guide

Every week we get phone calls about building a new home or renovating existing homes here on Cape Cod. More often than not, we discover that many of these project sites are located within documented FEMA Flood zones. Why is this important?

Any construction within a FEMA A, AE, AO or V flood zones require special design and construction considerations that can either limit or dramatically change a homeowners' concept what their new home or renovated home may look like.

If you want to know if your home is in a FEMA Flood Zone - Click Here to enter your address and find out!

Here's a great diagram from FEMA that explains the impacts of different flood zone designations on home construction:

Any properties located within these zones (with the exception of the "X" zone) must be designed and built to flood resistant construction standards which generally means that any new home or addition in these areas must be raised up above the flood plain, and foundation areas must be designed to allow flood waters to pass through the foundation without damage.

Renovations and additions are especially tricky as the size (monetary value) of the project may require the entire existing structure to be raised up above the flood plain before the renovation or addition work can begin. The requirement to raise the home up is determined by the "Substantial Improvement" regulation defined below:

Any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the "start of construction" of the improvement. This term includes structures which have incurred "substantial damage," regardless of the actual repair work performed. The term does not, however, include either:

1. Any project for improvement of a structure to correct existing violations of state or local health, sanitary, or safety code specifications which have been identified by the local code enforcement official and which are the minimum necessary to assure safe living conditions or
2. Any alterations of a "historic structure," provided that the alteration will not preclude the structure's continued designation as a "historic structure."

Floodplain management requirements for new construction apply to substantial improvements. Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage does not apply to substantial improvements unless a structure is substantially damaged due to flooding.

Here's a good example of a home after a substantial improvement in a flood zone:

  So what will the hot new home design and decor trends be for 2022? With the Covid era passing, people have been spending more and more time at home, working, attending class or just "social distancing."  This new interest in the home is driving some new trends which we love!

We have seen trends towards more natural finishes and interior decor elements bringing in rich wood tones and brown and tan colors from nature.

Also, elements like multi-purpose living areas that can transition from a home office to entertainment space, or guest bedroom are big this year as people continue to work from home.

Patterned Textiles and natural wood furniture often with carved elements are on trend, again playing on the nature theme, with calming and neutral brown and wood tones.

If you want to learn more about interior design trends for 2022 - click here to learn more from Vogue - 2022 Interior Design Trends

If you are considering building or renovating a home on Cape Cod, please take a moment to read our Construction Cost Guide for Cape Cod

Looking for that perfect parcel of land or property to build your Cape Cod dream home? Check out our Cape Cod Land Search

Pantone has released their color of the year: Very Peri!

More importantly, Pantone has provided several complimentary color palettes that provide inspiration for any of your home projects. Pantone provides a universal language of color that enables color-critical decisions through every stage of the workflow for brands and manufacturers. More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – leveraging advanced X-Rite technology to achieve color consistency across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design.

Their "color harmonies" provide a great tool for designers looking to compliment this great classic color. If you are planning your new home, renovation or remodeling project on Cape Cod, Pantone offers exception tools and color consulting that can really help your decision making process.

Click below to find out more about Pantone and their expertise in color!

Pantone Color of the Year

If you are considering building a new custom home on Cape Cod, or if you are considering renovating your existing Cape Cod Home, you may want to download some of our helpful project guides:

Cost Control Guide

Cape Cod Construction Cost Guide, Cost per Square Foot

We came across this article the other day and we had to share it!  We are big fans of shake style cabinetry as the clean lines and simple design are a perfect compliment to any Cape Cod Home.  We have designed and built hundreds of kitchens over the years, and we would have to say that 80% or more used shaker style cabinetry!

Click here to see 44 inspiring kitchen designs featuring shaker cabinets

Here is a kitchen we recently completed as part of a renovation and addition project in Orleans!

If you are considering building a new home on Cape Cod or a major renovation or addition, please download our Construction Cost Guide!  

Looking for Land on Cape Cod?  Visit our Cape Cod Land Search