We're always looking for ways to help our customers maximize the enjoyment of their Cape Cod Home. Many of the homes we build enjoy water views, and even waterfront. Water is always an enjoyable feature around a home. Small ponds are easy to build, and provide lots of enjoyment, usually attracting birds, frogs, butterflies, and crickets (no mosquitoes, though, thanks to the moving water). Here’s a step-by-step guide to building your own backyard sanctuary. 

How to create a backyard pond

How to create a backyard pond

Recently we have had several customers ensure that their new Cape Cod home design has good space for a home office. As the kids grow up and move away, often that extra bedroom becomes a space for working out of the home. Here are some striking home office designs that will get your creative juices flowing:

Dramatic Home Office Design Ideas

Dramatic Home Office Design Ideas

Every day we talk with people who are interested in creating a more modern, comfortable, usable and enjoyable space on their Cape Cod home site. Invariably money and finances enter the discussion. Affording and financing the new home is an important part of the equation.

With the cost of financing at record lows, combined with ever-increasing construction costs…”There’s no time like the present” to get your Cape Cod project underway. Additionally, new building codes are expected to go into effect this summer, with new energy efficiency requirements pushing costs up further.

So here’s a short read from the Real Estate board:

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates largely holding steady from the previous week, remaining near their 65-year record lows, and continuing to provide support for the housing recovery.

Results showed that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.52 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 7, 2013, up from last week when it averaged 3.51 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.88 percent.

Additionally, the 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.76 percent with an average 0.7 point, the same as last week. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.13 percent.

The survey shows that the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.63 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.61 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.81 percent.

The 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.63 percent this week with an average 0.3 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.64 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.73 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

"With gross domestic product growing only 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, inflation remains at bay and consequently mortgage rates low," says Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac. In fact, the price index of personal consumption expenditures rose only 0.1 percent in January which was below the market consensus forecast. Moreover, these low mortgage rates are helping to revive the housing market. For instance the CoreLogic® home price index rose 9.7 percent between January 2012 and 2013, marking the largest annual increase since April 2006."

Download our complimentary Guide: How to Control the Cost of your Project

Download our complimentary Guide: How to Control the Cost of your Project

We've got some beautiful kitchens under construction right now. Imagine enjoying a relaxing time with friends and family in your dream kitchen...we make that dream come true for our Customers! Many hours of design time go in to our kitchen creations, and we're always looking for fresh ideas. Home & Garden Magazine talked to top designers and kitchen experts to get the scoop on the hottest trends in kitchens for 2013. Whether you're looking for a quick update or a total overhaul, you'll love these ideas.

Kitchen Design Trends for 2013

Kitchen Design Trends for 2013

Whether you’re building your dream kitchen from the ground up, or re-facing existing cabinets, the choice of cabinet pulls and knobs is important. These small parts play a vital role in the function of your cabinetry, and can really help set the tone for the heart of your home. Here’s some great ideas and insights to help you select the right knobs and pulls for the cabinets in your Cape Cod home.

Kitchen cabinet knobs for your Cape Cod home

Kitchen cabinet knobs for your Cape Cod home

Which kitchen design works best for your Cape Cod home? Here are the 2013 Finalists, and you can vote for your favorite!

Bright and white? Warm and cozy? Open and airy? Perhaps a grand space to entertain all your friends. Whatever your idea of the best possible kitchen space, REEF can build it. Here are some great ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  

Kitchen Design Finalists for 2013

What a great story: Husband promises a Cape Cod summer to his Wife as birthday gift…then they buy the home they’re renting…then they replace it with a beautiful new Cape Cod home!  The Cape Cod View magazine loved the story, and the house! It’s a great read.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a home on Cape Cod, REEF can help make that happen. Here’s how:

Cape View Birthday Gift-Captain Dean_Orleans_Ostapchuk.pdf

Cape View Birthday Gift-Captain Dean_Orleans_Ostapchuk.pdf

Home Remodeling Magazine was so impressed with this REEF home, it became a feature article. We took a 400 square foot cottage built in 1942, and turned it into a wonderfully special summer home, right on the Barnstable Harbor beach. Years of effort finally resulted in the necessary permits, and quality construction of this idyllic Cape Cod retreat.

It’s worth a read:

“Persistence pays off.    Now, three years after they moved in, the retired couple can relax on their back porch with a cup of tea—as grandchildren happily frolic in the yard—and savor the view that stretches across Barnstable Harbor all the way to the dunes at Sandy Neck Beach.”

REEF creates a idyllic waterfront family cottage

We're getting lots of requests for more project photos. Here's a bungalow near Mayflower Beach that we were asked to replace. Our design team created a 4 Bedroom home with 3 Full Baths and 1 Half Bath to fit on the small lot. The finish carpenters are on site now creating some beautiful toucehes to the interior. I'll post that work in the future.

We started this project in September, and it will be ready for occupancy in April.

 The new home offers views of Cape Cod Bay from the updstairs deck and windows.

We'll be done before May, ready for move-in and summer fun! Walk to the Beach and Gina's Restaurant!

2012 was a turnaround year for the Cape Cod real estate market. Sotheby’s International Realty has several offices here on the Cape, and they do a great job with statistics and market analysis. Here is their recap of the 2012 market, illustrating a growing demand for real estate on Cape Cod. Read the report to understand how declining inventory, increasing sales quantity, and steady climb of sales prices are indicators of healthy market.

If you’re ready for your Cape Cod home, then now is a great time to start the process.

Sotheby's Cape Cod Market recap 2012