Posted by Brian Sullivan on Sun, Jan 29, 2012
I've been meaning to write a new blog post for awhile now because a lot has happened and I expect more will be in the near term. I'm gonna touch base on a few things here, sales, new listings, rentals for 2012 and ferry tickets. May be a longer post then normal but I will try to be succinct.
- 1st Vacation Rentals on Nantucket Summer 2012!
The phones have been ringing and emails flying in. Many future tenants have been calling since Jan 1st to book their summer rentals for this coming season. It already seems that inventory is dwindling quickly and it has become more difficult to find matches for tenants and homeowners. Rental inventory books in this cycle – Sept/October 25% of the inventory books to returning tenants who are happy with their homes from the previous season. Jan/Feb 50% of the inventory books in just 60 days, to new tenants or those moving around, it seems many people wait until the 1st of the year to book their summer vacation. After Valentine’s day there is only approx 25% of the inventory left making it difficult to find the right match for disconcerting tenants. My advice, reach out as soon as possible. Things important to be clear on; exact dates of stay (most rentals turnover on Sat.), budget, size and location of a home. Do wait, reach out soon!
- Advance ferry reservations on the Nantucket Steamship Car Ferry.
Advance reservations have already gone on sale, Jan 17th the Steamship started accepting reservations for automobiles. Make your car reservation ASAP! You will need your profile information handy or make a new one. Saturday reservations sell out very quickly so if your reading this and don’t have a reservation follow this link NOW! - https://reservations.steamshipauthority.com/vehiclersvp/
- Nantucket Real Estate Sales Activity.
Activity seems to have picked up pretty good lately. Since Jan 1st I have seen many deals negotiated and have signed offers to purchase or purchase and sale agreements. Activity is strong in most price points, the ultra high end, $5 million plus seems a little slow (but inventory is not that strong in this price point). In fact inventory seems down across the board with only 484 properties listed. Since Lehman in 2008 we saw as many as 675 listings on the market at one time. From $500,000 up to $5 million I have seen more than a handful of deals come together. To view listings with offers to purchase follow this link, to see homes with purchase and sale contracts on Nantucket click here.
Here is a quick chart on the inventory stats.
If you want to learn more about me, the listings I've worked on or homes I've sold visit this link.
If you are considering listing your Nantucket home for sale and want to chat about that, start here.
I won't wait so long to post next time, coming soon I will expand on my view of where the Nantucket market is now in realtion to where it was pre-lehman and post-lehman and where I think it is heading.
If you have questions, don't hesitate to call, email or look around the website for your anwsers.
Brian Sullivan
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Fri, Dec 23, 2011
I really enjoy winter on Nantucket, I enjoy aspects of this island everyday year round. People often ask what its like here in the winter, well its wonderful and beautiful. One photographer/videographer who I respect and personally believe is one of the best has done a beautiful job showcasing Nantucket in the winter, his name is Dan Driscoll. To see more of Dan's work visit his website at - http://www.dandriscollphotography.com
Enjoy Dans Video Here:
A Winter Postcard from Nantucket from Dan Driscoll on Vimeo.
Short film produced in 2003 just for the fun of it. It was the first time I used Sony Acid Pro to create a sound track. Fun little project that many of my friends have enjoyed so I thought I would share it with Vimeo.
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Sun, Nov 27, 2011
This blog post is a repost from Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce. To visit them directly go to : http://www.nantucketchamber.org/
'Tis the Season, Nantucket Style
Nantucket Noel featuring Christmas Stroll Weekend
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Imagine...crisp sea air spiced with wood smoke drifts through a historic harbor village...The cobblestoned streets are lined with decorated trees and warmly lit shops, while church bells chime familiar carols... the holiday season on Nantucket is magical.
Affectionately named Nantucket Noel, holiday festivities begin on the island the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 25 at 5 PM) with the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Community Caroling. Everyone gathers at the top of Main Street to watch over 100 Christmas trees come alive with color and light. Caroling follows, filling the air with sounds of an old fashioned Christmas. School children, youth groups and non-profit organizations join with island businesses to decorate the trees in time for Christmas Stroll the following weekend.
Now in its 38th year, Christmas Stroll Weekend is held the weekend after Thanksgiving (Dec. 2 - 4.) Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on Saturday via Coast Guard vessel and escorted up Straight Wharf by the Town Crier to a waiting horse and carriage. They parade up to the up Main and across Centre to the historic Jared Coffin House where they meet with eagerly awaiting children. Those strolling on Main Street during the day are entertained by the Magical Talking Tree (located at the top of Main), while carolers in period costume, bell ringers, student choirs and more perform on Main Street. Holiday craft shows, exhibitions and performances - including the popular annual Christmas House Tour on Friday evening - add to the joyful festivities. Our all new european style "Christmas Market" is open 10-3 on Saturday with island non-profit groups offering a delicious food, hot drinks, craft sales and games.
And, to truly see the island and all it has to offer, catch a ride on the Holiday Hop On/Hop Off Shuttle Service. Running 1:30-6 from the Whaling Musuem on Broad Street, visitors can make a loop around the island, getting off at various locations to enjoy cooking demos, activities and shopping opportunities wherever they like and catch the next shuttle as it comes around!
Holiday contests encourage creativity as people participate in events such as the Holiday Window, Doorway and Tree Decorating Contests. Holiday festivities and events continue throughout the month and many island shops, lodgings and restaurants remain open through New Years Eve. Check out the Nantucket Noel Calendar of Eventsfor a complete listing of all the season's festive activities and happenings!
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Mon, Sep 12, 2011
Nantucket Needs a Bike Path to Cisco on Hummock Pond Road as soon as possible!
Over the last number of years traffic on Hummock Pond Road has increased 10 fold, not just vehicle traffic but pedestrian and bicycle. Cisco Beach, and the Hummock Pond area of Nantucket have grown rapidly into one of the most popular destinations on the island both commercially and recreationally.
A number of years ago, Bartlett Farm underwent a very large expansion converting their local farmers market into one of Nantucket most desirable groceries and nurseries. Use and demand of the new market has increased traffic flow on a year round basis, the only road into the Farm is Hummock Pond Road.
Cisco Brewers has seen a major expansion and demand as well. In the spring summer and fall Cisco Brewery is a major attraction not just for tourist but locals alike who enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the brewery, on any given summer afternoon you will see almost 100 cars parked with people enjoying the brewery. Its not just vehicle traffic the Brewery creates on Hummock Pond Road, many people will walk or bike from Town.
Surfing has always been popular on Nantucket, 
but in recent years there has been an explosion of interest. There are multiple camps, and schools that have locations in the Cisco area, families, children and adults will be found every day of summer traveling to Cisco to enjoy this wonderful summer activity.
The bike path network on Nantucket is tremendous! It is enjoyed by thousands of people every year for recreation, healthy activities and as a transportation resource. The current network of paths services areas like Polpis, Surfside, Madaket and Dionis; NONE of these locations have the commercial demand and traffic that the Cisco/Hummock area of the island has today. As wonderful and scenic as these existing paths are, none would match the public safety benefit as a bike path running the entire length of Hummock Pond Road that would improve access to Cisco Beach, Bartlett Farm and Cisco Brewery.
In recent years public transportation on Nantucket has grown dramatically. The NRTA otherwise known as The Wave bus service is doing a wonderful job servicing island areas like Sconset, the airport, and some beaches like Surfside and Madaket. One of the only beach areas on Nantucket that is not serviced by the NRTA is Cisco. The current route known as the Miacomet Loop stops at the corner of Somerset and Hummock Pond Road, while this is a benefit to the area it falls short. Stopping the route at this location only generates more pedestrian traffic on the remaining distance to the beach, farm and brewery.
The Town of Nantucket has an excellent planning department, a dedicated group of selectman and Town employees who have made tremendous efforts throughout the years in servicing the public interest and safety. The process for the bike path is underway in mulitiple phases, here is a link to the Towns website for information on their progress.
With this letter I implore you the reader to reach out, call, or write a letter to Nantucket’s Selectman, Planning Board members, Hummock Pond Road residents, your friends, neighbors and tenants who enjoy Nantucket; educate them on the need and demand for a complete bike path the entire length of Hummock Pond Road as soon as possible before we have a tragedy strikes and we all say we should have done it sooner.
Please join the discussion on Facebook 
Here are email and regular mail address’s so you can reach out to Nantucket department heads and local media with your thoughts and opinions.
Libby Gibson – Town Manager LGibson@nantucket-ma.gov
16 Broad Street, 1st Floor
Nantucket, MA 02554
Selectman:
Inquire and Mirror – Nantucket Local Newspaper
http://www.ack.net/contact_us.html
508 228 0001
Marianne Stanton – Editor - mstanton@inkym.com
Leslie Snell – Senior Planner lwsnell@nantucket-ma.gov
2 Fairgrounds Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Andrew Vorce – Planning Director avorce@nantucket-ma.gov
2 Fairgrounds Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Mike Burns – Transportation Planner mburns@nantucket-ma.gov
2 Fairgrounds Road
Nantucket, MA 02554
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Sat, Jul 16, 2011
The real estate market on Nantucket this summer is HEATING Up! Showings have increased 10 fold over last summer year to date. Offers are being negotiated in ALL price points. The high end of the market was very strong over the 4th of July week. It seems the historic trend that the Nantucket real estate market has seen in the past of being the last place to fall after a recession starts and the first place to recover is holding true again, just like it did in the 90's and 2003.
There are currently 41 properties under contact, shown in the multiple listing service, (meaning offer to purchase or executed purchase and sale agreement), there are many other properties that have accepted offers in the last week or so that are not yet showing in the listing service, and even more in the middle of negoiation likely soon to be under contract. At the moment the avg days on market of what is under contract is 223. The avg asking price of what is under contract is $2,155,878. There are 11 properties under contract over $3 million dollars.
Inventory is lower than it has been in the last 3 years. Last year at this time there were roughly 680 listings for sale, now there are 619 with an average price of $2,247,043 and median price of $1,562,500. There are 120 listings priced between $2 million and $3 million and only 102 over $3 million. New listings are coming to the market all the time, there have been 25 new listings in the last week.
Pricing of new listings and many older listings has corrected to account for the downturn in the overall econmoy and now represent value to many prospective buyers. Below is a chart that compares dollar value of transactions on Nantucket to the Dow Jones Avg. this chart dates back to 1998 - so there are market cycles represented. The end data points are from Dec 31st 2011.
As can be seen in this graphic, Nantucket Real Estate activity trends closely to the Dow Jones avg. since the last data point in 2010 the stock market is up over 1,000 points or 9%. I would expect year end 2011 the total transaction dollars on Nantucket to be up at least that percentage or greater. As can be seen in the graph when the Nantucket market came out of the 2001 slump, the rise in real estate volume here on island rose at a greater percentage then the Dow.
All of these factors; rise in showing activity, increased properties under contract, strong dow jones activity, shriking invenorty are all signs to me that now is the time to get in on the Nantucket Real Estate market before the next up cycle gets much more momentum.
I once had a client tell me "if you wait for the bottom you are sure to miss it."
Now maybe the best time to act!
Call me 508 414 1878 or email me to discuss at greater length and to book appointments to find you Nantucket Vacation home.
Brian Sullivan
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Sat, Jun 18, 2011
In my mind there is nothing that more Americana then 4th of July on Nantucket!
Cobblestone Streets lined with buildings that have existed for a hundred years is the main stage for the daytime events, back yard BBQ's, and evening fireworks round out a perfect day on Nantucket where family, and fun are the focus.
Here I have complied just a short list of things to do on Nantucket for the 4th of July. I would love if you shared some of your favorite events in the comments section below.
Main Street Nantucket 4th of July Activities
10:00am – 11:40am
Come down to Main Street and celebrate Independence Day by participating in or watching the following activities:
Master of Ceremonies
- Stop by the stage in front of the Even Keel Cafe at
- 40Main Street. Find out what is going on and where.
Dunk Tank
- Union Street entrance get your friends, family or someone you don’t know wet.
Watermelon Eating Contest 
- @ the Fountain at lower end of Main Street
Face Painting
- In front of 30 Main Street
Pie Eating Contest
- In Front of 46 Main Street
Bike Decoration Contest (including tricycles and wagons)
- Federal Street entrance to Main Street
Sand Art
- In front of 25 main Street
11:45am –Noon HIGH LIGHT EVENT!!!!
Water Fight between Town firefighters with old hand pumper and Flint Ranney’s volunteers on his antique fire truck. Bring your umbrella! Bring a Change of Clothes for Adults and Kids, getting wet can NOT be avoided.
- Starts at upper end of street by Pacific Bank and spreads downhill to Pacific Club.
Children’s Beach Activities
5:00pm– 6:00pm
There will be games for every age bracket. If you are under a certain age, you might just get a ribbon!
- Running Races
- Tree Legged Races
- Potato Sack Races
- Tug-of-War!
Of Course we can not forget the best of the best, the 4th of july fireworks!
At 9 pm a barge anchored 1 mile off of jetties beach will erupt with an outstanding fireworks display! Watch a video here of a past fireworks display on Nantucket. If you are heading down to the beach head down early, and remember to bring a blanket or chair and please bring a Clear trash bag with you to pick up after your evening of enjoyment - always try to keep Nantucket Beaches beautiful!
Getting to Jetties Beach! DON'T DRIVE - there is no where to park, walk, ride a bike or take The Wave!
Beginning at 6:00 PM, NRTA buses will leave the Whaling Museum on Broad Street approximately every 10-15 minutes. The Jetties Beach stop is at the corner of Bathing Beach Road and Hulbert Avenue. Fares are $1 each way, 50 cents for Senior Citizens.
Children under 6 are free. After the event buses will depart Bathing Beach Road And Hulbert Avenue and return to Broad Street approximately every 20-30 minutes until 11:00 p.m.
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Tue, Jun 14, 2011
I was recently asked to answer a few questions of the state of the Nantucket Real Estate market for the July edition of the Nantucket Property Journal. I thought these questions and answers about the current state of the Nantucket Real Estate market may be of interest for those of you following the blog and worth sharing to friends and family interested in the Nantucket Real Estate market.
If you are not already following Nantucket Real Estate Agent.com on Facebook - please click this link and like our facebook page to stay up to date with current listings.
I can also be found on Linkdin here.
- Where is the market right now?
Nantucket has two markets, year round and vacation homes. We are now transitioning from a very busy winter year round market into the summer season of vacation sales. Prices in the year round market have fallen in the last few years and this has greatly increased the number of transactions in that market place in the past 10 months. Recently we have seen a good number of new listing come to market positioned for the summer vacation market, pricing has adjusted from the highs and are now in line with current economic environment.
- There has been talk recently of signs pointing to a national recovery. What's your take on when we'll feel the full and lasting effects of any recovery on Nantucket?
Historically Nantucket has always been the last place to decline and the first place to recover from any economic national or global downturn and it appears this time won’t be any different. Strong rental numbers have been posted, word is hotel reservations, enplanements and ferry reservations are all up as well. Nantucket has been a building based economy for many years. A visit to the building department today shows that there have been 20 new homes permitted and 104 renovations since Jan 1st. 8 of these new home projects were just permitted in the month of May. New home construction has fallen dramatically since 2005 when there were 212 new homes built, but renovations have been consistently over 300 since 2003 an indication to me that Nantucket is a very constrained market with limited new land available for construction and constant competition with conservation groups to acquire open space. (The renovation number represent demo and new build).
- What is the state of the rental market?
YTD the rental market is very strong for the months of July and Aug. Number of leases is up 30% across the board and dollar volume follows suit. At this point it is very difficult to find quality inventory in all price points. The strongest weeks of season are the first 3 weeks of Aug and the first two of July. These numbers have been up consistently since before the 1st of the year which is a strong sign of recovery that people are and were willing to commit to planning vacations far in advance. The vacation sales market historically has followed the pattern set by the rental market.
- What kind of properties are selling now?
Throughout the winter season the year round market was very active, prices have fallen to a point that many buyers are qualifying for new mortgages and seeing value. Over the last 12 months we have seen great strength in the top end of the market with 21 sales over $5 million and an avg. price of $10,312,405. When this article is printed I expect historic trends to be true and the $2 to $4 million market so see significant increased activity.
- What neighborhood(s) do you think is/are undervalued now?
Surfside or Tom Nevers
What neighborhood(s) do you think best retain its/their value over time?
Any waterfront. Monomoy/Shimmo, The Cliff
- Are you seeing any movement in the sale of land, either up or down from previous years?
Land sales are down and it is a scarcity/supply issue. The Nantucket Land bank, Conservation Foundation, and the Town of Nantucket control the majority of property on the island at this point. Supply of quality lots has been on a rapid decline over the last 10 years and this is driving price up, this also drives pricing in home sales as well as more and more property is acquired by conservation. In 1998 there were 269 lots sold with an avg. price of $302,000, 2005 there were 117 sales with an avg. price of $1,190,000 and in 2010 there were only 31 lots sold and the average price was $1,109,000. Land on Nantucket has held its value well during this most recent economic cycle and will only continue to increase in value as we as and island and national economy recover from the most recent downturn.
As always if you have any questions about the Nantucket Real Estate market please contact me or post a message here.
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Mon, May 30, 2011
Nantucket's Best Restaurants 
There are many amazing restaurants on Nantucket, too many to capture them all. I have been living on Nantucket since 1996 and enjoying some of the best dining options of anywhere I have traveled around the world right here in my back yard. Many of our local restaurants have acheived the highest Zagats ratings, as well as Wine Spectator grand awards! I can't say that I have a favorite restaurant on island. I do have favorite dishes, like the baked stuffed lobster at Lenguedoc Bistro, or the daily special souffle at Ships Inn. I also have favorite experiences like a romantic meal at Company of the Cauldron while listing to the harpist strum a tune or a sunset drink and meal on the beach at The Galley. Below I have complied a list of my favorite Nantucket Restaurants in no particular order, there are fine dining, family restaurants, breakfast options and even take out choices. I do recommend advanced reservation at any of the fine dining listed.
Bon appetite!
Brian Sullivan
Also the early summer event of Nantucket Restaurant Week starts on June 6th - June 12th 2011. Here is a link to special menus and events!
Fine Dining
Family
Breakfast Favorites
Brunch on Sunday
Take out
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Thu, May 26, 2011
Hedgebury Lane, Nantucket home for sale
I am very excited about my newest listing. I have been anxious for the project developer to complete the property and now we are ready to introduce this
White Shell drive leads to covered porch entry. Entry opens to foyer overlooking large open living dining and kitchen area. Glass French doors lead into very bright office/den. Hall leads to half bath, mudroom entry and laundry room. Master bedroom suite has large walk-in closet with custom shelving, large master bath with dual vanity, walk in shower, marble tiles through out. Master Bedroom has vaulted ceilings, French doors to blue stone patio over looking pool area. Living room has gas fireplace, coffer-ed ceiling details, and French doors to covered porch that opens to patio, pool and back yard. Kitchen has every detail, 6 burner Wolfe stove, Subzero refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, custom tile back splash, Marble counter tops, and beautifully cabinetry work though out.
High ceilings, oak floors, beautiful mill work through out each of the three bedroom suites. Each bath has been beautifully tiled, complete with Kohler bath fixtures, glass enclosed showers, and polished chrome finish fixtures.
Finished Lower Level with 9'6" ceilings. Large media rec room, billiards area, wet bar, wine storage closet, full bath with Marble tile and walk in shower, Bedroom, Gym.
Pool House, with Den, 1 Bath, living room with vaulted ceilings, Mahogany deck floor, indoor grill kitchen with custom Mahogany counter tops, indoor outdoor dining room with herring bone brick floor.
This home is offered partially furnished and available for summer 2011. Offered at $3,450,000
Posted by Brian Sullivan on Mon, May 23, 2011
Traveling to and from Nantucket can be daughting to some, but its not. Here I have complied a complete list of airlines that fly to and from Nantucket, Nantucket Island car rentals, Bike rentals on Nantucket as well as car services on island all in an effort to make your time on island more enjoyable.
Fly to and from Nantucket
Ferry to Nantucket
- Hyline Nantucket - The Hyline ferry service offers many options to travel to and from Nantucket, including a 1 hour ferry servicing the island year round. Here is their link - https://hylinecruises.com/
- Steamship to Nantucket - The Steamship is the only car ferry service to and from Nantucket. There are 2 hour and 1 hour passenger ferries that service the island - here is the website for the Steamship Authority - http://www.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/
- The Freedom Cruise Line travels to Nantucket from Harwich Port Ma in the summer season - check out their schedule http://www.nantucketislandferry.com/
Nantucket Car Rentals
There are many car rental services on Nantucket, most are local operations but there are a few National brands servicing the island. Car rentals on Nantucket are expensive but if ferry reservations are sold out it is sometimes the best choice.
Bicycle Rentals on Nantucket
Public Transportation On Nantucket - NRTA
Nantucket has a public transportation service now known as "the Wave" or NRTA (Nantucket Regional Transit Authority). It services many island beaches and is in a constant loop around the island. Here are some helpful links. They also have an Iphone app with live information on shuttle locations.
Car Services on Nantucket
There are a handful of private car services on Nantucket that offer a wide varity of services. Here are a few.
As always if you have any Nantucket Real Estate or rental questions please feel free to contact me.
Brian