Buyer Guide

Buying on Nantucket, step by step

Buying on Nantucket is not complicated, but it is different. Inventory is limited, the island has its own boards and rules, and the best homes often move quickly. After two decades here, I have learned that a calm, well-ordered process makes every decision easier. Here is how I walk clients through it.

1. Start with how you want to live

Before we look at a single listing, I ask a few questions. Is this a full-time home, a second home, or a place that may also welcome rental guests? Do you picture walking to dinner in Town, or a quiet morning on a bluff? Your answers shape the neighborhoods we visit and the kind of property we consider.

2. Talk with your lender and attorney early

A conversation with your lender helps you understand what financing is available and how a pre-approval or cash offer will read to sellers. Massachusetts buyers typically work with a real estate attorney, and I encourage you to line one up before you make an offer. I am not a lender or an attorney, so they are the right people for financial and legal questions.

3. Search with local context

I will send you homes that fit, and I will also tell you what the listing does not. Flood zone, septic or sewer, historic district status, access and neighborhood character all matter here, and they are easier to weigh when someone who knows the island is beside you. Use Search Current Listings any time to see what is on the market.

4. Price it with data

I compare what similar homes have actually sold for, including how sale prices have related to assessed values, so you know whether a price makes sense before you offer. That is the foundation of my Island Value approach, and it keeps negotiation grounded in facts rather than urgency.

5. Make an offer and move through the contract

Once an offer is accepted, your attorney guides you through the purchase and sale agreement. Inspections, financing steps and any questions about zoning, permits or title happen in this window. I help coordinate so nothing is waiting on anyone.

6. Understand the costs unique to the island

Beyond the price, there are closing costs, and Nantucket buyers also pay the Land Bank transfer fee of 2 percent. Your attorney can explain how it applies to your purchase, including any exemptions that may be available.

7. Close and settle in

I am with you through closing and beyond. If you would like help finding trusted island contractors, caretakers or rental management, I am glad to connect you.

Ready to talk through your own plan? Schedule a consultation and tell me how you want island life to feel.

This guidance is educational and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Please consult an attorney, CPA or lender about your own purchase.

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