P-Town Home Buying Tips From Coldwell Banker Pat Shultz Real Estate

There's a reason why you'll see celebrated writers and entertainers like Tony Kushner, Michael Cunningham, John Waters and Rosie O'Donnell walking the streets of Provincetown: Because it's one of the East Coast's best-kept secrets.

Well... perhaps not much of a secret anymore. Provincetown's trajectory from sleepy fishing village to artist colony to ultimate year-round getaway has been steady and solid, and there are none who know its intricacies like the realtors at Pat Shultz Real Estate.

It's a history like much of P-Town: Colorful and full of love. Pat Shultz arrived on the shores of Cape Cod in the late '50s and landed a job at restaurateur Lenore Ross's Plain and Fancy. The two fell madly in love, and after a few years Pat started to dabble in real estate, using a table at the back of the restaurant as a makeshift office. In 1975 they sold the restaurant and officially opened Pat Shultz Real Estate, quickly become a trustworthy fixture in the community for home rentals and sales.

Shultz left the business in the mid-90s but was progressive in her approach to creating a collaborative environment based on teamwork. Today, partners Joe DeMartino, Joan Lenane and Michael Minore lead the team at Pat Schultz Real Estate, each offering their own areas of expertise and historical knowledge of Provincetown's charming enclaves.

"Provincetown offers something different for everyone," says Lenane. "A lot of times people move to a community for similar reasons - to enjoy beaches, outdoor activities, restaurants, etc. All of those things are available and equally important to visitors as well as the resident population. It's really a remarkable place that welcomes so many different and diverse people."

Endless Possibilities

Instead of initially fretting over property details, Lenane suggests that prospective buyers consider some key points as to how they will use the property. What is your relationship with Provincetown? Do you want to be in the middle of the action, or would you prefer solitude? Will this be a second home, or do you eventually plan on making it your full-time residence? Are you considering the home as rental income? From this point, each property can be evaluated in terms of its infrastructure and rental-rate potential.

Lenane also points out that nearly every property, whether a home or condominium floor plan, is unique, and offers potential buyers creativity to create their dream home.

Minore says that Provincetown features an exceptional array of architectural highlights, including Federal Style, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, and more. Renters who want to dip their toes in the Cape Cod lifestyle can experience such exquisite properties to get further acquainted with what might best fit their personal style. And with a company history dating back more than 40 years, owners know that Pat Schultz Real Estate is trustworthy and capable of handling any on-site logistics.

While the Pat Shultz team is clearly on the pulse of how Provincetown's residential community is evolving, they are also strong advocates and supporters of community initiatives and charitable organizations, inspired by their founder's dedication to the community's nonprofit organizations that include the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum.

But as much as things change, there are aspects of P-Town that will gratefully stay the same. Sixty-five percent of Provincetown land belongs to the national seashore and is protected from development. The town also has a moratorium against high rises.

Minore describes Provincetown as a "sophisticated, quaint beach community" - which sounds like someplace you just might want to live.

Pat Shultz Real Estate
406 Commercial Street
508-487-9550
www.patshultz.com