Despite the Snowpocalypse, buyers flocked to the Vineyard last week, check books in hand. Pricey sales were so brisk that the "Martha's Vineyard Land Bank broke its own record for fees last week, collecting more than $1 million in a single five-day period." According to the Vineyard Gazette, the amount collected in real estate transaction fees hasn't been in the seven figures since "the third week of December 2006, a peak period for real estate sales on the Island." Back then the Land Bank, which uses the funds to buy public conservation land, collected a total of $1,066,125 from the two percent transfer fee (fun fact: first-time home buyers are exempt from the charge). Last week, the five priciest sales sold for a total of just over $47 million, helping to bring the Land Bank a hefty $1,079,470.
Address: 48 Witchwood Lane, Edgartown
Sale Price: $22,000,000
The Skinny: We don't recall seeing this listing - perhaps it was a pocket listing? Regardless, it's a serious blockbuster. "The buyer is the Edgartown Trust, with John Zampino listed as trustee. The seller is JPBK Holdings MA LLC. That sale alone sent $440,000 in fees to the land bank." [Photo by Mark Lovewell, Vineyard Gazette]
Address: 140 Watcha Club Road, West Tisbury
Sale Price: $10,850,000
The Skinny: Originally asking $13,000,000, this 16.5 acre combo spread sold to Dennis Delaney and the Calawi Realty Trust.
Address: 305 Skipper's View Lane, Aquinnah
Sale Price: $6,500,000
The Skinny: This former PriceSpotter was originally looking for $7,750,000, but was picked up by Kaempfer Skippers Land LLC just over a million off the ask.
Address: 33 Beetlebung Road, Chilmark
Sale Price: $4,400,000
The Skinny: The buyer of this 7.8 acre water view spread, Beetlebung Road LLC, probably has some compound interests.
Address: 24 S Water Street, Edgartown
Sale Price: $3,600,000
The Skinny: Per the Gazette, "Charles and Anne Hajjar bought the Victorian Inn on South Water street from Karyn Calirir for $3.6 million." The circa 1820 restored whaling captain's home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
· Land Bank Fees Reach New High [Vineyard Gazette]