Inventory is finite
Being on an island constrains how many homes can come to market. That scarcity can support values in desirable blocks, but it also means each listing is judged against a thin set of recent sales—not a deep suburban sample.
Character varies street by street
Downtown proximity, elevation, flood zone, renovation quality, and whether a home feels more historic or more coastal all affect how buyers compare properties. Two homes a few blocks apart can serve different buyer pools.
Insurance and elevation matter
Coastal ownership costs are not optional extras. Flood zone designation, construction type, and roof age often influence monthly cost as much as the mortgage rate. Those facts belong in early conversations—not after inspection day.