Beverly Homes & Living

🪨 Most people drive right past this road in Rockport — and I think about that every time I visit.

Halibut Point State Park is one of my favorite spots on the entire North Shore, and not enough people know what's actually there.

It's not just a park. It's a 440-million-year-old granite quarry that once powered an entire town's economy — supplying stone for the Brooklyn Bridge, the Holland Tunnel, and Boston's Custom House Tower — now turned into one of the most beautiful 90-minute walks you can take in October.

The old quarry is filled with 60 feet of water. The trail walks you to the Atlantic. On a clear day, you can see Maine from the granite ledge.

📍 4 Gott Ave, Rockport MA · Off Route 127
🅿️ $5 MA residents · $20 out-of-state through Oct 12
🐕 Dogs welcome on leash · ♿ Mostly accessible
⏱ 90 min · Easy 1.7-mile loop

Have you been? I'd love to hear what you think! 👇

🍂 North Shore Smart Moves: October 2026 Market Update

The fall market is here — and the numbers are telling smart buyers something important.

📊 Median home price: $860,000 (↑5.1% year-over-year)
🏠 Active listings: Just 490 homes — down 43.8% from a decade ago
💰 30-year rates: Holding near 6.3%
📈 10-year price appreciation: 100% on the North Shore

WHY OCTOBER IS YOUR WINDOW:

✅ Less buyer competition — fall brings fewer bidding wars
✅ Motivated sellers — homes still listed in October often mean more negotiating room
✅ Pre-winter timing — start now and close before cold-weather complications
✅ Prices trend up in spring — waiting means paying more later
✅ Beverly, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea & Marblehead all holding strong

Ready to make your smart move? DM us or comment below to schedule a free strategy call.

🍂 Fall is the perfect season to find your dream home on Massachusetts' North Shore!

With stunning autumn foliage, less buyer competition, and motivated sellers, October is a golden window of opportunity — whether you're buying or selling.

From the charming streets of Ipswich to the rocky shores of Manchester-by-the-Sea, the North Shore is magical in the fall 🏡

✅ Less competition from buyers
✅ Motivated sellers ready to negotiate
✅ Close before the holidays
✅ Beautiful fall backdrop for showings

📲 DM me or call/text to schedule your free consultation!

Kathleen Militello | eXp Real Estate
📍 Serving Ipswich, Beverly, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester & beyond

🌿 Wednesday Community Spotlight: Gloucester's Hidden Ghost Town

Deep in the woods between Gloucester and Rockport lies Dogtown — a 3,600-acre colonial ghost town most people on the North Shore have never heard of.

At its peak: 100 families. After the Revolution: war widows keeping fierce dogs for protection — that's how it got its name. By 1830: completely abandoned. Last resident found frozen in a cellar hole.

Then during the Great Depression, millionaire and Babson College founder Roger Babson hired stonecutters to carve words into the boulders: 'NEVER TRY NEVER WIN.' 'HELP MOTHER.' 'COURAGE.'

His family called it disgracing them. He kept going. Those boulders are still there today.

📖 Full story: essexcountyhomesforsale.com

Have you been to Dogtown? Comment below! 🌿

One of the most common surprises I hear from first-time buyers on the North Shore?

Closing costs.

Most buyers carefully save for their down payment — then get caught off guard at the closing table. Here's what you need to know: closing costs are a completely separate expense.

On a North Shore home around $600,000, buyers typically pay $12,000–$30,000 beyond their down payment. That covers your real estate attorney (Massachusetts law requires one at every single closing), lender origination fees, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid property taxes, and your first year of homeowner's insurance.

The good news? You'll receive a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing day showing every single charge — no surprises.

First-time buyers: programs like MassHousing may help offset some of these costs. Ask me how.

I always walk my buyers through estimated closing costs early in the process — long before they fall in love with a home.

What closing cost surprised you most when you bought?

The Topsfield Fair Schedule. Check it out.

🍁 Fall on the North Shore is officially in full swing, and there’s so much to enjoy!
🎡 The Topsfield Fair returns October 2–12 with giant pumpkins, livestock shows, midway rides, live music, c***r, and all the fair food we look forward to every year.
👻 Salem’s Haunted Happenings runs October 1–31, bringing seasonal markets, performances, costumed crowds, and Halloween energy all month long.

Prefer a quieter autumn day?
Try:
🌊 A walk at Crane Beach
🌾 The surf and long coastal views at Gloucester’s Back Shore
⚓ A golden-hour stroll around Rockport Harbor
🍎 Apples and c***r at Russell Orchards
🎃 A visit to Connors Farm in Danvers

And if you’ve been thinking about a move, fall can be a thoughtful time to tour homes. The October 3–4 open houses are already current. A relaxed way to see what’s available and experience North Shore neighborhoods in their cozy autumn season. No pressure, just helpful local perspective. 🏡

What’s your favorite North Shore fall tradition? Share it below, and enjoy the season!

Did you know there's a beach right here on the North Shore where the sand literally makes music when you walk on it? 🎵

Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea is one of only a handful of beaches in the world with this phenomenon — round quartz grains that squeak and sing when you shuffle through the dry sand near the water's edge.

September is the best time to visit:
✅ Summer crowds are gone
✅ Dogs welcome (Sep–May)
✅ Golden fall light beginning
✅ Commuter rail stop just 10 min from the beach

📍 164 East Main Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

Have you heard it sing? Drop a comment below — I share a new North Shore discovery every Monday. 🎵

🍂 NORTH SHORE SMART MOVES | Fall Market Update

While most buyers pause for the season, savvy North Shore buyers are making their move. Here's why autumn is one of the smartest times to buy in Ipswich, Beverly, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and across Essex County:

✅ Less Competition — Spring bidders have gone quiet. Fewer competing offers mean better negotiating position.

✅ Motivated Sellers — Homeowners listing in fall are ready to move. Smoother transactions, more realistic conversations.

✅ Tight Inventory — Only 490 single-family homes listed on the North Shore right now, down 43.8% from a decade ago. Fall buyers face fewer rivals.

✅ Prices Still Climbing — The North Shore median hit $860,000 through early 2026, up 5.1% year-over-year. Waiting means paying more.

✅ Rate Watch — 30-year fixed rates near 6.95%. Analysts project a potential dip toward the high 5s by year-end.

The North Shore doesn't slow down. Coastal lifestyle, top schools, and commuter rail to Boston keep this market strong year-round.

Ready to make your Smart Move this fall? 📱 DM us!