Beyond “Out East”: Why New York (hearts) Rhode Island

Narragansett, RI

When my husband and I moved back east from Colorado 20 years ago, we agreed that we’d need an escape from Manhattan, especially in the summer months.  And I was adamant that our second home would be as close to the Atlantic as possible.  We briefly considered Provincetown, and ultimately settled on Ogunquit, Maine.  Not an obvious choice, and, in the end, the 5+ hour commute each way finally became unbearable for a weekend getaway.

Twelve years later, back to the drawing board with a tighter list of must-have’s, including proximity to the city and water views.  Greenpoint and Orient on the North Fork were at the top of our list, but the perfect place never presented itself.  On a visit to Narragansett, RI to celebrate August birthdays, I fell in love all over again with the beaches of my childhood and the decidedly unfussy summer lifestyle that coastal Rhode Island offers.

I quickly realized that plenty of New Yorkers had already “discovered” Rhode Island – from as far west as Westerly all the way across the bay to Little Compton.  No surprise, really, considering how many boxes it checks for Manhattanites looking for an authentic New England experience.

And it may just be a real estate trifecta:

Location.  Washington County (aka “South County”) RI stretches along the southern coastline from Westerly to Narragansett.  Whether you are into beach cottages & clam shacks or Relais & Châteaux hotels & Michelin star dining, you’re in the right place.   And, of course, plenty of what you’re craving – water, waterfront, water views.  Walk out your back door, ride your bike down the street or take a 10 minute drive to your favorite beach.

Price.  This isn’t a Beachfront Bargain kind of place, so don’t expect to find even a tiny beach shack for $100,000.  And as New Yorkers and Bostonians have gobbled up real estate over the past 7-10 years, the prices have continually escalated, sure.  But you are likely to be pleasantly surprised how close to the water you can get for $1M or less.

Commute.  A Summer Friday aside, you can usually drive from Midtown Manhattan to South County in 3 hours or less.  I recommend getting a super early or late start so you can make an afternoon snooze on the beach or a late dinner.  Or hop aboard Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor Service from Penn Station to Kingston, RI for a traffic-free, stressless commute.  For visiting family and friends, T.F. Green Airport is 30 minutes away.

Michael Mosca is a real estate agent with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Michael specializes in properties in coastal RI http://www.CoastalRIHome.com and he is a member of Our Trusted Network of Sotheby’s International Realty agents around the U.S. and across the globe http://www.OurTrustedNetwork.com