Cape Cod Buyer Resource Library

Mortgage & homebuyer programs

• Buying a House: tools and resourcesNeutral step-by-step tools for comparing loans and closing costs · Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Your Home Loan ToolkitExplains the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure line by line · CFPB
• Find a HUD-approved housing counselorFree or low-cost homebuyer counseling near you · CFPB / HUD
• MassHousing for homebuyersState housing finance agency loans and down payment assistance through partner lenders · MassHousing
• MassHousing: steps to homeownershipFirst-time buyer roadmap and eligibility basics · MassHousing
• Unlocking HomeownershipState-backed expanded down payment assistance through MassHousing; some offers were time-limited in 2026, so check current status · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• ONE Mortgage programLow down payment, no-PMI program for income-eligible first-time buyers · Massachusetts Housing Partnership
• Do you qualify for ONE Mortgage?Income limits and program requirements · Massachusetts Housing Partnership
• Homebuyer education & housing counselingHUD-approved counseling and first-time buyer classes on Cape Cod · Housing Assistance Corporation
• Cape & Islands homebuyer workshopsListing of approved first-time homebuyer classes in the region · CHAPA

More: First-Time Buyer Academy.

Veterans

• VA home loan eligibilityService requirements for the VA home loan guaranty · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)How to get the COE your lender needs · VA
• VA funding fee and closing costsCurrent funding fee table and exemptions · VA
• VA purchase loanHow a VA-backed purchase loan works · VA
• VA Home Loans program siteLender and appraisal guidance, loan limits information · Veterans Benefits Administration
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans ServicesState veteran benefits and programs · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Find your local Veterans Service OfficerEvery Massachusetts town has a VSO who can help with benefits and exemptions · EOVS
• MassVets: state financial benefitsOverview of state-level veteran financial benefits · EOVS
• Guide to real estate tax exemptions for veterans (PDF)Property tax exemptions for qualifying veterans; apply through your town assessor · Commonwealth of Massachusetts

More: VA Loans on Cape Cod.

Septic, wastewater & nitrogen

• Buying or selling property with a septic systemTitle 5 inspection rules at sale, timing windows and exemptions · MassDEP
• Title 5 overview for real estateHow Title 5 affects real estate transactions · Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons
• Cape Cod watershed & nitrogen rules announcement2023 Title 5 changes creating Nitrogen Sensitive Areas on Cape Cod · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• 314 CMR 21.00: Watershed Permit RegulationsThe regulation towns use to get 20-year watershed permits · MassDEP
• Cape Cod AquiFundLow-interest betterment loans for septic repair, I/A upgrades and sewer hookups · Barnstable County
• Barnstable County Septic Management ProgramI/A septic system tracking, performance data and operator directory · Barnstable County Dept. of Health & Environment
• Cape Cod 208 Plan resourcesRegional water quality plan behind town sewer and nitrogen projects · Cape Cod Commission
• Cape Cod Freshwater InitiativePond and freshwater protection work · Cape Cod Commission

More: Septic, Sewer & Nitrogen guide.

Water quality

• Guide to water quality testing for private wellsRecommended tests for buyers and owners, including PFAS · MassDEP
• Private wells FAQsCommon questions about well regulation and testing · MassDEP
• Barnstable County Water Quality LaboratoryCounty lab offering testing for private well owners · Barnstable County
• Testing your well water (PDF)How and when to test, and reading results · UMass Extension fact sheet via Barnstable County

More: Water & Flood guide.

Flood & insurance

• FEMA Flood Map Service CenterLook up the official flood map (FIRM) for any address · FEMA
• National Flood Hazard Layer viewersInteractive flood zone data · FEMA
• Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding ViewerMap of projected coastal flooding scenarios · Mass. Office of Coastal Zone Management
• StormSmart CoastsGuidance for coastal property owners on erosion and flooding · Mass. CZM
• Homeowners insurance FAQsYour rights as a Massachusetts policyholder · Mass. Division of Insurance
• Understanding home insuranceCoverage basics and shopping tips · Mass. Division of Insurance
• About the FAIR Plan (MPIUA)State's insurer of last resort, common on the coast · Mass. Division of Insurance
• Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting AssociationFAIR Plan website · MPIUA
• Insurance in a residential real estate saleTitle, homeowners and flood insurance explained · Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons

Property records & maps

• Barnstable County Registry of DeedsWhere deeds, mortgages and plans for all 15 Cape towns are recorded · Barnstable County
• Registry free public searchSearch recorded documents online · Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
• Homestead forms & informationDeclaration of Homestead details · Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
• Title fraud: risks and safeguardsHow to protect your property record · Barnstable County Registry of Deeds
• MassMapperStatewide interactive map with parcels, wetlands, zoning-related and environmental layers · MassGIS
• Massachusetts Interactive Property MapParcel boundaries and basic assessor data statewide · MassGIS
• MassGIS property tax parcelsAbout the standardized parcel data · MassGIS
• Town of Barnstable property look-upAssessor records for Barnstable villages (Centerville, Hyannis, Osterville and more) · Town of Barnstable
• Town of Barnstable GIS & mapsTown mapping tools · Town of Barnstable
• Data Cape CodRegional housing, economic and demographic data · Cape Cod Commission

Other towns' assessor databases are linked from each town website below and from our town guides.

Taxes

• FY2026 tax levies, assessed values and tax ratesEvery town's FY2026 property tax rates · Mass. DOR Division of Local Services
• DLS Municipal DatabankHistorical tax rates, budgets and municipal finance data · Mass. DOR
• Property tax data and statisticsAverage bills, values and levy data by town · Mass. DOR
• Registry fee schedule & deed exciseBarnstable County deed excise rate and recording fees · Barnstable County Registry of Deeds

For exemptions, abatements and the residential exemption, contact the assessor's office in the town where the property is located (links below).

Consumer protection & licensing

• Check a licenseVerify a real estate broker, salesperson or home inspector license · Mass. Division of Occupational Licensure
• Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and SalespersonsLicensing rules and complaints about agents · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Board of Registration of Home InspectorsHome inspector licensing and standards · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Home inspectors consumer fact sheetWhat a Massachusetts home inspection should include · Board of Registration of Home Inspectors
• Check a home improvement contractorVerify HIC registration before hiring for repairs · Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
• File a consumer complaintReport a business practice problem · Massachusetts Attorney General's Office
• Consumer services at the AG's OfficeConsumer hotline and mediation services · Mass. AG
• Fair housing lawYour rights against housing discrimination in Massachusetts · Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• If you think a lender discriminated against youSteps and complaint options · CFPB
• Consumer guide: written buyer agreementsWhat buyer agreements must include since August 2024 · National Association of REALTORS®

Living on the Cape

• Cape Cod CommissionRegional planning and regulatory agency for Barnstable County's 15 towns · Cape Cod Commission
• Regional Housing StrategyRegional housing supply and affordability work · Cape Cod Commission
• Cape Cod Climate InitiativeRegional climate impacts and planning · Cape Cod Commission
• Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA)Public bus routes and fares from Woods Hole to Provincetown · CCRTA
• Steamship AuthorityFerries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket from Woods Hole and Hyannis · Steamship Authority
• Cape Cod HealthcareRegional health system including Cape Cod Hospital (Hyannis) and Falmouth Hospital · Cape Cod Healthcare
• Cape Light CompactEnergy efficiency programs and electricity supply options for Cape and Vineyard residents · Cape Light Compact
• Cape Cod National SeashoreOuter Cape beaches, trails and park information · National Park Service
• Housing Assistance CorporationCape Cod housing nonprofit: counseling, rental and ownership resources · HAC

More: Relocating & Second Homes.

All 15 Cape Cod town websites

Town sites are where you'll find the assessor database, Board of Health (septic and well records), Conservation Commission, building permits, and beach and transfer station stickers. Our town guides summarize each one.

• Town of BarnstableIncludes Barnstable Village, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, West Barnstable · Our guide
• Town of BourneUpper Cape, both sides of the Cape Cod Canal · Our guide
• Town of BrewsterMid/Lower Cape on Cape Cod Bay · Our guide
• Town of ChathamLower Cape at the elbow · Our guide
• Town of DennisMid-Cape, Cape Cod Bay to Nantucket Sound · Our guide
• Town of EasthamOuter Cape gateway · Our guide
• Town of FalmouthUpper Cape, includes Woods Hole · Our guide
• Town of HarwichLower Cape on Nantucket Sound · Our guide
• Town of MashpeeUpper Cape · Our guide
• Town of OrleansLower Cape · Our guide
• Town of ProvincetownOuter Cape tip · Our guide
• Town of SandwichUpper Cape on Cape Cod Bay · Our guide
• Town of TruroOuter Cape · Our guide
• Town of WellfleetOuter Cape · Our guide
• Town of YarmouthMid-Cape, Cape Cod Bay to Nantucket Sound · Our guide