Block Island (New Shoreham) properties rarely qualify for conventional financing — no bridge means no lender. We buy Victorian cottages, Great Salt Pond waterfront, and inherited island homes as-is. Cash offer in 24 hours. Remote closings available.
Block Island (New Shoreham) is Rhode Island's only island municipality — a 10-square-mile island 13 miles south of the mainland, accessible by ferry from Point Judith or New London CT, and by air from Westerly State Airport.
Block Island's commercial and residential hub — Victorian hotels, guest houses, and year-round homes clustered around the ferry landing. Some of the island's most photographed architecture, including the National Hotel and 1661 Inn area.
The protected harbor on the island's west side — marinas, waterfront homes, and cottages facing the Great Salt Pond. Hurricane-protected anchorage makes this the boating hub; surrounding homes see the most boating-related buyer activity.
The residential streets immediately above Old Harbor — Victorian cottages, captain's houses, and year-round resident homes within easy walk of the ferry. Some of the most traditional Block Island residential architecture.
The dramatic southeastern bluffs above the Mohegan Bluffs — properties near Southeast Lighthouse with sweeping views of Block Island Sound. Limited residential development; primarily conservation land with scattered historic properties.
The remote northern tip of Block Island — North Lighthouse, Sandy Point, and dune habitat. Minimal residential development; the most exposed and isolated part of the island.
The main north-south road on the east side of the island — summer cottages, Victorian inns, and seasonal properties running from Old Harbor north toward Sachem Pond and Sandy Point.
East side waterfront facing Block Island Sound — properties near Mansion Beach with Atlantic exposure, some of the most coveted summer rental inventory on the island.
Quieter west side of the island facing the Rhode Island mainland — some waterfront on the Sound, agricultural land, and scattered residential with views toward Point Judith and Narragansett.
The inland center of Block Island has agricultural land, conservation ponds, and scattered rural residential — the island's most remote properties, with minimal road access even within the island.
Clay Head Nature Trail area on the northeast — conservation land with scattered historic structures and the island's clay cliff character. Properties here are extremely rare and command significant premiums.
Block Island — officially New Shoreham, Rhode Island's only island municipality — sits 13 miles south of the Rhode Island mainland in Block Island Sound. The island has no bridge and no causeway. All transportation is by the Block Island Ferry from Point Judith (approximately 55 minutes) or from New London, Connecticut, or by small aircraft from Westerly State Airport. This physical isolation creates the most distinctive real estate market in Rhode Island: a market where conventional mortgage financing is essentially unavailable.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA all require year-round road access to the mainland as a condition of lending. Block Island fails this requirement by definition. Some specialized portfolio lenders will write Block Island mortgages, but they are rare, they charge higher rates, and they require larger down payments — typically 30–40%. The practical result is that the overwhelming majority of Block Island property transactions are cash sales, and have been for as long as the island has had a functioning real estate market.
For sellers, this creates an unusual situation. A Block Island property that might list for $700,000–$2,000,000 on the mainland can only attract cash buyers — which is a significantly smaller pool. When sellers need to exit quickly — due to estate settlement, financial pressure, health, or simply a desire to close before the next ferry season — a cash buyer who can close in 7 days is the only practical option.
No bridge means no year-round road access to the mainland. Most conventional, FHA, and VA lenders will not fund properties without road access. The result: Block Island's market is dominated by cash transactions. We are one of the few buyers who can purchase Block Island properties without any lender.
Block Island sellers often want to list after peak summer rental season ends in September. We close on your schedule — whether September 1 after your last rental week or the following spring. No lender appraisal timing pressure.
Block Island's iconic Victorian cottages were built in the 1870s–1900s. Many have been in families for 4–5 generations. When heirs want to exit, the aging systems, deferred maintenance, and island remoteness make cash the only realistic path.
Block Island's coastline is essentially all FEMA Zone AE or VE. NFIP insurance requirements add $5,000–$20,000+/year to ownership costs, reducing the financed buyer pool further. We buy with no flood insurance requirement.
We coordinate with local Newport County attorneys for Block Island closings. Sellers don't need to be on the island to close — we handle everything remotely via video walkthrough and electronic documents.
Block Island has no municipal water or sewer on most of the island. FHA and VA require water quality testing; we do not. We buy without testing or inspection, accepting the property's systems in as-is condition.
No ferry trip required. Remote closing available. Cash offer in 24 hours, close in 7 days.