A stunning mansion on Massachusetts' Billionaire's Island has been listed for free, but there is an unusual condition attached. The property, located in Nantucket, is valued at approximately $3 million (around £2.2 million), but the catch is that it cannot remain on its current plot.
The Demolition Delay Bylaw
The home is part of Nantucket's Demolition Delay Bylaw programme, a 2024 initiative designed to encourage homeowners to relocate buildings rather than demolish them. This means the new owner must move the house to a new location within 180 days of acquiring it.
Originally listed for millions by owner Dean Lampe, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property spanning 1,736 square feet is now available for free due to mounting pressure. If the buyer does not have land ready, the house can be temporarily "parked" in a "crib"—a crane that suspends the building in the air until a permanent site is found.
Moving Logistics
House transfers must take place between mid-September and June 15 to avoid summer tourist crowds. Local real estate agent Shelly Lockwood of Pepper Frazier Real Estate explained: "Why would we put these houses into a landfill when someone can use them? Because the value of the land is so high, and because there's none left on the island, really people will buy a house they don't want just to get the land. When they come up, they are very hot commodities."
Lockwood added: "Who wouldn't want a house for $150,000 or so moving costs? You grab them if you can—it's a hell of a value. There didn't used to be as many people here who didn't want a house. Twenty-five years ago, we didn't have this mini-compound mentality. There's millionaires and billionaires here now. But there's also just a lot less land."
Tradition of Relocation
While moving a property may seem unusual, it has become a tradition on the island as residents cope with rising costs. However, relocating a large home is no easy task. Carl Jelleme of Toscana Corp, a company with decades of experience moving homes on Nantucket, noted: "When it comes to moving a structure down the road, there are variables at play, such as road width, trees, utility lines, and neighboring structures. Moving a building in multiple pieces is an option, but in our experience, it is rarely the most practical or cost-effective solution."
