Top 10 Blooming Perennials in The Catskills

In our latest Country Ed, we’re looking at a selection of perennials that both the new and seasoned gardener in The Catskills and Hudson Valley can look to for impressive blooms and, importantly, for deer’s reluctance to decimate. Starting a garden as a newbie can be overwhelming. The garden centers have SO many irresistible offerings. But we’re here to tell you that unless you have a fenced garden (and you do not need to), choose wisely and you can have a thrilling, dramatic garden that offers color and satisfaction for months. To strike a balance between beauty and resilience, consider our (very subjective) Top Ten Blooming Perennials that are generally deer-resistant.

catskills lifestyle, Top tipsJennifer GrimesMarch 1, 2024country ed, Catskills, peonies, deer resistant garden, garden adviceComment

Upstate Buyer: Top 6 home buyer costs in The Catskills and Hudson Valley

Getting the keys to your dream home involves more than just coming up with the down payment. Here are the most common costs home buyers in The Catskills and Hudson Valley will encounter, including specific dollar amounts. These reflect actual expenses from recent transactions, but please note, each deal is different and your experience may vary. I’ve excluded mortgage-related fees which we’ll cover in a separate post.

Buyer Beware: Towns take aim at short term rentals

A turnkey property, great design and killer pics to bump your Instagram page — that’s all it takes to launch a successful Airbnb rental, right? If you think it’s that easy, prepare yourself. Towns throughout the region have been enacting laws that regulate Short Term Rentals (STRs), and some are tough enough to change the whole trajectory of your plans.

Here we take a look at a few examples of commonly enacted STR regulations in our area.

Catskills, real estate, ulster county, buyersGuest UserJanuary 24, 2023Catskills, Hudson Valley, STRs, rentals, laws Comments

Catskills Buyer + Seller: To wait or not to wait, Part 2

The doom and gloom of national headlines on the topic of real estate justify the expectation that the real estate market should be tanking. But so far prices have largely held in, thanks to fundamental underpinnings to The Catskills and Hudson Valley economy that have shifted in recent years, most obviously during the pandemic. It’s worth exploring these factors because buyer expectations of a bubble burst may be misplaced or over-estimated.

market info, buyers, sellersJennifer GrimesDecember 6, 2022Catskills, STRs, rentals, inventory, investmentComment

Catskills Buyer: To wait or not to wait, Part 1

Responses to our recent buyers’ poll were not unexpected, with the word “waiting” dominating. But others referenced looking forward to property prices dropping and seem to be anticipating reentry when that happens. Is that a good strategy? National media refers to the state of the housing market using doomsday language, but our area does not always operate in lockstep with the rest of the country. So what are we seeing in terms of price movements, buyer behavior, and what can we expect over the coming months?

market info, buyersJennifer GrimesNovember 13, 2022interest rates, bidding wars, CatskillsComment

Upstate Buyer: How much cash do you need to buy a house now?

While the panic buying of the first heady months of Covid are thankfully long behind us, the real estate market in The Catskills and Hudson Valley remains exceedingly competitive for the most desirable properties. As prices continue to push the envelope, bank appraisals often lag, creating nearly a requirement that buyers looking to snap up their dream home pony up more cash, sometimes substantially more, than the standard 20% downpayment. We explain the workings behind the strategy and share our recent experiences.

buyers, Catskills, real estate, second homesJennifer GrimesMarch 27, 2022negotiating, mortgages, strategy, tax, cash, real estate strategyComment

Guide to the best of Margaretville, Roxbury and Southern Delaware County

Margaretville and the scenic surrounding areas seem to play second fiddle to their better-known Catskills neighbors to the east, like Phoenicia and Woodstock, and to the south Livingston Manor and Callicoon. But we’re here to tell you that not only Margaretville, but especially nearby Roxbury, should be on your must-visit list for its eye-popping scenery, burgeoning businesses and myriad activities. The distinctly rural character coupled with a blossoming food and culture scene makes this a part of the Catskills that should be on your radar.

What's in a (town) name? Understanding town/city labels in Upstate listings.

Why do listings show a “town” and a “city”? The answer affects your taxes. Think you know which areas have the highest and lowest taxes? You might not be looking at the right “town”. This post shines a light on the labels and on what’s behind property taxes.

My first listing in the age of coronavirus (and what happened)

In this upended world where every day is a month, my last post two-and-a-half weeks ago appears to have been more of a hunch, while now I have at least some stronger anecdotal evidence to cull from, regarding the coronavirus’s impact on the second home market in The Catskills and Hudson Valley.

market info, Catskills, buyers, sellersJennifer GrimesApril 27, 2020CoronavirusComment

How will the coronavirus impact the Upstate second home market?

When we’re free in the world once again, will the feeding frenzy of recent years be even more frantic, or will the bottom drop out leaving only the sound of crickets? I do have a strong sense of optimism about the real estate market in The Catskills and Hudson Valley, however, borne out of anecdotal feedback from our second home buyers including what their current general frame of mind is, as reflected in emails and my little Instagram survey.

buyers, Catskills, market info, real estate, sellers, sullivan countyJennifer GrimesApril 8, 2020coronavirusComment

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