Upstate

Downtown Rhinebeck, NY. Photo by Juliancolton via Wikimedia Commons

January 8, 2021

2020 luxury home sales rose 270% in some upstate New York counties

It's not news at this point that throughout 2020 the suburbs of New York City were flooded with new home buyers, pushing up prices and leading to unbelievable bidding wars. But what is news is just how much certain upstate areas saw a rise. According to Houlihan Lawrence's Q4 2020 Market Report, Putnam and Dutchess counties saw a 269-percent increase in home sales $1 million and over. And in Westchester county, sales $2M and higher grew by approximately 53 percent.
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Real Estate Trends

January 4, 2021

Running from NYC to Canada, 750-mile Empire State Trail is now complete

By Devin Gannon

The longest multi-use state trail in the United States officially opened in New York last week. Running from New York City north to Canada and from Albany to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, the 750-mile Empire State Trail offers off-road trails for cyclists, hikers, runners, cross-country skiers, and snow-shoers. The Trail, which connects 20 regional trails to create a continuous statewide route, will be open year-round.
More here

Uncategorized

December 29, 2020

In Woodstock, a round house on 400 acres with panoramic mountain views asks $2.7M

By Devin Gannon

A mountaintop round house in Woodstock has hit the market for $2.7 million. Located on nearly 400 acres atop the Ticetonyk Mountain, the property at 229 Cold Brook Road offers incredible views from nearly every room. The custom home with cedar shake siding contains four bedrooms, four baths, a wrap-around sundeck and covered porch, and south-facing solar panels.
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$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

Photos courtesy of Jump Visuals for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 22, 2020

$1.7M cliffside Colonial in Nyack has a two-story watchtower facing the Hudson River

By Devin Gannon

Near a cliffside overlooking the Hudson River, a Colonial-style home is on the market for $1.695 million. The property at 57 Tweed Boulevard is located just south of Nyack, a village in the Hudson Valley about 20 miles from New York City. Surrounded by wooded state parks, mountains, and water, the home's two-story turret-like watchtower is perfect for taking in all of those scenic views.
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For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

All photos courtesy of RMC Real Estate Photography for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

December 18, 2020

For $1.2M, a 19th-century Hudson Valley castle with Tiffany fixtures and river views

By Devin Gannon

In New Windsor, a 19th-century stone castle is on the market for $1.225 million. Located on two acres of land overlooking the Hudson River, the Roe Brewster Castle at 11 Oak Ridge Drive was constructed in 1870 and features fixtures designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The 8,400-square-foot estate has six bedrooms and seven baths but has operated as a multi-family rental property.
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December 10, 2020

The best places to live in Westchester

By Devin Gannon

Moving to the suburbs after growing out of a New York City apartment is not a new phenomenon. But after many New Yorkers spent the early days of the coronavirus pandemic cooped up inside small spaces, trading in city life for country living has become more attractive than ever. Westchester County continues to draw new residents with its affordable and spacious homes, access to nature, proximity to Manhattan, and abundant public transit options. But with six cities, 19 towns, and 20 villages, choosing where to live in Westchester can be daunting. Whether you're looking for walkable urban areas with a reputable school system, artsy towns with waterfront access, or rural villages with more horses than people, there's a home for you in this diverse county.
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Uncategorized

Broadway producers behind ‘Chicago’ list their showstopping Westchester estate for $13.2M

All photos courtesy of Anthony Acocella

November 30, 2020

Broadway producers behind ‘Chicago’ list their showstopping Westchester estate for $13.2M

By Devin Gannon

Broadway producers Fran and Barry Weissler, known for their work on "Chicago," "Annie Get Your Gun," Pippin," and other shows, are selling their impressive country estate in Westchester for $13.2 million. Described by the Tony Award winners as the house that "'Chicago' built," 35 Schoolhouse Road in Waccabuc sits on over 18 acres and contains a four-bedroom main residence, a four-bedroom guest house, a sculpture garden, and a custom-built amphitheater.
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November 19, 2020

For $3.5M, a Westchester farmhouse with smart technology, swimming pool, and 19th-century barn

By Devin Gannon

A contemporary farmhouse in Westchester County that has been designed as a modern country retreat is currently asking $3.5 million. The home at 9 Post Office Road is located in Waccabuc, a hamlet in the town of Lewisboro. Constructed in 2018, the home successfully mixes a traditional wood siding exterior with sleek interiors and smart, energy-efficient finishes.
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$3.3M Westchester estate is a mid-century mix of Prairie and Southwestern styles

Photo credit: Digital Homes

November 17, 2020

$3.3M Westchester estate is a mid-century mix of Prairie and Southwestern styles

By Dana Schulz

The listing calls this home "one of the most unique, private and 'feel good' estates" in Westchester, which seems evident just by looking at the listing photos. Located in the affluent town of Harrison, the 12,150-square-foot residence sits on three acres and was designed in a mid-century-modern aesthetic that takes inspiration from both Prairie and Southwestern styles. Double-height rooms, built-ins everywhere, and an indoor pool are just some of what you'll find here. For the first time since the owners built the home in 1994, it's now for sale asking $3,295,000.
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In Rockland County, this $1.3M Colonial home was designed by Stanford White

Photo credit: Andrea B. Swenson for Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty

November 11, 2020

In Rockland County, this $1.3M Colonial home was designed by Stanford White

By Dana Schulz

As a partner in the Beaux-Arts architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, Stanford White designed the Washington Square Arch, the Villard Houses, and the Gould Library, among so many others. He also designed the most private residences of the three men, including this late-19th century, shingly Colonial in Rockland County. Located in the Hudson River-front town of Piermont, the four-bedroom home has a striking semi-circular window, tons of original paneled woodwork and doors, and four beautiful fireplaces. After remaining in the same family for four generations, it's now up for sale asking $1,275,000.
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This 1865 post + beam barn has been reimagined in historic Germantown, and it’s asking $3.6M

Photo credit: Courtesy Corcoran Country Living

November 10, 2020

This 1865 post + beam barn has been reimagined in historic Germantown, and it’s asking $3.6M

By Devin Gannon

In Germantown, a converted post and beam barn has hit the market for $3.6 million. Presently a three-story home with three bedrooms, the property at 114 Best Lane offers an eclectic take on the classic farmhouse, with high, wood-beamed ceilings and four massive fireplaces. Constructed in 1865, the Hudson Valley home has been restored as an artistic indoor-outdoor living oasis, which also includes an adjacent "guest barn" and nearly 15 acres of land.
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For $4.7M, live in this amazing upstate lodge set on 125 acres

Photo credit: Courtesy Corcoran Country Living

November 6, 2020

For $4.7M, live in this amazing upstate lodge set on 125 acres

By Devin Gannon

If you want to reconnect with nature, be neighbor-free, and happen to have $4.685 million on hand, this stunning lodge-style home in Dutchess County may be a perfect fit. Located at 112 North Farm Way in Stanfordville, the three-bedroom home sits on 125 private acres, including a five-acre lake stocked with fish. Adding to its seclusion, a mile-long driveway leads to the home.
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Listing photos courtesy of Compass

November 5, 2020

Yankees great Mariano Rivera puts Westchester mansion on the market for $4M

By Dana Schulz

From 1995 to 2013, Mariano Rivera was a pitching legend for the New York Yankees, ultimately becoming in 2019 the first player ever elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. When he and his family moved from Panama in 2000, they relocated to Westchester, not far from the Bronx Bombers' stadium. Now that his three sons are grown, he and his wife Clara have decided to sell their home in Rye, listing it for $3,995,000. The 13,050-square-foot mansion has nine bedrooms and eight-and-a-half bathrooms, as well as perks like a home theater, gym, rec room, massive pool deck, and a gated motor court and four-car garage.
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For $4.9M, own a private New York island with a 100-year-old Mediterranean-style mansion

Photo by Framework Home

October 28, 2020

For $4.9M, own a private New York island with a 100-year-old Mediterranean-style mansion

By Dana Schulz

We'd be lying if we said we haven't dreamt of throwing in the 2020 towel and escaping to a secluded island. And while this private island that's up for sale is just 45 minutes from NYC, it still manages to feel like a magical oasis removed from the rest of the world. Asking $4,900,000, Oak Island is more than half an acre on Premium Mill Pond, overlooking the Long Island Sound. The main residence is a Mediterranean-style mansion built in 1917, and you'll also get a pool/hot tub, separate two-car garage/pool house, and gorgeous lush landscaping.
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Photos courtesy of Heather Harrison, Compass

October 27, 2020

This $8.8M Westchester Colonial estate has indoor and outdoor basketball courts

By Devin Gannon

In Westchester County, a 14-room Colonial with two basketball courts has hit the market for $8.795 million. The estate is located at 35 Morris Lane in Scarsdale, the second wealthiest town in the United States, according to Bloomberg. Measuring over 10,000 square feet on nearly two acres of land, the seven-bedroom home is nothing short of extravagant, from the custom-built interiors to the outdoor in-ground pool and adjacent cabana.
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Live in your very own 19th-century castle above the Hudson River for $3.5M

Listing photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

October 26, 2020

Live in your very own 19th-century castle above the Hudson River for $3.5M

By Dana Schulz

First spotted by Brownstoner, one of the most unique and recognizable properties in the Hudson Valley has come to the market. The gilded-age landmark known as Castle Rock was built in 1881 in Garrison, New York as a summer home for William H. Osborn, president of the Illinois Central Railroad. Sitting atop the hill of the same name, the stone castle is 620 feet above the Hudson River, with incredible panoramic views. The 10,500-square-foot home is now asking $3,450,000, for sale for the first time in 45 years.
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Did you know the world’s oldest pet cemetery is in Westchester, New York?

Photo by Anthony22 via Wikimedia Commons

October 26, 2020

Did you know the world’s oldest pet cemetery is in Westchester, New York?

By Dana Schulz

Did you know the country's first pet cemetery opened right here in New York, and still to this day is the world's largest such burial ground? Hartsdale Pet Cemetery was established in 1896 by NYC veterinarian Samuel Johnson (an early promoter of the ASPCA), who provided part of the apple orchard at his Westchester retreat to serve as a burial spot for a client's dog. Nearly 125 years later, this area is the resting place for more than 80,000 pets, from dogs and cats to reptiles to a lion cub who called the Plaza Hotel home. Known as "The Peaceable Kingdom," the grounds are also home to a 50-ton above-ground mausoleum for a pair of spaniels and the War Dog Memorial, a post-WWI tribute to military canines that was the first of its kind. Even Diana Ross, George Raft, and Mariah Carey have buried their four-legged friends here.
Find out more about this historic pet cemetery

History

October 23, 2020

Explore the 200 craft breweries found along New York’s Empire State Trail

By Devin Gannon

Home to more than 460 breweries statewide, New York knows beer. To make it easier to find a beer near you, the New York State Brewers Association in 2017 launched an app that allows users to find breweries across the state, check-in digitally, and earn stamps on their "tasting passport." To encourage support of local beer makers and the use of the under-construction 750-mile Empire State Trail, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday a new passport program specifically targeting 200 craft breweries found along the trail.
More details this way

Events & Things To Do

For $2M, a 25-acre Catskills property with an 1835 farmhouse and a newly built log cabin

Photos by Tyler Blodgett for Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty

October 16, 2020

For $2M, a 25-acre Catskills property with an 1835 farmhouse and a newly built log cabin

By Dana Schulz

If you're like so many city residents looking for an upstate getaway these days, this incredible 25-acre property in Shawangunk, New York might definitely check a lot of your boxes. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Catskills residence is asking just $2,025,000 (the price of a pretty average NYC condo) and that includes a beautiful 1835 Greek Revival farmhouse, as well as a new log house built from salvaged, antique 1850s barns. All of this is surrounded by landscaped lawns and outdoor event spaces.
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Photo credit: Modern Angles

October 14, 2020

$1.5M mid-century hideaway in Dobbs Ferry has a salt-water pool and loads of greenery

By Dana Schulz

At first glance, the backyard of this house looks like an island resort tucked away in the jungle. But it's actually located just 45 minutes outside NYC in Dobbs Ferry. The mid-century-modern home was built in 1961 by architect Ferdinand Gottlieb (best known for his work on the interior of the original Rizzoli Bookstore on Fifth Avenue) as his personal residence. Now listed for $1,450,000, the four-bedroom home has 12-foot arched glass windows that overlook the Hudson River and the Palisades, as well as a salt-water pool and landscaped patio.
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$875,000 lake-front home in Westchester was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright student

Listing photos courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence

October 13, 2020

$875,000 lake-front home in Westchester was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright student

By Dana Schulz

Architect Roy S. Johnson was a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright who designed many a mid-century home around the Hudson Valley area. One unique example is this rustic, lake-front home in the Westchester town of Bedford, which is now listed for $875,000. The home is located on "Old Wagon Road," and though we can't be certain, it seems as though Johnson may have taken inspiration from this locale, as the shape of the house somewhat resembles a covered wagon.
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October 6, 2020

Just 30 minutes from NYC, a renovated Westchester barn with gardens, orchards, and a pool asks $1.35M

By Devin Gannon

A converted barn in Westchester County that sits on three acres of land and boasts gardens, orchards, and an in-ground pool has hit the market for $1.35 million. Located in the hamlet of Hartsdale, which is roughly 20 miles from New York City, the property, known as Hillbrook Farm, offers the best of both worlds: sprawling, private green space and easy access to restaurants, retail, and public transit.
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October 2, 2020

Union Square’s cherished dinnerware store Fishs Eddy speaks out about COVID struggles

By Dana Schulz

"We’re like a fish gasping for air — literally," said Julie Gaines, the owner of Fishs Eddy, to the New York Post. The much-loved Union Square store has been in business since 1986, selling mix-and-match, reasonably priced dinnerware that includes NYC-themed items and quirky finds like Obama shot glasses and parking ticket plates. Since the pandemic hit, however, they've only been doing 30 percent of their usual business, much of which is based on tourists, which is making it harder and harder to afford their high rent.
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City Living

Built into a rock ledge, this $7.7M Hudson Valley estate has guest pods, a treehouse, and a pond

All renderings by S3 Architecture, courtesy Corcoran Country Living

September 29, 2020

Built into a rock ledge, this $7.7M Hudson Valley estate has guest pods, a treehouse, and a pond

By Dana Schulz

Sylvan Rock is a new micro compound being designed in partnership by S3 Architecture and Aston Martin. Located in the Dutchess County town of Milan, the 55-acre property was conceptualized as a nature-first retreat that focuses on sustainability and wellness with an eye towards self-contained living. To that end, there is the nearly 6,000-square-foot main house, three guest pods, a treehouse, two reflecting pools, a pool house with a wellness pavilion, a pond, and an agricultural food garden.
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This big, beautiful Victorian in Newburgh is asking just $650K

Photo by Roy Savage

September 24, 2020

This big, beautiful Victorian in Newburgh is asking just $650K

By Dana Schulz

The city of Newburgh, about an hour-and-a-half drive from Manhattan, often gets a bad rap for its past crime statistics. But in recent years, shops and restaurants have been sprouting up, the arts scene is booming, preservation groups are working to save the wealth of historic mansions, and the relatively affordable housing stock is enticing buyers. Take, for example, this 1875 Victorian home. It's over 3,500 square feet, is beautifully preserved, and overlooks the Hudson River and Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site. And it's asking just $650,000.
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In Westchester, a historic bank building is now a $1.9M contemporary home

Photos by Rob Shaw, RHS Photography

September 18, 2020

In Westchester, a historic bank building is now a $1.9M contemporary home

By Devin Gannon

A unique industrial loft in a former 20th-century bank building has hit the market in the Westchester village of Dobbs Ferry. The home, where "Tribeca meets Main Street USA," as the listing describes, was formerly the Greensburgh Savings Bank and has been converted into a one-of-a-kind townhouse. Asking $1.899 million, the four-bedroom home at 81 Main Street measures over 6,300 square feet, has a private backyard, and features remnants of its past life, like a bank vault and super tall ceilings.
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For $2.5M, this Woodstock estate comes with three stone homes, a koi pond, a treehouse, and more

Photos by Tyler Blodgett for Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty

September 9, 2020

For $2.5M, this Woodstock estate comes with three stone homes, a koi pond, a treehouse, and more

By Dana Schulz

It makes sense that this upstate estate shares the same folksy, comfortable feel as its Woodstock, New York location. Its current owner is Michael Lang, co-creator of the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. Set on nearly 17 acres, the property features a 5,000-square-foot main stone house, a second stone home, a cottage with a greenhouse, a koi pond, a pool, an orchard, a treehouse, and gorgeous mountain views. Known as Happy Brooks, the estate was built in 1929 and is now on the market for $2,450,000.
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One Manhattan Square

252 South Street

Lower East Side

Sweeping views and endless amenities

1 beds starting at $1,230,000
2 beds starting at $1,990,000
3 beds starting at $2,790,000

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Upstate

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