driving home sunset in Ulster County

I love where I live. I like so many of the people in my area. I left work this afternoon and stopped in Emmanuel's for some food stuffs. I was going to the checkout and remembered something on my list that I did not pick up and whirled my basket around and there in front of me was this gentleman who probably thought who is this wild demon. But just like the gentleman I know he is he waved me on and gave me a lovely smile. When I had put my groceries in the car and was pushing my cart back to the store a woman stopped her car to let me pass. As I drove home I saw this wonderful sunset and thought wow, God is a fabulous artist. Every day a new painting for me and never the same. So I stopped to take this pics to share with you. Now I am no Polyanna and every day is not perfect but those are the days I give no power to and this day is the day I give power to and attention to.

I am so grateful to be able to drive home and see things like this or horses or cows or hawks gliding in the sky. I give my attention to these things. I love this area that I sell houses in. I just sold a house up the road from me. They are a young couple, sweet as can be. I am looking forward to them being my neighbors and enjoying watching them put their personality into their new home. I am very lucky. I love where I live and I love what I do. Selling real estate in Ulster County with a great quality of life.

TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY ---THAT IS THE QUESTION

This is the age old question for someone thinking about buying real estate. It's funny that several years ago when the feeding frenzy on real estate was with us and the prices were rising and rising you couldn't stop someone from buying real estate, fighting in bidding wars and now with prices down, rates at historical lows and a great $8,000 tax credit being given, people are sitting on the fence wondering what to do. As Donald Trump said on the TV the other night, this is the BEST time to buy real estate. I would suggest reading articles from Realty Times and other informative sources. Google real estate news and get the consensus from people doing stats on new loan applications etc. so you can compare what happened last month with this month. Our company just ran stats on what is selling in our area and it appears that the higher priced homes are not selling as well as homes in the 175-275 price range. That tells me if I am a purchaser looking to buy in that higher price range I might be able to find a really good buy.Hello, is anyone out there.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

The housing market is looking healthier. Here are six reasons why now is the time to jump into the market.1. Uncle Sam is willing to help. First-time buyers (defined as anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the last three years) are entitled to a maximum $8,000 tax credit; interest rates are at record lows; and the Federal Reserve is doing its best to make mortgage loans available. 2. People have to live somewhere. About 800,000 new households are formed each year in this country, ensuring that the housing market will tighten, even if the economy doesn’t soar.3. Borrowers leverage their investment. If you put $10,000 into the stock market and it earns 10 percent, you’ve earned $1,000. If you put $10,000 down on a home and its values increases 10 percent, you’ve made $10,000.4. When prices come back up, you’ll have instant equity. In parts of the country where foreclosures have driven down prices, better times will mean the price of the home you buy will rise rapidly.5. Mortgage costs stay the same. If you get a fixed-rate mortgage, the monthly payment stays the same – while everything else, including rent, goes upward.6. You own it. There is something comforting in the notion that your home is your own. You can paint it any color you want, let the dog run in the back yard and hang a swing for the kids in the front.Source: The Wall Street Journal, June Fletcher (03/27/2009)

THIS IS WHAT I MOVED UP FROM THE CITY FOR

I am a transplant from New York City. I loved growing up in the city. I never really noticed how fast paced everything was and was quite used to it. I loved the excitement, the way the city never really slept as you could always find something open and still jumping at 3am. But there was a part of me that kept nurturing a memory I had as a young girl when my parents took us on a trip to the Pennsylvania Dutch country. We stayed at what was called a "Guest House", which was someones home that had two bedrooms set aside for travelers. I can remember it like it was yesterday(more yesterdays than I will admit to). The house smelled like a lot of good cooking. There were comfortable couches, pretty antiques, and the old spring bed with a feather mattress was a touch of heaven. The woman who owned the house and was our host was friendly and made us feel very much at home. After a wonderful nights sleep I awoke to the best breakfast I have ever enjoyed. Everything was home made down to the butter. I remember thinking the whole time I was there, "this is what I want to do".

I finally got that chance in 1984. I moved from New York City and opened a Bed & Breakfast and antique shop in Andes New York. Not many people get to live their dream and I am very grateful to have had that experience. I loved being able to be home for my children and be able to work right there as well. Everyone will think of pros and cons to working at home but for me at the time it was great.

So now I have gotten a listing which will enable someone to do the same thing. The featured listing is a five bedroom Victorian in the village of Accord. The wonderful home has a building right next to it which houses the owners antique store. The first time I went to see it wonderful memories of my shop and home came back to me.

This is a home that needs some renovating. The thing I liked about renovating the building I bought is that I could put my own footprint there. This home and business is very similar. The shop is detached from the home and has its own electric and heat. There is an antique shop across the street that is run by a friend of mine and one out on route 209 that is also run by another friend of mine. There is a pottery studio across the street as well. I can see this home and shop and the other shops becoming a destination for shopping for unique and wonderful fare.

The virtual tour will be done shortly but do not wait. If you have a dream, come see our listing, see if it fits. I can tell you it is worth the trip.