So you’ve been visiting the Hudson Valley and getting drawn in, and you find you just don’t want to leave. Welcome! You’re in good company. The Hudson Valley has a long history of luring in explorers, tourists, and couples or families who are ready for a slower pace. Particularly in the last couple of decades, newcomers have been bringing their dreams here to root them in our fertile soil.
In the last few years, we’ve been discovered and re-discovered. Certain areas have been declared the “best” town or the “New Brooklyn.” The fact is, there will always be only one Brooklyn, and the best town for you will depend on factors that only you can determine. Beyond the hype, you’ll find a wealth of personable, expert real estate agents who are eager to make a true love match between you and your new upstate home.
To do that, of course, they’ll need you to know what you want—which means you need to know what you want. In the “Tips” section of his Westwood Metes & Bounds Real Estate website, real estate expert Harris Safier advises that you “prioritize your search parameters—price range, location/community, architectural style, age, size, acreage, and amenities.”
With that done, you’ll want to recruit a good buyer’s agent. Make sure this is someone who really “gets” you and your lifestyle and someone you’ll enjoy spending time with for the best possible search experience.
Westwood Metes & Bounds—a forty-year-old real estate business in the Hudson Valley that is built on values of “Commitment, Service, and Integrity”—is a good place to start. The right agent will enjoy the adventure almost as much as you do and will be an invaluable source of insider information on the communities you’re looking at, the market, and the peculiarities of the buying process.
SOME OTHER THINGS YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER AS YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH:
1. Urban or rural? While nothing in the Hudson Valley may seem very urban if you’re coming from a major city, there is a massive difference between living in Kingston, Poughkeepsie, or Newburgh—or even a smaller but bustling town such as Beacon or New Paltz—and living in Dover Plains or Phoenicia. If you want to garden and raise chickens, you’ll probably want to check out the less-populated places where neighbors and zoning won’t impact your dream. If you want to be able to walk to pubs and art galleries, or aren’t fond of the sounds and smells of agriculture, that’s a whole ‘nother story. Go to visitvortex.com to see videos and articles about our Hudson Valley towns.
There really is no place like the Hudson Valley for a combination of amenities and stunning pastoral beauty. Whether your dream involves being ten minutes from a ski slope, room to keep horses, or immersing yourself in the local creative scene, you can find that here. Do your homework up front, and you’ll be on the cusp of making that Hudson Valley dream into your everyday reality.
2. Fixer-upper or turnkey? Your budget, of course, will be a factor here. But do be aware that those charming older farmhouses or in-town Colonials may or may not have been recently updated for energy efficiency or convenience. If you want a place to get creative with renovations and remodel ‘til it fits you like a glove, your buyer’s agent will be happy to hook you up with fine local tradespeople who can help. If you just want to move your things in, heave a sigh of relief, and begin finding new favorite restaurants, ask your agent to steer you toward newer construction.
3. Think long term. If you dream of developing a home business, or even putting in a B&B, check out the town’s zoning codes and make sure what you want to do will be welcomed. Zoning codes can also help you predict whether or not that beautiful woodland across the street may one day become the site of commercial development. Better to know. Your agent will be happy to help with this.
