Catskill Farms’ New Old Homes Continue to Sell

The beautiful, retro farmhouses of Catskill Farms continue to defy upstate real estate trends and steadily sell their handsome inventory. The latest to go is Cottage 38, on three acres, on a dead end road in Stone Ridge. Farm 17 sold a few days ago. Guess these guys are doing something right!

Friday Real Estate Porn: Stone Ridge Bank House, $995,000

There were quite a few contenders for beautiful houses in Stone Ridge that fall into the luxury category. This $600,000 eyebrow colonial at 73 Osterhoudt Lane caught my eye, as did this $850,000 colonial at 451 Scarawan Road in Stone Ridge. One great thing about this area: many, many beautiful homes.

But 46 Whitelands Road in Stone Ridge took the cake. Four beds, three baths, six acres, renovated kitchen, screened-in porch, nice grounds and just so stately. Been on the market for over a year, and I’ve stayed right near there on occasion and it’s a gorgeous part of the Catskills.

Here’s the wrench: taxes are $13,580! A serious downside of this area. You want land, you’re gonna pay for it! Stats on the jump.

Three Affordable Stone Ridge Houses For Sale

21 Pine Bush Road, Stone Ridge, $203,000
3 beds
1 bath, 2 half baths
2,077 sf
1.5 acres
Built 1930

3506 Main Street, Stone Ridge, $229,900
3 beds
2 baths
1813 sf
.25 acres
Built 1890

311 Pine Tree Lane, Stone Ridge, $374,900
4 beds
2 full, 2 half baths
2,132 sf
1.6 acres
Built 1899

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

21 Pine Bush Road Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Land Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

311 Pine Tree Lane Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

3506 Main Street Stone Ridge

Stone Ridge Renovated Barn, $575,000

I’m in love. Yes, I think the decor and fixtures in this renovated Stone Ridge barn need to be tweaked some, but in general I really appreciate the mix of rustic and exposed beams with the sleek lines — I believe I recognize some of those lights from Room and Board. I think it’s beautifully done, and a great location — very close to downtown Stone Ridge but on a quiet street (a long cul-de-sac, in fact), with mountain views and great outdoor space. I love the bathroom. I sense that this has recently belonged to an architect home owner, don’t you. And what do you think of the stainless steel cabinets in the kitchen? If I were moving full time up there, this would be a contender for me. It was bought in 2002 for $210,000 and sold the next year for $503,000. Must have been a renovation in there to explain the increase. Here’s the problem: estimated taxes: $11,377. OUCH. Stats on the jump.

Stone Ridge Stone House, $200,000 (and counting down)

Ah, an actual house made of the stuff for which the town is named! This listing— a three-bedroom built in 1756 — dares to use the phrase “once beautiful” (referring to the gardens), so you know some of the reason behind the price. The rest of the reason: it’s on very busy 209, fairly close to the road. It’s obviously in need of some serious love (including a nice interior paint job), but, man, what a beauty. Those built-ins! The doors! That incredible hearth. Cute little shed in the back. For the handy and hearty and true lovers of old homes, this must be tempting. I just think I’d feel so happy every time I pulled in the driveway. It’s right next door to a community college — how great if you could get a job there and have a five-second commute! The price has already been reduced by almost $80,000! Stats on the jump.

Stone Ridge Cottage, $187,500

A sweet little cottage on a nice expanse of land, and a very nice price. This Stone Ridge house has 966 square feet, more than three acres, three beds and one bath, nice views, stone fireplace. Very nicely located, far back from the road but close enough to town. Personally, I’d retro-ify the kitchen some — looks like it’s been Home Depot kitchen-ed. Been on the market for about 200 days and has one small price reduction. Stats on the jump.

Town of the Week: Stone Ridge

From time to time we have guest posters who write about upstate New York towns in a way we never could (since we’re part-timers and free-floaters). And before you get on us about the lack of impartiality of this week’s guest poster, who happens to be a real estate broker in the area, let me point out this: he’s also a native of Stone Ridge. He’s almost got as much reason to protect it as promote it! (By the way, if you’d like to write about your town, drop us a line!)

We happen to love Stone Ridge. While it’s downtown isn’t the most walkable or picturesque — head to nearby Rosendale if you want a real walkable downtown — it does have a range of services, from a decent grocery store to any number of healing arts/massage places. Perhaps a tad on the ritzy side, but that’s the case with most of these sweet little towns close to the river.

Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what local and real estate agent Dylan Taft has to say about it:

Stone Ridge is the quaint, colorful, and quiet little upstate NY community that wants to keep it that way. Which may be why even the esteemed New York Times couldn’t get it quite right a few years ago when they “discovered” this historic little hamlet in a travel article, and gushed about the picturesque and unspoiled upstate haven called Marbletown. (Well, stone . . .  marble . . . maybe they were just in a hurry. But for the record, Marbletown is a town. It just happens to include the hamlet of Stone Ridge.)

Quiet, yes. Both the natives and the people who move here want it that way. But just beneath the serene surface of picturesque stone homes and that postcard-perfect “downtown” beats the heart of an active, sophisticated, and remote-feeling settlement that is paradoxically as convenient as you’ll find in all of Ulster County. As close to the center of rural Ulster as it gets.

Cradled in the majestic Rondout Valley and backdropped with jaw-dropping views of the jagged limestone cliffs of the towering Shawangunk Mountains, Mecca for rock climbers, Stone Ridge is often overshadowed by nearby bigger and brassier brethren—household names like the university town of New Paltz, NY or the tie-died nostalgia festival called Woodstock. Stone Ridge stands proudly apart from all that, in fact, feeling no need to compete with places that are famous for being famous. Look all you want, you’ll find no front-lawn peace signs, 60’s rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, or that large strip of bars on every university town’s Main Street where students flock in large and boisterous numbers when they should be at the library. What you will find is a community rich in venerable and well-maintained stone homes and farmhouses, and very nice people.  A well-managed, well-tended, well-preserved haven.