apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I read the Times article a few days ago, and I could only wonder why these people aren't looking for houses in the City of Newburgh.

Granted, I'm biased, but really -- Newburgh has PLENTY of architecturally significant houses for under $200k (many for half that or less, if you're willing to put in a lot of work), all of them within a very large historic district directly on the Hudson River, AND it's just a 5-minute ferry ride from Beacon (70 minutes to Grand Central on Metro North). "Country living" it's not, but it's a pretty amazing small city.

I made the decision to move from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley FULL TIME 5 years ago (I commute to Manhattan daily), and I can't imagine also keeping an apartment in the city. Too much life division for me -- I'm a homebody. I also don't have that kind of money!

That said, I'd be lying if I didn't confess to wanting a second upstate house in the middle of nowhere -- a getaway from the getaway, if you will.

This is more and more popular. Having moved to S.F. 3 years ago, I know MANY people that rent an apartment in the city or share with a roommate or two and then own a house in the foothills. Its cheaper, makes for fabulous weekends, every weekend and is a great solution if you don't want to commute everyday but want to own something other than a shoebox down a sketchy alleyway.

The only drawback is that its hard to come back Monday morning and leave it.....

I did the same thing. My little farm in Medusa, NY is where my heart soars. I just wish I had done it sooner.

I covet the 1790 house in the first picture. Sadly I'm pretty sure that the photo, and the attached article, will soon be appearing on stuffwhitepeoplelike.com.

Also someone needs to tell the gay boys that, when it comes to taxidermed deer heads, "less is more". Really, dudes... FOUR of them?

Must be nice to be able to afford rent and a mortgage. Yes, I am jealous.

"Also someone needs to tell the gay boys..." Seriously, Blandwagon.

My mortgage is less than my rent. Viva la Upstate.

But...how do you get there?

I think that it's important to carefully research what one is buying, especially when considering the purchase of property well away from the city. The $300,000 spent on the profiled house in Kingston seems pretty steep for a home on the cheaper western side of the Hudson in an economically stagnant area, during a poor national economy. Real estate agents desperate for a sale, the comparative cheapness of property 100 or more miles from the city, and greedy sellers waiting to snare the well-heeled, sometimes impatient, and often less knowledgable city buyer, can result in overpaying for a property.

"The $300,000 spent on the profiled house in Kingston seems pretty steep for a home on the cheaper western side of the Hudson in an economically stagnant area, during a poor national economy."

I agree completely, John H. That price tag just seems absolutely absurd to me.