Brownstoner Upstate: Five-Figure Fixers and Two Turnkeys

To renovate, or not to renovate? That is always the question here in upstate New York. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous amounts of renovating, rebuilding, and the possible tearing down of structures, or to take up arms and simply purchase something that doesn’t really need much work but doesn’t look quite right. Is there no middle ground? Of course there is. There are multitudinous options between near-teardowns and pristine turnkeys. In fact, that’s where most of the options lie. With this in mind, we’ll be exploring two properties that need a quite a bit of work, and two that are passable as is but might be nicer with some updates. Three are in Greene County (west of the Hudson, north of Ulster County), and one in Sullivan County in the Catskill Mountains. All are less than $100,000. Reality check: Sometimes five-figure properties are cash deals. FYI.

So what’s happening with 97 Maple Avenue in the village of Catskill? It’s set up like a two-family, so it will need to be reconfigured in order to bring it back to a single-family state. Still, this Victorian could be a pretty one. It’s located in a nice neighborhood not far from the heart of the village, but boy that second floor front balcony looks a little crooked and precarious, doesn’t it? Beds: 5. Baths: 2. Square Feet: 1925. Lot Size: .26 acres. Est. Taxes: $4062. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, and 18 minutes.

97 Maple Avenue, Catskill (Weichart) GMAP

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One might look at this 19th-century two-story in Cairo, Greene County and be tempted to think “Tear it down. Start again.” But there is potential here to restore all those nice historical details. Includes a new septic system and well on property. The listing hints that it’s in the village of Cairo, but according to the address, it’s out in the country, closer to East Durham. Beds: 2. Lot Size: .14 acres. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 30 mins.

516 CR 20, Cairo (Living Structures) GMAP

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Our final two properties are less scary than the first two. They’re basically turnkey, perhaps in need of just a bit of updating/personalizing to really make them shine. Case in point: This 2,000-plus square foot house on over a half-acre right off the main drag in Hunter, up the road a piece from Hunter Mountain ski resort. A sub-$100,000 listing price seems like a darn good deal to us for a possible weekend ski getaway up north. Located close to a Trailways bus stop in town. Beds: 5. Baths: 2. Square Feet: 2077. Lot Size: .65 acres. Taxes: $2616. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 34 mins.

8309 Main Street, Hunter (Welch Realty) GMAP

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It’s entirely possible that we’ve posted about this house before. Is it any wonder? This traditional American house is awfully cute (it looks like an Italianate that was updated with an Arts & Crafts interior in the early 20th century). Both the interior and exterior look fine (although the kitchen is kind of meh). Situated on over a half-acre in a residential neighborhood. We openly admit that we don’t know much about Hurleyville or Fallsburg, the town where Hurleyville is located, but we know it’s in Sullivan County west of Ulster County. Call us jaded (go ahead; we don’t mind), but we’re always a bit suspicious of a house this decent for this cheap. What’s up with it? Beds: 4. Baths: 1.5. Square Feet: 1715. Lot Size: .30 acres. Taxes: $6402. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 4 mins.

323 Main Street, Hurleyville (Sullivan Realty Associates) GMAP

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