Brownstoner Upstate: Finds for $200,000 or Less (Part I)

There’s a shockingly good crop of properties going for $200,000 or less on the market right now, so we’re all over it. By the way, pardon the two-parter, but we couldn’t narrow it down to just a handful of houses. This week, we’ll be in the Catskills in Sullivan County, Columbia County in the upper Hudson Valley, and the Ulster County town of Saugerties. All homes are turnkey and packed with charm, lots of cute features, and a couple have a decent-sized bit of land to go with them. Not too bad for a mortgage less than half of the rent in most of Brooklyn.

Located near the Bashakill Wildlife Refuge in the southern Catskill Mountains, this contemporary could be just the thing for something looking for a woodsy spot complete with its own mountain stream. Although it’s situated in the Rustic Hills subdivision, the house looks fairly tucked-away and private. We like the stone chimney and the high ceilings, not to mention the HUGE walk-in closet in the master suite. We’ve had smaller rooms than that closet. Beds: 3. Baths: 2.5. Square Feet: 1648. Lot Size: 1.5 acres. Est. Taxes: $9168. Distance from Brooklyn: 1 hour, 47 mins.

90 Brooktrail Road, Wurtsboro (Realty Promotions) GMAP

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Stephentown in Columbia County is definitely one of those “blink and miss it” little towns, but some really impressive property call it home. It’s right on the NY/MA border, and make no mistake, it’s far (an hour east of Hudson). Maybe too far. Nonetheless, this is a sweet 1930s farmhouse on a whopping 11 acre piece of land. We like the interior just fine except for the kitchen, which seems to need a complete reconfiguration. Includes and additional apartment with its own entrance. Beds: 5. Baths: 3.5. Square Feet: 2340. Lot Size: 11 acres. Est. Taxes: $4581. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 52 minutes.

351 Presbyterian Hill Road, Stephentown (Vantagepoint Realty) GMAP

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We’re still in Columbia County for this property, but now we’re in Philmont just outside of the city of Hudson. It’s much more of a rural small town than its chi-chi neighbor, but there is a good restaurant there, and it’s close to one of our favorite big waterfalls in the Hudson Valley at the High Falls Conservation Area. Looks fine enough on the inside, maybe in need of an update or two, and it’s situated on a half-acre of land. Beds: 3. Baths: 1.5. Square Feet: 1565. Lot Size: .48 acres. Est. Taxes: $3922. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 20 mins.

3 Railroad Avenue, Claverack (Peggy Lampman) GMAP

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One of the biggest complaints about owning a home in Saugerties is the property taxes. And, indeed, they can be steep in the village. But outside of the village in the town of Saugerties is a different story. Granted, this is a small two-bedroom farmhouse on a small piece of land (less than a half-acre, which is kind of a bummer), but the taxes are less than $2,000 per year. If we were in the market for a first home, we’d be giving this little number a second look. Located out in West Saugerties near Platte Clove about 15 minutes west of the village. Beds: 2. Baths: 2. Square Feet: 1428. Lot Size: .37 acres. Est. Taxes: $1235. Distance from Brooklyn: 2 hours, 12 mins.

403 West Saugerties Road, Saugerties (BHHS Hudson Valley) GMAP

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