Brownstoner Upstate: Good House Hunting in Greene County (Part I)

So many brand new properties on the market in Greene County this month, we struggled to narrow down our choices. See, Greene County, located on the west side of the Hudson River and a little less than three hours north of Brooklyn, is a great place to look for first-time home buyers considering the big move (or a second home) to upstate New York. It’s less expensive than its southern and east-of-Hudson counterparts, and the housing inventory is fairly robust right now. And, if you want a house on some land, you’ll probably find it here. Looking for a house that’s walking distance to town? Yep, you’ll probably find that, too. Rustic log cabins? Check. Contemporaries? Check. Victorians, antique Colonials, and farm houses? Check, check, and check. So many choices that we’re dedicating two weeks to our grab bag of favorite Greene County properties. Enjoy!

We’ve lost count how many times we’ve fantasized about chucking it all and buying a little cabin in the Catskill Mountains. Some place small with a wood stove and some nice views. Maybe a bit like this two-bedroom cottage in Cairo with the Bowery Creek not far away. Outdoor fun abounds in these parts, from skiing/snowboarding in the winter (Windham Mountain is 15 minutes away and Hunter is 25 minutes) to hiking and fishing in the summer (Round Top, North/South Lake, Kaaterskill Falls, just to name a few). Beds: 2. Baths: 1. Square Feet: 1075. Lot Size: .6 acres. Est. Taxes: $2851.

40 Bogardus Road, Cairo (Gallagher and Company) GMAP

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Or, how about a place close to town? This sidehall Victorian in the village of Catskill is walking distance to Main Street businesses (antique shops and a decent Thai place). It’s also next-door neighbors with one of our favorite local Hudson River parks, Dutchmans Park. We highly recommend it as a stop on your springtime road trip to town. Follow the trails which will lead you to a walking tour of the amazing houses in Catskill’s historic district. Meanwhile, the Catskill Creek is practically in the backyard of this house. Includes wood parquet floors, original moldings, carved mantel, and plenty of space. Beds: 3. Baths: 1.5. Square Feet: 1820. Lot Size: .22 acres. Est. Taxes: $4773.

215 Main Street, Catskill (Halstead Property) GMAP

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As much as we love the interior of this sweet little Cape in the village of Coxsackie, we’re having a hard time with the fact that there’s nothing to provide privacy from the neighbors. However, it’s situated on nearly an acre of land and if the Google Map Streetview is to be believed, it includes a pool (at least, it did when the aerial shot was taken). Maybe the lack of privacy isn’t a deal breaker for others. Beds: 3. Baths: 1.5. Square Feet: 1475. Lot Size: .82 acres. Est. Taxes: $4725.

23 Matthew Lane, Coxsackie (Coldwell Banker) GMAP

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If you were to take Route 23 through the center of Ashland, you would probably spot this house along the way. It’s located right in the middle of town, but Ashland is sleepy. You won’t be able to walk to bars, restaurants or galleries, so if that’s what you’re looking for, scroll back up to the Victorian in Catskill. This is a country farm house set on an acre of land close to nature (less than 10 minutes from Windham Mountain) with a mostly renovated interior, plank wood floors, and a new heating system. Tough to beat the price and the super cheap property taxes. Beds: 3. Baths: 1. Square Feet: 1584. Lot Size: 1 acre. Est. Taxes: $1638.

12146 Route 23, Ashland (Coldwell Banker) GMAP