ABOUT US

WHY BUY REAL ESTATE IN THE CATSKILLS?​​​​​​​

In 2012, we decided to buy a place in the Catskills. We couldn't afford to buy an apartment in the city so instead, we focused on getting a weekend escape. Our criteria; a rural setting with nature front and center within a two-hour drive from Brooklyn, access to organic and locally produced food, good hiking, and a few charming towns.  We discovered the Rondout Valley (the area tucked between the Catskill mountains to the north and Shawangunks to the south) during our search and it turned out to be a perfect fit.  So, for the price of a small studio, we purchased a chalet-style house with expansive mountain views, surrounded by forests and wildflower-filled meadows (pictured above).

Although it's a visual feast, living here has taught us that the Catskills demands the attention of all of our senses. The smell of fresh air that changes fragrance with the seasons. The sounds of the vast array of wildlife right outside your door. The taste of food and drink sourced and produced locally and made by artisans passionate about quality. Honestly, every weekend feels like a vacation.

WHAT SETS US APART?

For Sellers: We split our time between Brooklyn and the Catskills and this allows us to maintain connections to a deep pool of city dwellers looking for second homes. We know what they want and are willing to pay and this helps us price homes properly to maximize a seller's return. We also have thousands of followers on Instagram as well as social media influencers with whom we work. With these marketing tools, we’re able to reach very large audiences. More eyeballs equal more competition which ultimately translates to more money in a seller's pocket. Check out our recent blog post: Selling an Upstate Home? Five Things to Consider.

For Buyers: We regularly meet buyers in the city or upstate to talk about the different areas to consider, the market conditions, and how to craft an effective search. Buyers find these meetings highly informative. And because we continue to split our time between Brooklyn and the Catskills, we're intimately familiar with the nuances of owning a second home as well as the various counties/areas in which to consider buying.  Of course, this is the information we're happy to share with you when we meet. If you're just starting out, check out this helpful blog post: Buying in The Catskills? Six Questions to Consider. ​​​​​​

For each client our approach is the same:

• Listen.  Perhaps one of the most underrated skills, we consider it to be one of the most important. In order for us to effectively represent you, we need to know what you want. So, we listen intently.
  
• Respond Promptly and Professionally.  Whether you're buying or selling, we know the process can be exciting, stressful, and, at times, confusing so we make ourselves available most waking hours to respond to questions, share information, etc.
• Guide and Advise.  Our role is to help you make smart decisions so we'll always offer you our honest assessment based on our local knowledge and expertise. That said, you'll never feel pressure from us. We let you set the pace.
• Provide Resources.  For buyers, both during and after a purchase, we'll provide local resources (attorneys, inspectors, contractors, cleaning services, property managers, handymen, etc.) so that once you've closed you've got a team in place to help transition to weekend homeownership.

MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Prior to launching Fresh Air Realty, I practiced law for 17 years at Kramer Levin in NYC where I represented hedge funds in hundreds of complex financial transactions. I have an eye for detail in all aspects of the buying and selling process; examining properties, analyzing market conditions, crafting attractive offers, helping sellers decide which offer to accept, etc.  I'm also a skilled negotiator, having negotiated hundreds of legal transactions. All of these skills serve me equally well with my Catskills real estate clients.