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Catskills - Sullivan County - Ulster County Real Estate -- Catskill Farms Journal

Old School Real estate blog in the Catskills. Journeys, trial, tribulations, observations and projects of Catskill Farms Founder Chuck Petersheim. Since 2002, Catskill Farms has designed, built, and sold over 250 homes in the Hills, investing over $100m and introducing thousands to the areas we serve. Farms, Barns, Moderns, Cottages and Minis - a design portfolio which has something for everyone.

November 12, 2009

Value of Catskill Farms' Homes Debated

My friend David keeps a widely read blog that captures the flavor of the area and the trends of the region's real estate, in addition to being one of the top 3 grossing real estate professionals in the area. He is sort of the g0-to guy for any stat or trend analysis for the area - as well as having his ear pretty close to the tracks - he has nailed a few trends before they were visible to the naked eye. David consistently has an interesting point of view and is a very good, funny, and serious writer. The problem is his blog was hijacked a long time ago by a few people posting under multiple names who disparage, talk down, and assault anything David or blog posters less inclined to think the world is ending. At one point, a few of them were posting under my name, saying stupid shit, and making me look pretty ridiculous. Although in the same breath, without those hijacking yahoos, the post volume would be pretty minimal which kind of makes you feel like you are shouting to an empty theater, although that's not really true because we can all read the visitors stats and analytics. Currently, there is a debate 'raging' about Catskill Farms - you have Nick, the old house aficionado who thinks it's ok to buy a Catskill Farms house but he wouldn't (wink wink) because he demands authenticity (he's been renovating a house for what seems like years - many times I think that people who post how great their old house renovation process is are just rationalizing the huge mistake they made in the first place buying the damn thing), you have the German guy who wears hats of many nationalities and posts under a tiresome number of aliases but his perspective is the same - whatever is good with Sullivan County can be made to feel bad, you have the perennially depressed 'ar' who wants to cut his wrists and make everyone miserable because he bought something at the height of the market and can't stop thinking about how much money he lost - and then a few posters who, although never having built a house, are sure that it can be done very cheaply and Catskill Farms is not only taking advantage of silly and naive and not-so-smart New Yorkers, but counting the huge profits we are making the whole way to the bank. Frankly, and to be honest, I wish the who thinks we are raking it in night and day was right. All anonymously, of course. With the main premise that anyone buying real estate, period, is stupid, so, as logic would have it - since Catskill Farms is the king of sales, we obviously have the market on stupid people and families. I think, actually, it's just the opposite. Very smart people buy our homes - not everyone who visits buys, but everyone who visits understands why it is a viable idea to consider. I actually believe we are the only company that plays with real estate that when someone takes the time to visit, it's actually better in real life than the website (which is saying something because the website is pretty good). Most times, the wide angle lens can work magic with an awkward room or house. So judge for yourself - and if any of our fans are converted to the Catskill Farms idea is all smoke and mirrors and only for those without any soul or commitment to authenticity, you can migrate from the blog to David main site and he can help you find a house comparable to ours. His blog can be found at Catskill4sale Blog. I find the argument of 'authenticity' really a bogus idea - what's authentic about pretending you are a contractor in the middle of a place you just discovered undergoing one of the most stressful, life-changing processes one will ever experience? I think it's 'authentic' to buy smart, help design the house, move in 5 months, pay exactly what you forecasted, and be celebrating years of holidays before the guy playing 'this old house' even moves in. It's 'authentic' to make a big life decision to 'getaway', and actually have it work out well - emotionally, psychologically, and financially.

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