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

Lisa took us all on her Sunday morning round trip to Dianes diner in Damacus, PA, then to the Callicoon Farmers Market, then to the Agway, and then full circle all the way back to Eldred. Brave enough to join us were the owners of Cottage 7 and Cottage 14 who live next to each other over a few miles west of where we, the Petersheims, reside. It's tough going out these days since the Post article, with the papparazzi and constant requests for autographs on personal body part regions. Now, I say brave enough because anytime someone travels with me you never know what to expect. There was time when I was sitting quietly in Highland Town Hall when I was out of the blue verbally assaulted by two women. There was the time I walked in Fred duh Shed with my 5 month old baby in my arms and the CRAZY owner Michelle, came across the store in her 6" strides - I was expecting a big welcome since I do have quite a few homeowners who I refer to her, when instead she says 'I'm not comfortable with you in my store", stunning and perhaps embarrassing me in front of some friends. Having no fucking idea what she was talking about having not seen her in years, I called her a freak, which is an understatement and went on with my business. Funny thing about it I was just remarking to Lisa how it was kind of impressive that she was still in business after 5 years, - us both knowing firsthand how difficult that is. There was the time I called a local excavator for a small job, and his wife spends a few minutes insulting me, my staff, and our business. And then you never know when the guys I dissed earlier might pop up, tude in hand. So, you never know what you get when you go out in public with me - in other towns/cities, I would be getting the key to the city - here, I get snubbed, insulted and conspired against. But no big deal - Like Gib McKean the local real estate legend said one day over lunch - "God save us from small towns." Probably one the biggest obstacles up here in the sticks is the counter-intuitive way things work - there is very little reward or support for a growing business, no business network, no civic organizations, no building associations, - so it's a bit lonely but I'd rather be lonely than broke, but there does seem to be much more of a network for mediocre businesses, then good ones. In a normal place, more businesses would try to position themselves to be of service to us - instead, mostly what we find is a tendency to 'spite one's noses right off one's face', but, without a doubt, it's been my ability to see and act through this that has enabled Catskill Farms to find the labor resources necessary to fuel a growing business. Me, I don't really care if I have to suffer a lot of small slights from companies that work for me, because, in the end, the big picture stays foremost on my mind - that being, my ability to start, finish and sell as many homes as I care to build - regardless of the economy, available resources or competition. Here we are, rounding the corner from Main Street to the field where the Market is.

And a pic of Lucas in a mirror in the car, sleeping.

Pablo and Ana cheese shopping at Callicoon Wine Merchant, definitely one of the best, if not the best, wine/cheese and the like store in the region.

Is that Lisa and Lucas, or Brittany S. and her oldest?

Now, here is a place where I totally always get in trouble for 'taking it too far', since in my mind, how can't the simple observation be made that Pablo is hanging out in front of the 'fruity' section of the wine store.

And the olives, chips and sauce -

The 'What's for Sale' chalkboard -

Window flyers, with the annual Tractor Parade just around the corner.

A delicate portrait which I titled "Fake Grass and Hanging Sausage"

A look down the street -

The owner of this historic landmark shot and killed a waitress last summer while intoxicated. He received 6 months in jail - now that says more about Sullivan County's old boys network than I ever could. Don't people get 6 months in jail for driving drunk twice?

Lettuce. Funny I have two bowls I frequently eat from-, one says Lettuce Dance, and Corn to be Wild.

One of Lisa's favorite market vendors.

Fresh spring onions, or scallions.

Some doggy treats.

Lil' Lucas smiling.

And some friendly flowers.

And Lisa ending the day with some uncalled for gesture, and a great sign behind her - "Certifed..." , and all the readers can fill in the blank.

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Funny, I was looking through some websites of developers, real estate flippers, etc... and kept noticing the same trend - a trend to put as many trendy catch phrases into one description as possible. It used to be an organization would focus in and master a direction, but these days, I guess you got throw the kitchen sink at it - Here are some examples - "A New Old Green Modular home" (this one catches every buzz word ever coined) "Architect designed Custom Rustic 2 story farmhouse style "- for anyone who knows anything about area real estate, Rustic/custom/farmhouses are a couple of buzz phrases that have worked for their respective originators - but for me, who would design it if not an architect. In the end, the same old mistakes - buzz words instead of a real product, marketing instead of a value, and houses priced where the spreadsheet calculations look interesting, instead of where the real market is. For us, we now know we have a corner on the market, because our homes are priced incredibly low for the value we are giving - look across upstate NY for similar homes, and 1, you won't find any, and if you do, they will carry a higher price tag. Good advice for our imitators - a good business model respects the customers intelligence, and by producing the best homes we can at the lowest price possible, we do what we can to create to most value possible - and as I repeat, our best customers are those that are most educated in the local real estate landscape. It is then, as Gayle said, a real 'no brainer'. If only buzz words and phrases got the job done. A cool mellow weekend planned up here in the Catskills - must of got 75 calls and emails after the Post article.

NY Post and Tina Traster honors us today with a nice article profiling our business model and Albert's selection of Eldred as his getaway destination. Online article pretty nice - but the print edition has a big spread. http://www.nypost.com/seven/05282009/realestate/different_strokes_171241.htm Goodbye Inventory, Hello Waiting List - different year, same drill. Thank you to all of our customers who make this job fun and rewarding, - and to those who don't, well...

Here is an excerpt written on my friend David's blog after reading the article in the Post - I couldn't agree more with the soft wisdom of her generosity - "Speaking as a lifetime local, I'm always gratified to see people finding peace, comfort and, most importantly, easy acceptance in our communities, no matter how big a "who" they are. There are places where "live and let live" do exist, and I'm glad to live and work in a place where, by and large, those "Protected by..." security signs are just for show, and an unlocked door or car is no cause for worry. Celebrities among us probably do recognize that we whisper excitedly about seeing them in town, but they also know the great majority of us don't want to be a bother -- just a good neighbor, willing to lend some milk, a wrench or a few flower bulbs whenever they need them. It may sound corny, but this is what life really is like up here, so it's no wonder that more than nature and solitude attract people to the area. We represent a refreshingly real change from the superficiality of life in the spotlight. I hope we always will." Amen.