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WELL, OCTOBER’S ALMOST OVER, and I owe Long Island an apology. I jumped the gun last week when I called its fall foliage show a “dud.” Last week, there wasn’t much in the way of color. But this week is different. The woods behind my house are glinting gold in the late afternoon sun as I write this [that's not the woods behind my house, above; that's a stolen photo from hamptons.com], and there’s even a smattering of red from the burning bush that strains toward my neighbors’ sunnier yard. Though not the glorious blaze of the Hudson Valley (why must I keep comparing?), the roadsides around here are a pleasure to drive along these days. So, sorry, Long Island, you’re very pretty in fall.
Then there are the Montauk daisies, left. There are stands of them everywhere and they are welcome indeed, to be flowering so abundantly in late October.
Today, feeling rural, I bought the Farmer’s Almanac for the first time; I needed something to read in parking court (they reduced my ticket from $60 to $30 just for showing up). Strange little book. Published in Lewiston, ME, since 1818 (there are two competing farmer’s almanacs; I bought the one with a Colonial homestead on the cover), it seems to appeal to old people on both left and right. It’s got ads for everything from organic fertilizers to air guns, plus knee braces, Depends, and various supplements and snake oils.
I’m glad to have the frost dates, the gardening tips, and the Moon calendar (I always like to know when the moon is in Aries, my sun sign, said to be “green light” days for making things happen), but the weather forecast for this three-day period in the Northeast (“rainy skies”) is already wrong.
I’ve been paint-happy lately, and there’s no end in sight. With all the trim and moldings in my house, above, now painted Sailor’s Sea Blue — a wonderful, easy-to-live with French blue that I absolutely love (more pictures when my camera comes back from the shop), I’m thinking of adding some yellow for warm contrast. I’m inspired by Margaret Roach’s yellow painted floor, below,
perhaps for the back hall, and thinking I’ll have some fun painting the bedroom and bathroom doors. They’re horrible hollow-core doors, but until I manage to find some old panel doors and have them installed, I think red or yellow doors — or maybe wallpapered doors! — would be an uplifting stop-gap.
Last seasonal observation for today. The Fall ‘09 Hamptons Look (female version):
- skinny jeans (most likely brown)
- high boots (ditto)
- long, loose sweater belted at the hip
- long scarf around neck
- sunglasses on head
I can do that!
LET’S play my favorite masochistic game: it’s called “Real Estate Regrets.” Right now I have a mild case over this property in Germantown, N.Y., which is set to close this coming week.
A former fruit and berry farm on 4 acres, it’s a c.1900 3-bedroom farmhouse on a quiet road, in the same family for 100 years. Nothing special architecturally, but in decent shape, with a small barn for a studio or office and, in industry parlance, “sweeping, uninterrupted mountain views.”
It was an exclusive with Gary DiMauro in Tivoli, and it sold within 24 hours, says broker Susan Lyne. The asking price was $195,000, and it was an all-cash deal.
The lessons here? (a) Don’t dilly-dally, and (b) Have a lot of cash at the ready, if at all possible.
On the bright side, it’s inspiring to know that such good values are showing up on the current market.
Note: I am not a real estate broker, and I do not have any financial interest in the sale of this or any property mentioned on this blog. I just like spreading the word about unique, historic properties and what I believe are solid investment opportunities.
“Recessions create opportunities” – Warren Buffet
Today I scouted properties in Columbia County, ranging from 145K all the way up to 265K (laughable prices for New Yorkers).
Horrendous weather. Nothing made my heart sing, personally. But man (and woman), there are deals up here, especially with some cash. Camera malfunction prevents me from posting pictures, but click on live links below for more info.
- Best investment. COPAKE LAKE, asking 199K. A PAIR of houses near the lake, with winter view (good enough!) of said lake from deck of one and front porch of the other. Could bring 42K/year in rental income, with a little fixing and maybe a Domino-magazine rehab (one is a ‘70s-looking brown chalet, the other a white-painted 1940s cottage). Yes – that’s right – in a few years, you could make back your investment. And you could use them once in a while. Wonderful with kids. Downside? Jet skis and near neighbors could be annoying in summer.
- Most attractive. ANCRAM. 265K. Stone’s throw from the Ancram Opera House (that’s what the sign says). Solidly built, super well-maintained, 1930s bungalow, loads of windows, parquet floors, huge kitchen with pre-war built-ins. Perfectly livable as-is. 4 acres, gorgeous backyard going down to a ravine and up a hill; not a house in sight (in back). Old shed and garage in good shape. Clean dry basement. All painted a cheerful ochre yellow. What’s bad? Well, 82’s a little busy for some. And there’s a manufactured home next door, but it’s a super fancy one.
- Most historic. ANCRAM 169K. Adorable, fixed-up eyebrow Colonial (early 19th c.) with columned portico. You can see why they perched it, 200 years ago, at the top of a hill, looking west – it’s still the same Berkshire mountain view. PROS: Damn cute. Great kitchen with farmhouse sink, wood stove, finished attic loft bedroom, v clean. CONS: Only ½ acre, near the intersection of 82 and Doodletown Road (which, despite its name, can be fairly busy.
- Most secluded. 145K. HILLSDALE/AUSTERLITZ. At the end of a long, wind-y, muddy road. A tiny, rough cabin, painted turquoise. 4×4 porch kind of falling down. Listing says 1920 but doesn’t look that old. Those are the cons. The PLUSES: it’s FOUR wooded acres on the Green River – which is more of a trout stream. Wooded. Ya want privacy? Ya got privacy. Rt. 22 is up above the property, not far away, but you’re not aware of it.
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