The Red Apple Rest, The Mountains, and Da City

The Red Apple Rest, The Mountains, and Da City

We baby boomers know the Mountains. We trekked here as children eager to beat sizzling sidewalks and wall to wall brick apartment houses. Mom, Dad, and grand parents packed what fit in the 56 Chevy and took off West to the Catskills. The trip took years. I was probably six.

When the family finally stopped for potty breaks and food, yep—you guessed it; we stood on line at the famous Red Apple Rest in Tuxedo, NY. Seemed like hundreds of people arrived at the Rest at exactly the same time. Was it really that crowded?

A carnival of smells and colors, The Rest was reflective of that tremendously diverse community everyone referred to as Da City. As in: “Where you from?” You’d say: “Da City.” Da city where you played stickball, pick up baseball games, and city park sprinklers made the Catskills a great escape. I hear the Four Season singing Sherrie right now.

Every kid from Da City knows about egg crèmes and lime rickeys and ya know something, the shopkeepers knew how to make em in the Catskill Mountains too. When your Dad turned off 17 to your final destination, you were ready to break the car door off and get into your bathing suit.

As a kid from Da City, I neva forgot Sullivan County. I married a local farm girl from the Beechwoods, raised my girls here, and still am a kid from Da City floating down the Delaware in cut offs and shades.

Have a memory? Make a comment. Meanwhile—if you want a piece of the Catskills, give me a call. We’ll reminisce and I’ll reintroduce you to the Catskills 4 Real.

Read About the Red Apple Rest:
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/NEWS/702080318/-1/COMM02

Real Estate Is Cold Like the Weather Here in Sullivan County, NY

Real Estate Is Cold Like the Weather Here in Sullivan County, NY

Oh yes, we have sellers-- Sellers who own spectacular vistas, meadows, and mountaintops. But like the cold air temperatures, buyers have taken a chill and resisted the temptation to explore new territory here.

February was more electric with plenty of phone activity and inquiries. I actually was gaining confidence that Catskills Real Estate was warming up to a better market. Colleagues too were busy with the assorted details of our industry.

“Hey, can you tell me the taxes? “What’s going on with that Lake Front in Chapin Estates?” “How off is the Catskill's Property market really”? “Are the contractors buying parcels again? It was music to our ears in our Main Street Office.

We’ve got buyers, yes that is right. We’ve got plenty of sellers as well. Sounds good so far, but the reality of getting these two together has always been the meat of the matter. And—it’s getting more difficult to feed those coming to the table.

Some sellers here have an unrealistic idea of property value. Although this is somewhat typical of many sellers, times dictate serious re-evaluation for this group. Equally frustrating, some buyers have impractical pricing requirements even for today’s flat market. Many buyers are expecting implausible listing reductions.

Buyers and sellers are just too far apart right now. In some measure, both buyers and sellers are unwilling to make the required concessions or compromises to firm up a deal.

It’s my sense that the cold here may not just be in the air. It may also reside in unrealistic buyer and seller expectations.
John Kavaller