Skip to content

Page Header

Dutchess County Homes Under $100k

Dutchess County Homes Under $100k published on

The upstate home deals are out there, kids! This week we’re looking at Dutchess County. Dutchess is on the east side of the Hudson, accessible via Metro North if you lack a vehicle.

A lake house for $55k? Yup, this 3 season 600 square foot cottage is located in Millerton, NY, near the border of CT. The house needs work but the lake looks perfect.

Nothing special about this 4 BR house in the city of Poughkeepsie. Nothing except the price. $45k will buy this handyperson special offered as an estate sale. Poughkeepsie isn’t exactly a second home destination, but it’s pretty close to some great hiking, boating and even skydiving. Poughkeepsie is a hit or miss place. Some areas are better than others.

Finally, here’s a Beacon single family for less than $100k (actually $99k). The house is right near Main Street. Take the train up and walk everywhere from here. You don’t even need a car! This house is listed with my broker, so if you decide to look at it, let me know. I’ll make him give you special treatment.

Please Pardon Our Appearance During Renovations

Please Pardon Our Appearance During Renovations published on

As you may have already read, we’re making some changes around here. One of those changes is this website. Yikes! The blog is going to get it’s own page while the main page will become static. Hopefully everything will go smoothly and all the archives won’t get lost, but you may see the site doing funny things while we’re working on it. Post may be less frequent until the renovation is finished.

Buy American. Laundry

Buy American. Laundry published on 2 Comments on Buy American. Laundry

We covered American made large kitchen appliances last month. They were mostly high end companies who manufacture laundry products as well, so please refer to that post so we don’t get redundant here. The list of made in America washers and dryers gets a bit fuzzy as companies manufacture products for each other and individual parts may be made outside of the U.S. Here’s a Consumer Report article to confuse you even more.

Staber Industries has been family owned and operated since 1976. They claim to be the only U.S. manufacturer of energy efficient top loading tumble action washers. Staber washers have been produced in Groveport, Ohio since 1993. Most sales are shipped factory-direct to the customer.

Speed Queen was founded by Joe Barlow and John Seelig in 1908. The Wisconsin hardware store owners bought several hand-powered washing machines from a company in Kansas City, MO and changed the product with the times (that means electricity, kids). During World War II Speed Queen halted its production of laundry equipment to manufacture 20mm shells as well as parts for airplanes, tanks and guns. The company is a big supplier of coin operated laundry machines as well as residential models.

Now the big name brands. As stated: fuzzy. Most of them are technically made in America, not necessarily the United States, but North America. They have factories in Canada and Mexico in addition to the U.S.

Maytag

Kenmore manufactures in North America, but they are also associated with LG from Korea.

Whirlpool

GE

Amana

 

Reclaiming Our Roots

Reclaiming Our Roots published on 4 Comments on Reclaiming Our Roots

Reclaimed Home is going back to its roots! After moving back to Brooklyn, where space is an issue, we stopped collecting larger salvaged items for reuse. Well, it’s time to expand again.

Starting a tiny home based business was a breeze. Starting a small business with a team is a bit more challenging. But you know what? It’s important that we do this now for a variety of reasons.

Saving building materials from the landfills. Mother Earth is screaming for help. Tons of demolition rubbish goes into dumpsters every day.

Presenting restoration options for folks of all income levels. We’re going through some rough economic times. Why shouldn’t everyone have the same access to beautiful architectural details and furnishings for their dwellings?

Preserve our history! Old homes are being torn down to make way for new construction. Historic details are discarded of during renovations. The skilled craftspeople who created these materials are long gone. Let’s give their work a second life.

Here’s what you can do to help us achieve our goals. If it can be recycled, please don’t throw it out! We’ll take reusable materials off your hands. If you’re doing a renovation or know of someone who is, contact us before you allow your contractor to destroy house parts and throw them in the dumpster. We’ll carefully remove the items for you so someone else can make use of them.

It will save you demolition fees. It will save you disposal rates. Most importantly, it will save our planet from overflowing landfills.

You can email us by hitting the “contact” link at the top of the middle column. We thank you and Momma Earth thanks you.

 

 

 

10 Things I Hate About Home Ownership

10 Things I Hate About Home Ownership published on

I’m stealing this idea from my friend Judy’s blog, Bad Advice, flipping it around and running with it. See, Judy thought she should be more positive, so she’s posting 101 things she likes. Screw positive. I’m not motivated enough to come up with 101, so here are 10 things I hate.

1. Contractors who don’t call back, don’t show up or don’t do the job right. I can come up with a list of 101 things I hate about contractors, but this is good enough.

2. The constant upkeep. Just when you think you’ve finished renovations, it’s time to start over again. Appliances breaking down, doors falling off the hinges, blah, blah, blah.

3. Oy, it’s expensive! Yeah, this is part of upkeep, but I have to stretch it out to 10. Things like the facade. Damn, that’s gonna cost like a year’s salary. My husband’s, not my measly two cents.

4. Realtor’s postcards. Go away. Just because I’m listing 10 things doesn’t mean I want to sell my house.

5. Backyard. It’s a lovely idea in theory and there’s nothing like sending my dogs out there when I don’t want to walk them. Actually, wouldn’t live without one. But, do I get to enjoy it? Between the mosquitoes and the dog shit….nah.

6. Tenants. Believe me, it would be nice to live in the whole house. Who could afford that? I wasn’t one of those kids who liked sharing. Plus, walls are thin. Can’t have loud sex.

7. Property taxes. This totally doesn’t apply to NYC where taxes are low, but we felt so ripped off on our upstate taxes. The toughest nut was the school tax and we didn’t even have kids! Or sidewalks or public trash bins. What were we paying for?

8. Space. Again, like the backyard. A great thing, really! Until every acquaintance and distant cousin wants to sleep on your couch.

9. Worries. In the past, we’ve had tenants and petsitters call us while we’re on vacation. Frozen pipes, broken locks, flooded basements. Luckily, that was all one house, which we unloaded years ago. Mmmwwwwaaaahhhhaaaahhhhaaaaaahhhhaaaaa!!!

10. Lack of a life. Every weekend with the working on the house and the Home Depot trips.

Honestly, I had trouble coming up with 2-10. I just felt like kvetching, but it’s not a bad thing to own a home. If I thought so, I wouldn’t be addicted to scoring every few years.

 

Sustainable Surfaces

Sustainable Surfaces published on

I’m loving the look of Torzo Sustainable Surfaces, but even cooler than that is what their product lines are made from. Post agricultural recycled sorghum, sunflower hulls and hemp? Yeah, they use post industrial recycled fiberboard and chip board too, but it’s way cooler to say “Look at my hemp floor.” now, isn’t it? I mean, let’s get our priorities straight.

Torzo products aren’t 100% green. It’s tough to be fully green when you want a countertop or floor to last. Depending on the product line, 25%-50% of it is acrylic resin. The good news is that the resin used is manufactured by Torzo’s parent company, an Oregon based, family run, woman owned business.

Looks like Stone Source is the only place that carries Torzo locally.

 

 

Best Creepy Houses in Movies

Best Creepy Houses in Movies published on

Amityville Horror

Get oooouuuuttttt!!! So, guy kills his family in this Long Island home and the Lutzes move in. True story. Was it really haunted as they claim? The magic eight ball says no.

Click on the movie titles for some fun posts I linked to!

The Shining

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado was the inspiration for Kubrick’s Overlook. Heeerreee’s Johnny!

The Sentinel

This movie scared the bejesus out of me when I saw it as a kid. The lovely corner row house is located right off Brooklyn Heights’ Promenade. Minus the climbing ivy these days.

Psycho

Bates Motel my tuchas. It’s that creepy (and gorgeous) building in the back that everyone remembers. Actually, just a set at Universal Studios. What’s that, Mother? No really, just a set.

Burnt Offerings

Do you remember this movie? If you don’t or if you’ve never seen it, ya gotta rent it! As if Karen Black is not scary enough, the entire movie is a creepfest!

Rosemary’s Baby

Yeah, yeah. I know The Dakota is one of the most desirable buildings in NYC. But when I was a kid, it was the Rosemary’s Baby building. Then it because the John Lennon Was Shot Here building. Can’t catch a break.

Let’s Scare Jessica To Death

Pretty sure this movie made me lose sleep too. May I wow you with my trivial pop culture nonsense? This is from memory…I did not look it up, I swear! Actress Zohra Lampert, who played Jessica was the Goya Bean woman! Are you impressed?

 

Upstate Homes for Under $100k

Upstate Homes for Under $100k published on 2 Comments on Upstate Homes for Under $100k

Dreaming of a log cabin? This 1937 home seems to be pretty clean. Located in Bethel (the REAL Woodstock), it only sits on .17 acre. There is access to swimming, boating and tennis nearby though. The price? $54,900.

This is the one that made my jaw drop. It needs sooo much work drooooolll but it’s sooo worth it. Check out the pictures of the interior. OMG, I’m in love. A 3800 square foot grand center hall colonial in Catskill on 1.5 acres. It’s listed at $75k but the sale will be an auction.

Ok, so this Amenia home is very close to the road, but hear me out. Hello B&B potential! It needs work, but $79,900 the price reflects that. No, I did not make a mistake and forget to put the one in front of that number. 4.2 acres. Dreamy!

This 1790 cottage doesn’t resemble anything from a bygone era. The only detail left intact is the stone fireplace, otherwise it’s new reno. Not my thing. But for $100k on 7.3 acres, it could be your thing if you don’t want to give your weekends away to the Renovation Gods.

 

Weekend Events

Weekend Events published on

The Fall Crafts in Chelsea is this Saturday, October 15th from 10am-5pm. The block long event takes place on W. 21st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. The semi annual show benefits PS 11. Etsy NewNew team used to organize it before handing it over to BK Craft Central. Yeah, I’ll be participating with my reclaimed stuff, so come visit!

The 33rd Annual Bed Stuy House Tour takes place this Saturday, October 15th, 11am-4pm, rain or shine. The event is brought to you by The Brownstoners of Bed Stuy, a group that was formed back in 1978 when Bed Stuy was Do or Die. Many homes in the neighborhood still have much of their historic detail intact as there wasn’t an influx of gentrifiers doing gut renovations. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 day of. Proceeds go towards college scholarships for students at the Boys & Girls High School and the programs at Brooklyn Academy High School.

Finally, the big weekend long event is Open House New York, when you can gain free access hundreds of sites, talks, tours, performances and family activities throughout the five boroughs. Private residences, landmarks, rooftop farms and sustainable skyscrapers will open their doors to the public. So, what’s the catch? The crowds. For $150 you can buy a front of the line passport. Or you can just visit these places some other time.

Ireland in New York

Ireland in New York published on

IMG_6451

Did you know that there’s an Irish famine memorial in downtown Manhattan? It’s been there since 2002 and I just found out about it last weekend. And my husband is from Dublin. He found out about it a few days before me.

The cool thing about the 1/2 acre site is that the memorial “ruin” utilizes ancient stones and soil brought over from the west of Ireland. There are also stones that were brought over from each county, all inscribed with the county name.

The site is elevated so that it feels like an Irish hilltop rather than a Manhattan street. Pretty cool. Don’t take my word for it. See for yourself.

IMG_6453

Recycled Sukkahs

Recycled Sukkahs published on


Sukkot begins tonight. For those of us unfamiliar with this Jewish holiday, it just means that alternate side parking rules are suspended this Thursday and Friday (Woot!). Sukkot is the shed holiday. Yeah, NOW you know what I’m talking about!

According to Rabbinical code, the sukkah (shed) cannot be located under trees, Stars must be visible from the roof, which  must be made of material that is cut from the earth. For a better explanation, please visit the Babak Bryan website. They are the guys who created the Fractured Bubble sukkah above. The bubble is not really made from recycled materials, but rather invasive species that were picked from local wetlands. The design won People’s Choice in 2010’s Sukkah City and I love it too much not to include it.

Each image links to more info on that particular sukkah.

Past Sukkah post.

 

 

Occupy the Future

Occupy the Future published on 2 Comments on Occupy the Future

IMG_6435

After three weeks of the Occupy Wall Street protests, we finally got down there over the weekend. Of course, we chose to go to Zuccotti Park the day the protesters were occupying Washington Square. Back at Zuccotti, it was pretty much just the campers and some musicians left. And lots of media.

IMG_6434

The occupiers chose to camp at Zuccotti because it’s not a public park with city curfews. The privately owned plaza stays open 24 hours per day and although owners, Brookfield Properties, aren’t happy about it, there hasn’t been much they can do about it.

IMG_6440

Right wing media outlets have been reporting that the protests are just a bunch of trust fund hippies. Left wing outlets point to the thousands of folks involved, including unions and churches. What we saw was something in between. Yeah, there are plenty of hippies! And there were older hippies too, those who protested back in the 60’s and just waiting for the day that this generation would wake up.

IMG_6430

Lack of diversity? False. Perhaps it started out as a young white-kid thing, but it is now a racially mixed group.

IMG_6432

Unsanitary conditions? Again, perhaps at first, but the campers have a janitorial crew and even a gray waste water system. It’s like a little sustainable village in that park.

IMG_6439

No clear message? The original message has expanded to include the liberal dream. Peace. Feed the hungry. You know, make the world a better place for everyone. Looks like people have had enough of the Entitled throwing their weight around. Their hope-or should I say-“our” hope has faded since the President is weaker than we had anticipated.

Occupy Wall Street is a bunch of fed up folks who want to change their future. As Elvis Costello put it, there’s nothing funny about peace, love and understanding.

IMG_6441

IMG_6437

Win A $250 Gift Card For Home Depot!

Win A $250 Gift Card For Home Depot! published on

*Post sponsored by Plastics Make it Possible & American Chemistry Council

Feeling lucky, punks? Here’s a way to win a $250 Home Depot gift certificate. And it will cost you nuthin’! Just click on the image above to go to the interactive house where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about sustainable plastic options for your home. Customize your own home design for a chance to win the bucks. Good luck!!

Halloween Performances

Halloween Performances published on

Forget those pedestrian haunted houses of our yesteryear. These days you have to be an Artiste to put on a Halloween spookfest in NYC. It’s more performance art and less kids-having-fun-with-make-up.

Third Rail Project presents Steam Punk Haunted House at the Abrons Arts Center Henry Street Settlement. The contemporary adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”  is an installation, dance and performance art that takes place on three floors of the historic theater. Tickets start at $20 and the show begins on October 22nd.

Creepshow at the Freakshow is Coney Island’s answer to a Halloween haunted house. It’s an interactive play named “The Ride Inspector’s Nightmare” that takes place all throughout the landmarked Freak Show building. The show starts on October 7th and runs until All Hallow’s Eve. Tickets are $10.

Blackout NYC promises a sexual and violent experience. You must be 18 to enter, must enter alone and sign a waiver! Sounds pretty creepy to me! The midtown haunted house has already started and runs all month. Some shows are already sold out. Tickets are $35-$40.

Of course, if you want to do a zombie walk for a cause, you can always join them at Occupy Wall Street. That is free, as in Free-dom.

Primary Sidebar