Brett Young | Ulster County Real Estate | New Paltz Real Estate

Here in the Ulster County and Catskill region, we got blanketed again with about 5-7 inches of snow that left the mountains and trees glistening as the sun came out this morning. Some people may have an aversion to the snow, but when the white stuff comes, this area has plenty of things to do and enjoy in the outdoors.

The scenery in New Paltz is beautiful as one looks towards the majestic Shawangunk Ridge. The kids enjoy some great sledding hills while the parents admire the view. The Mohonk Mountain House has some great cross country skiing trails. The winter also brings some great winter festivals like one in Highland next weekend which has a traditional chili cookoff, ice sculpting and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

The Catskill Mountains offer many different skiing and snowboarding options including Belleayre Mountain in Ulster County, Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain in Greene County and Plattekill in Delaware County. Frost Valley was one of my favorite places to go in my youth to take in some fun winter activities. When it's time to relax, there's nothing like the serenity of seeing a pristine Catskill stream babble along through the pure white surroundings.

For your viewing pleasure, I found a marvelous photo of a church in the Roundout district of Kingston, NY. The beauty of the architecture in Kingston is amplified by the snow.

It took quite a while, but I was finally able to compile Ulster County real estate statistics dating back to 2002. For more in-depth analysis, visit the Ulster County real estate blog. The graphs I've included here depict some interesting trends. Although 2010 has not been a banner year when comparing it to booming sales figures during the middle of the decade, things appear to be looking up in 2010. The number of homes sold year-to-date and the median price year-to-date in 2010 exceeds that of 2009.

I wanted to share these graphs I created that show the year-over-year and year-to-date trends for Ulster County real estate as reported through the Ulster County MLS. The impact of the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit is very obvious when one examines the shift from June to July. So far, more homes have been sold in 2010 than in 2009 and the median home price is higher. However, there is a little reason for concern about the local market as evidenced by the declining number of homes sold since June.

The fall foliage here in Update New York cannot be beat. This time of year, I love my job as an Upstate NY real estate agent because it allows me to drive through the countryside and enjoy the magnificent views while extolling the benefits of living in the area to clients. The red, yellow and orange hues add to the majesty of the mountains and hills.

When not on the job, I find that my time revolves around being outside and enjoying the fall. My family and I took a leisurely walk on the Hudson Valley Rail Trail last week and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the trail. The extension of the Rail Trail which now connects with the Walkway Over the Hudson was something we've anxiously anticipated and we were not disappointed upon meandering on the new portion. The Rail Trail and Walkway are invaluable local resources that residents and visitors alike should take advantage. There's nothing like getting out and enjoying some fresh air, getting some exercise and taking in the unmatched views whe have Upstate.

Over the last couple of months we've noticed a little bit of resurgence in the Upstate New York Real Estate market. The New York Times published an article on the upstate market which alluded to the fact that there are promising conditions for purchasing unique and charming homes that would have fetched much higher prices in years past.

The Times article featured buyers from Brooklyn who were able to achieve their dream of finding a place in the country by purchasing a four-bedroom 1890s farmhouse with barns and outbuildings on almost 20 acres of property in between the Shawangunk Ridge and Catskill Mountains. Low interest rates and spectacular bargains seem to be inspiring city residents to re-consider purchasing a piece of paradise Upstate.

We've certainly had a good share of New York City and New Jersey residents inquiring about Upstate homes for sale over the last couple of months. Our area certainly has everything that a city-dweller could hope for in an escape from their urban surroundings--beautiful and inspiring views, peace and quiet, fresh air and great recreational opportunities. Our area appeals to downstaters on so many levels and that in part has helped our local market weather the storm through very turbulent economic times.