Calling All Dreamers! 💭✨ 4 Amazing Commercial Listings
Plus, Nearby Residential Listings. Plan Your Dream Life Upstate: Work, Home and All!
Before moving Upstate, my friends and I would sit around at Brooklyn bars and talk about permanently escaping the city – relocating to the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, even CT and PA. Far enough from the city to get some space and country air, close enough to come back if I had to. Whether it was me talking or my friends, though, the chorus was always the same: “I love it up there, but what would I do for work?!”
After nearly nine years Upstate, I can confirm there’s plenty of jobs up here, especially with the influx of hospitality. For creative, entrepreneur types, you might consider a small business – which, yes, can be challenging but it’s also rewarding in a way I never knew possible at my desk job in NYC.
Below, find four commercial listings that will get your gears turning, planning your dream life Upstate – work, home and all.
This “Calling All Dreamers” series is presented in partnership with Upstate Curious, the listing team behind all four commercial spaces for sale. (Residential listings are hand-picked by me, founder and CD at Escape, Erin!) Without further ado, enjoy.
Wassaic Commons: Converted Dairy Barn in Wassaic, NY
What was once an old dairy barn from the 1920s has been transformed into Wassaic Commons: a vibrant hub encouraging collaboration, design, and entrepreneurship.
The two-level barn (plus an additional storage barn/shed) has been meticulously and creatively restored by the owners, a Manhattan-based architect and designer, who teamed up with exceptional carpenters and local tradespeople, leaving no detail overlooked. Downstairs, this barn has potential for subdivision into four storefronts in addition to current cornerstone tenant, the beloved Vitsky Bakery. Upstairs, its gorgeous event space has a market value estimated around $10,000 per event.
With actual rents plus rental projections giving this property an 8.8% cap rate, this is a special turnkey investment property which can immediately start cash flowing.
What We Love: New owners can work with tenants to create the retail space of their dreams. In the meantime, the current listing has a market/retail space being operated by Vitsky Bakery with an existing month-to-month lease.
About the Area: Wassaic, a hamlet located within the Town of Amenia in Dutchess County, is located just two hours north of Manhattan by car or train. Wassaic is a popular destination for visitors due to its easy accessibility as the last stop on Metro-North's Harlem line, which runs every two hours, seven days a week, throughout the year.
Other standout businesses in the area include Canoe Hill, Ore Hill, Serevan, Stissing House, The Lantern Inn, Troutbeck, Willa Bar, Peggy’s Sweet & Savory, Ten Mile Distillery, Tent, and Four Brothers Pizza Inn + Drive In.
Nitty Gritty: Asking $1.8m. Listed by Kate Quintard with the Upstate Curious Team at Compass. View the original listing here.
Pair With These Nearby Residential Listings:
• We’re obsessed with this super colorful log cabin, whose primary bedroom with a fireplace overlooks a waterfall and lush gardens. Reason enough to move Upstate, but must love cabins and the color red. $8k/month.
• Got $20 million to spare? (This is “Calling All Dreamers,” after all…) Check out this incredible 134 acre residence whose centerpiece is the 7,500 square foot main residence. The property also includes a pool, separate pool house, and a barn with 48 stalls, currently being used as a polo facility.
• In the nearby and very charming Millbrook, this 1863 compoundincludes a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom main house, a pool, and a separate pool house/studio with a kitchenette, full bath, room to entertain. Asking $795k.
MaMA: Artistic Compound in Stone Ridge, NY
Located in the historic district on busy Main Street (aka Route 209), this property spans 3.4 landscaped acres and features a mixed-use converted church, leased by a popular yoga and dance studio. Behind it is a newly constructed yurt, used for events and ceremonies. A spacious 2-bedroom apartment provides additional income.
Current rents yield a 7% cap rate, potentially 10% at market value.
What We Love: A yurt and a church included in the sale? Whatever you do with the property, you’ll stand out from the rest forever with this double-novelty listing.
About the Area: Stone Ridge is known for its historical stone houses, and beautiful scenery. It’s an easy drive for full-time residents and visitors from nearby Kingston (~15 minutes), Kerhonkson/Accord (10 minutes), Woodstock (~25 minutes), and Rhinebeck (~25 minutes).
Check out this Escape Brooklyn Guide to Stone Ridge to get a feel for the area.
Nitty Gritty: Asking $1.499m. Listed by Kate Quintard and Leigh Bokser with the Upstate Curious Team at Compass. View the original listing here.
Pair With These Nearby Residential Listings:
• In the highly sought-after, incredibly scenic neighborhood called The Vly, this charming farmhouse has been transformed over the last 5+ years by its current owners, a farmer/gardener and contractor. The result is an upstate oasis absolutely teeming with life. Asking $875k.
• Stone Ridge loves its wellness, with no exception given at this residential listing with a yoga studio, a bedroom that’s being used as a body treatment room, and a welcome area. Asking $775k.
• At first glance, this historic looking home was actually built in 2002 – but with all the design, craftsmanship, and detail of the eighteenth century. The outstanding example of Dutch stone architecture exudes the rich history, but with all the conveniences of a modern home, including a gorgeous in-ground pool. Asking $3m.
Wedding Venue & Farmhouse in Jefferson, NY
Situated in the rolling hills of Jefferson, NY, this 30-acre former horse farm offers incredible income potential as a wedding venue in one of the Catskills’ most beautiful areas.
Currently an established business with seven weddings booked for 2024, the property includes a two-bedroom farmhouse, 3,300 square foot renovated indoor event space, 10,000 square foot outdoor welcome area with rose garden and lounge, large pond, open meadows, and forest trails. Projected cap rate of 11%.
What We Love: This magical property has a large pond, multiple open meadows, and forest trails. When not hosting an event, you have all that to yourself!
Nitty Gritty: Asking $650k. Listed by Hillary Kolos, Upstate Curious Team at Compass. View the original listing here.
Pair With These Nearby Residential Listings:
• At 150+ miles from the city, you can expect to find some better deals than Upstate’s closer-to-NYC counterparts. This adorable cabin on nearly nine acres is just $250k! Slightly rustic, literally oozing with charm.
• Sticking with the same theme as the above, check out this under $400k listing. Two beds, one bath, crazy mountain views, unlikely to last long. Asking $399k.
• This classic chalet is located in the Tunis Lake community of Bovina, not far from Jefferson. Located on five acres, but if you’re looking for more land, the adjacent five acre lot can be purchased as well. Asking $585k.
Classic Retail Space/Apartment Building in Staatsburg, NY
This unique commercial opportunity is located in beautiful Dutchess County, within the hamlet of Staatsburg, nine minutes from Rhinebeck. The versatile retail space is ideal for an owner-operator looking to establish a market/deli, cafe, or general store. There are also two residential income producing apartments above.
The landlord-investor use yields a solid 7.63% cap rate, while an owner-operator business can achieve an impressive 28.32% cap rate based on current business sales.
What We Love: With a built-in place to live, this is a dream spot for someone looking to establish a new business. With a prime location, make it a wine shop, market/deli, or general store.
Nitty Gritty: Asking $795k. Listed by Kate Quintard with the Upstate Curious Team at Compass. View the original listing here.
Pair With These Nearby Residential Listings:
• This recently renovated 1960’s ranch is just perfect. Not your average renovation, expertly designed details throughout make this home shine – like its Dutch door entry, Schoolhouse fixtures, Cle tile floors, lime wash walls, Calacatta Viola marble countertops and Devol kitchen fixtures. Asking $825k.
• Less than 5 minutes to Rhinebeck, this Mid-Century home perched on 49 acres has incredible sunset views over the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains. Built in 1970, the four bedroom home has a wood burning fireplace in the living room that’s surrounded by windows, plus sliding glass doors, that absolutely bathe the home with light and incredible views. Asking $3.25m.
• I don’t know a single person who would pass up a farmhouse-style home with an in-ground saltwater pool, do you? This listing launched the day of this newsletter (6/27) and we don’t expect it to last long. Minutes to the center of Rhinebeck, Kingston and Red Hook. Asking $1.65m.