The Rosendale Rail Trail

Once in a while I take my dog to the rail trail which is basically a system of rail road beds without the tracks going between towns. There are three rail trails around here. One is the Wallkill Valley rail trail - a twelve mile stretch between New Paltz and Gardiner. The second one is basically between Kingston and Accord. The first part between Kingston and Hurley is actually paved and very easy to walk/bike on. Ideal for kids' first attempts on riding a bike. After a while, the paved part turns into a very straight path partly graveled, partly just compacted soil. My favorite one though is the part that connects New Paltz with Rosendale.

The trail starts in Rosandale on Mountain road just off Keator Road. There is a parking area from which you can start. This trail is very nice because of its very interesting terrain throughout the trail. There are rock outcroppings, creeks, meadows, woods and even bamboo growing on the side of the trial. You'll find all kinds of friendly folk on it - cyclists, dog walkers, runners, hikers and the occational horse with a rider.

The walk is very relaxing after a long work day or very early in the morning. The great thing about the rail trail is that it is just about level with very little incline or decline. When I walk, I go for about 30 minutes until I come to a creek and a small bridge crossing River Road Extension in Tillson. My dog can take a bath and drink in the creek there. She's happy about it. This is a perfect 1 hour walk in nature with very little sounds except birds and insects. Very nice.
Also worth mentioning is the bridge on the other side of the rail trail. Check it out. It's pretty high and you can only go half way across but you will see most of Rosendale from a very unique perspective. The Rondout Creek is exactly below you.

You can of course go further than to River Road but I never went for more than an hour on it. Just enough to relax and refocus. Any questions, email me or give me a call.

Woodstock, NY, State Forest Preserve Area

There is a relatively unknown parcel of land, 138 acres to be exact, owned by New York State, and located off Route 28 between Kingston and Woodstock. The entrance is just before the Catskill Coffee Roasters on the right hand side (driving towards Woodstock). This parcel is part of the State Forest Preserve and lends itself to some great low key outdoor activities.

I was out on appointments in Woodstock this morning and had some time until my next one. I also had my dog with me and thought about a spot where I could let her run for a while. The parking area is right off Route 28 before the Coffee Roasters parking lot. After a short (literally not more than 5-7 minute) hike I arrived at the shore of a lake. There are several areas with paths leading to the water. I saw several people with fishing poles there.

I took the path around the lake and walked on it for about 10 minutes to get to the northern most point of the lake. My dog (a black lab) loves the water, so she had a fun time and I got some fresh air. There are a few picnic tables around and even a portable toilet. As far as I know, any motorized equipment (boats, ATV's, motorcycles, etc.) are NOT allowed. However, I'm pretty sure you can have a canoe there. The lake is probably about 20 acres in size.

This spot is great for a pit stop if you are exploring the area around Woodstock and Kingston and want to have a relaxed stroll down to the water. It is very quiet there and well worth it. There is a deli next door. You can even get some really good home made ravioli and pasta there as well.

Almost Heaven

Welcome to your new home in the country: Just minutes outside of Stone Ridge and situated on beautiful Buck Road, your country home awaits your arrival. Enjoy peace and quiet in this light filled and spacious cottage style home featuring hardwood floors, brick fire place, hand hewn beams in living room and kitchen, wainscoted bath room, and a sun room ideal for a studio. The area is great for walking, running & biking on very pretty country roads. Property is surrounded by stone walls with plenty of privacy and room to play.

Improvements within the last five years: new roof, new windows, new insulation & sheetrock, new paint inside and out, new appliances (stove & microwave), new washer, new bath room, new water pressure tank. Owner is licensed real estate broker.

Specs: 2.20 acres, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1080 sqft, offered at $249,900

The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act

The folling is an article from RISMEDIA:

Prior to December 2007, if a homeowner lost his house due to a bank foreclosure, and the bank forgave any difference between the price it was sold for and what was owed, the homeowner would owe additional income tax on that portion. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but true.

Let’s say the homeowner owed $300,000 on the mortgage, but the foreclosure sale only brought in $200,000. Then the bank forgave the $100,000 shortfall. The homeowner would have been liable for the income tax on the $100,000 debt forgiveness from the bank.

The IRS considered this money effectively paid to the homeowner, and it would be taxable in their top bracket.

Now, because of the unique stresses in the housing industry lately and on our whole economy, in December 2007, Congress stepped in to provide temporary relief in the form of forgiving this debt, but only for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 tax years. After that, the old rule applies again.

To be eligible for this tax relief, the mortgage must be for your principal residence. It does not apply to vacation, investment or other properties. And no more than $2 million of forgiven debt can be excluded from taxable income.

Home Equity Loans

Another very important detail in this temporary tax break is if part of the forgiven debt was a home equity loan and used for purposes other than to build, buy or substantially improve the property, that portion is still taxable. In other words, home equity loans used for vacations aren’t included.

Short Sales

Now, what happens in a short sale? In brief, this can occur when a borrower is behind on the mortgage payments and the lender agrees he can sell his house for less than what is owed on the mortgage. But all proceeds must be turned over to the bank.

The portion of the mortgage the bank forgives, plus any commission expenses or other selling costs, are taxable income if this debt is canceled. Yes, even the commission and selling expenses count.

A homeowner can now receive a $250,000 (single) and $500,000 (married) capital gain exclusion on the sale of their primary residence.

While $7,500 capital gains tax is surely a lot less than the $100,000 canceled by the lender, the homeowner may not think of this or be aware it could happen down the road, perhaps just prior to retirement. And capital gains taxes are always subject to change.

Mortgage Insurance Affected

It is important to also note this act extended mortgage insurance as an itemized deduction all the way through 2010. Yes, there’s a restriction. The mortgage contract has to be entered into between December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2011.

Chris Kaucnik is marketing director for Home Warranty of America. For more information, please visit www.hwahomewarranty.com. Michael J. Greenen is a certified public accountant and certified financial planner located outside of Chicago, Illinois.

Rocking Chair Front Porch Farmhouse...

...with contemporary features, perfect as your weekend home or full time residence. The open floor plan – the fire place is visible from the living room, dining area, gourmet kitchen and the four-season sun room – invites you to entertain guests or just spend a quiet day reading or relaxing. Add to that the heated in-ground pool, the fully equipped fitness center, five bed rooms (two of them on the main floor), a separate three bay garage/carriage house with the upstairs ready to be finished into guest quarters, and a state of the art hydro-air heating and cooling system, and you will never want to leave your new home in the country. Only eight minutes from the I-87 Kingston exit, enjoy your privacy without being remote, with short distances to Stone Ridge for antiquing and having a nice Sunday morning brunch; to the Mohonk Preserve for hiking, biking and climbing; and to Woodstock for concerts, plays and shopping. Offered at $869,900. Click the picture for details.

Westwood Metes and Bounds Realty announces employee awards

The following is an article from the Poughkeepsie Journal:
Realty company announces employee awards
November 21, 2008
Buzz up! Westwood Metes & Bounds Realty in Stone Ridge announced employee awards for September.
Top-selling associates were Heidi Maloney, Stefan Bolz, Dorothea Marcus, Patty Curry, Laurie Ylvisaker and Cheryl Paff.
Maloney, a Town of Ulster resident, became active in real estate in 2000, after owning a business in Woodstock.
Bolz grew up in southern Germany and settled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. He is a broker associate, certified residential specialist and accredited buyer’s representative.
Marcus, of New Paltz, specializes in New York City transplants. Her background is in marketing and public relations.
Curry has lived in the Hudson Valley since 1979. She is also a writer, an artist and a teacher.
Ylvisaker has had careers in the music business and marketing. She has practiced real estate in Florida, California and New York.
Paff was born and raised in the Hudson Valley then headed to New York City where she operated a restaurant. Later, she moved to Woodstock and began her real estate career.
To read the article, go to
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881120020

Come By The Hills To The Land...

No words necessary for this compilation of images taken in Ulster County throughout the year. Enjoy...