Catskill Farms Unveils New Affordable Cottage Series

 
I've been blogging for months about the demand for smaller, finely crafted homes with charm that are affordable. The inventory of existing homes that meet these criteria is very low, and most builders have been focusing their new construction on larger, more expensive homes. There's been this real gap. New construction in the $300,000 range has tended to be uninteresting suburban modular in style, and more interesting new construction has been in the $500,000 to $700,000 range.

Chuck Petersheim of Catskill Farms, who's built many of those beautifully detailed reproduction farmhouses in the $500,000 range, and I have been talking about this for a while. Now Chuck has decided to roll out a new series of more affordable, smaller cottages, with many of the same charming detailing that has made his Farmhouse series such a hit. The new Cottage Series features smaller houses, under 1,400 sq. ft., on 5 acre parcels at a price point right around $300,000. He already has two under contract, both of which sold before the foundations were even in the ground.

You can see the series here on the Catskills Farms website. But if you want to tour the sites, see what's already up, and yes, buy one ... please give me a call. After all, how I make my living is selling real estate, not just writing this blog and maintaining this website.

This is a great new product that I think meets a real need here. I'm thrilled that Chuck has decided to take a risk, that a builder can make a living by bringing smaller, more finely detailed homes to market. After you've looked 'em over, please come back here and post your thoughts on the new series.

Comments

[Dan Martin, President of Martin Custom Log Home Packages, Inc]

Hi, I like the idea of "downsizing" and I too, as a designer and builder of log homes for the past 13 years, have been designing and building a series of cabins within the 1500 sq. ft. and smaller range with starting prices of under $240,000, on your lot, turnkey. Finely crafted from white pine and timber and integrated with nature's materials, such as stone, slate, granite, heavy timber, and such, to bring as much of the outdoors inside and incorporate creature comforts and modern amenities. The finished products have been nothing short of amazing in the combination of charm and coziness. Recently I have been incorporating more energy efficient heating and water systems for better economy and ease/cleaner operation. The popularity of these types of homes is groing rapidly and, I feel, will soon outpace the current mcmansion designs as families are getting smaller, lenders are getting more restrictive and the necessity and affordability of the $500,000 home is dwindling with each passing day as evidenced by the current foreclosure market and subprime defaults.
The era of efficiency is upon us.

[Dan Martin, President of Martin Custom Log Home Packages, Inc]

Hi, I like the idea of "downsizing" and I too, as a designer and builder of log homes for the past 13 years, have been designing and building a series of cabins within the 1500 sq. ft. and smaller range with starting prices of under $240,000, on your lot, turnkey. Finely crafted from white pine and timber and integrated with nature's materials, such as stone, slate, granite, heavy timber, and such, to bring as much of the outdoors inside and incorporate creature comforts and modern amenities. The finished products have been nothing short of amazing in the combination of charm and coziness. Recently I have been incorporating more energy efficient heating and water systems for better economy and ease/cleaner operation. The popularity of these types of homes is groing rapidly and, I feel, will soon outpace the current mcmansion designs as families are getting smaller, lenders are getting more restrictive and the necessity and affordability of the $500,000 home is dwindling with each passing day as evidenced by the current foreclosure market and subprime defaults.
The era of efficiency is upon us.

[DN]

If I had the cash for a second home, this is exactly what I'd want. Sigh.