Clarification on my Bethel Comments

Today's Times Herald Record carried a story, "Plenty of Property Owners Have Bethel Woods Fever', reporting on the high prices may owners are asking for the properties in the Bethel Woods vicinity. In that article I was quoted as saying, ""I have been telling a number of clients to shy away from Bethel," Knudsen said." Needless to say, I've heard from a number of my colleagues this morning about that comment.

Like many sound-bite quotes, it was a bit out of context. In talking with the reporter, I said that when I have clients looking for the "farmhouse on acreage" country getaway for their own personal use, they'll generally get more for their money if they look somewhat away from Bethel because many sellers near Bethel Woods who have property with acreage have been pricing them for investors, spectulators and subdividers, not for owner-occupiers. I didn't say that everything in Bethel was overpriced and a bad value and that buyers should wholesale avoid the township. But I do stand behind by generalization that folks looking for that quiet country getaway on acreage may find better values elsewhere, where there isn't the 'Bethel Woods' fever.

Otherwise, I thought that the article was pretty spot on. Sellers have the right to ask whatever price they want for their property. And I have every right, and yes, the obligation when I represent buyers as a buyer agent, to say I think a buyer can do better elsewhere.

Comments

[james]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/NEWS/708220323/-1/NEWS

[Don Rushmore]

You're absolutely right. As a buyer's agent, you have the righ/obligation to look out for the buyer's interests and he relies on your professional experience for counseling while buying a property.

Good to see someone who refuses to take the flack from the media and tells it like it is.

Don Rushmore

[John]

They can't even sell at 4K per acre, so they raise the price to 50K per acre? Economics 101 is not taught at SCC huh?

[Chuck]

John - please forward all parcels priced at $4k an acre asap. Thank you.

[John]

No, but I can provide those under 4k per acre!

Mountaindale 57 acres asking 225k (era burke realty)
Roscoe 44 acres (125K) and also 43 acres(110K)by Odgen Realestate in Downsville
owner accepted our 95K offer in contract.
Roscoe Flat and gently sloping 100 acres for 300K (eliott and pomeroy realty)
Cochecton Flat 125 acres by owner for $3999K per acre (by owner)

many more too!!

[Chuck]

Good news - since it's hard to make a living when land is selling for $10k an acre.

[John]

Chuck,
How much per acre are do you notice buyers willing to pay when it comes to larger (30-100 acres) hunting or recreational parcels?

[Chuck]

John - if 'hunting and recreational parcels' you are using real estate euphanisms for 'unusable' - I don't see much demand for that-regardless of price.

Good land, subdividable from what I see is mostly still $8k-10k per acre. It needs to go down to $6k - which is still triple 4 yrs ago.

Smaller 4-7 acres still seem to be going for $55k-$75k. I'd like to see them be around $35k-$50k.

I would like to see land be a little cheaper, so new construction doesn't get so expensive.

[Tony Ritter]

{written by 'Chuck' above}

"Smaller 4-7 acres still seem to be going for $55k-$75k. I'd like to see them be around $35k-$50k."

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Chuck - it might be your lucky day.

For your consideration - photos and details are at:

http://www.ilovethecatskills.com/jl.htm

5 acres / corner lot / long road frontage on both roads / Western Sullivan / near Barryville and Narrowsburg / electric on site - for the offering price of... $38,500.

Kindest regards,
Tony Ritter