One of the best weekends in all the world is here. The Columbia County Fair. We went last night for awhile and ate and ate and ate. Steak sandwiches and fried dough. Lemonade and french fries with vinegar. Just great for your heart burn and acid reflux. We checked out the cows,and the sheep, chickens and rabbits and the huge Budweiser Beer horses were there. They had their name tags on their stalls and fans on each of them. It was pretty hot. The demolition cars were taken place and what a crowd, could hardly get to the grandstands. The rug hookers were basking in their rugs along with the knitters and other fabric lovers. Stop to have your blood pressure taken from the Columbia Memorial nurse at their booth. Lots of good information including "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Sunday should be a funday with country and western star Craig Morgan doing two shows 2-8PM. The price of your ticket to get into the Fair includes his concert. Many fairs charge another $35.00 for their showstoppers. The grounds are landscapedand clean, plus everyone says the rest rooms are spotless. Good parking and not that much to get in. Just another reason to live in Columbia County. grab a pumpkin, apples, cider, or a pie on your way home from one of our many farm stands and savor our county a little longer.

This past two weeks have really been something with buyers and their agents. Have we as realtors and the publicity that we hear on radio and tv given buyers the wrong idea?

The thought process of buyers seem to be, that things are so bad, just go for a ride with an agent, find a house you like and buyer it. I DON'T THINK SO.

Three potential buyers have found homes they like that are my listings. They like the furniture, the patio set, the school district etc, etc, etc. Two and three showings later (two on fathers Day, my kids loved that) we are going to discuss an offer. BUT everyone now seems to have another financial picture called doom and gloom via the mortgage consultant. Now we have new car payments, unpaid credit card balances, un paid college loans, forgot to file the paidup loan on the swimming pool they used the house for as collateral (remains unpaid from 2004)

Now, oh my God! we need to work on this!!! And your agent didn't tell you that you need to have money for the closing. Taxes, Lawyer, escrow, title, insurance.  What are buyers thinking????. Buyers need to sit down with several people and talk about stuff before they start looking and wasting time and energy. And the thought of having potentially three closings in the wings dashed on the rocks is down right tiring.

Find out your credit score.

Find your last three years income tax papers.

Collect your pay stubs for the last couple of months.

Talk with a mortgage consultant,a banker and your lawyer.

Don't buy a new car, or furniture, (and have your mother buy your  $7,000 wedding dress) until after the closing.

Make an appointment with an agent and spill the beans. They may be able to tell you right from the get go that you can't afford to purchase a house at this time. Ask the agent if they belong to Active rain You'll be glad you did.

Good Luck buyers, The interest rates are low, the prices of homes are reasonable, the inventory is more than normal, but banks are tough, appraisals are hard to accept and although people are motivated sometimes they just can't go so low as you would like them to.

This past Monday night I had to grap something to eat in Hudaon after spending the day at Columbia Memorial Hospital. I was with two of my daughters, future son-in-law, and wife. Some one sugguested the new American Bar-B-Que Restaurant on Warren Street in the Third Street block, so we went. The former firehouse has been completley done over and is beautiful. Two floors with a lot of brick. Someone knows more about the future of Hudson than I do. The drinks were very cool. At the bar the beer on tap were enclosed with cubes of frost and ice, very cool and so metro. Part of the dining was on the sidewalk and the place had an open air feeling, so Parisian. Upstairs there was more space and pool table, great for a party., so men's club. The burgers very great, the pulled pork was piled high with cole slaw, the buns were very fresh. The waitress was cute, fun and knew the menu. The only part that was a dissapointment was the dessert, The pie seemed store bought, but the ice cream was good. So for a Monday night I got to spend time with my family, visited a new venue and had a great time. Don't be hesitant to drop by, it was a great expeerience. Hudson, who knew years ago when who did'nt go farther down Warren than Rocky's for good food.

This morning I had off and tried to get some more yard work done. I ran up to Maple Lane Nursery to see about some top soil. I want to fill in a dip in the back yard and create a vegetable garden. I had not been there in quite awhile and now that son David has taken over what a wonderful surprise. Everything was so big and lush, watered, priced and with specific information about the plants. The varietys were plentiful and even some perennials. Huge hostas, $20.00 peony's, beautiful green grasses and lilac bushes. Saturday I'll have the dirt and plant my vegetable, but Monday I'm going back up and and get some plants. We have just down sized, where I had lots and lots of plants and complained about the garden work, but once a garden lover, always a garden lover so I guess Maple Lane Nursery just found a new customer, Nice job David the place looked BEAUTIFUL, just the way a nursery should. It is on Route 9 just above the Hannaford Circle.

At the beginning of the month a potential seller called me from a post card I had sent out to an expired listing. Said he would like me to come and visit the house ( I had taken a potential buyer there a year before) and tell him want he should do to get the house ready. The house is a sweet little salt box on 8 acres the owners enjoyed on weekends and holidays. Typical of our market. The owners both had jobs in different directions and needed to get ready for listing. I suggested the lawn, yard, gardens, branches, and debris be addressed and the house needed to be cleaned and decluttered. I recommended the man who takes care of my lawn and a cleaning duet that helps me out with houses every once in a while. Well he called them both. The lawn work was completed yesterday and the cleaning gals are next. If nothing else I think I have a seller who really wants to sell their house. This house faces west and has great sunsets across the country vistas. Nice beams and a great old fireplace. Did I mention the house is 1812. If the sellers follow my lead as to the price as they did with the getting ready, I have a feeling this one may be a quick sale. We will see.

Just listed this great two story home on Pebble Lane in Valatie (North Chatham) NY. 3 bedrooms 2.5 baths. meandering driveway,house sits on three acres., Close to Albany 2.5 miles from Manhattan. formal dining room, family room with coal fireplace. new gutters, fresh paint, new french doors to outside entertaining on low deck overlooking lush lawn. 2 car garage. Basement has room for office and or gym equipment, with new carpet.Good spirited house with laundry on second floor. Lovely gardens. An exciting place to spend weekends or full time. Good school district. $410,000

On April 18 from 1-4 PM all the realtors will have OPEN HOUSES of their listing in the villiage of Kinderhook. Century 21, Purdential, Anderson, Kinderhook Group, and Columbia County Realestate will swing their listing doors open for the afternoon. Columbia County is really a nice place to live and the Village has so many opportunitys to have a wonderful life. We have almost 25 vendors registered for the Kinderhook Fair on June 5th and the FARMERS MARKET has two new vendors with Breads and Cheese. We are rasing money for the DOG PARK, plus the OK RUN and the LIBRARY BOOK SALE is June 12. We will start soon organizing the PEOPLES PARADE for the 4th of July. The Ghent Band will be in full force in the Bandstand and the runners will be off down the road on Wednesday nights. Come find a great place to live and enjoy life in Columbia County.

It just keeps going down. If you are looking for a hideaway in Columbia County, this beauty is one to consider. 5500sf post and beam house on 20 acres in Austerlitz NY offers 5 bedroom, 5 bathrooms.  There are 30' ceilings in the great room.Two stone fireplaces also. A beautiful chefs kitchen for the gourmet cook. Peace and privacy with mountain views. Reduced now to $1,050,000 and willing to negotiate. Spring and fall in Columbia County are breath taking. Summer we go to Saratogo, and Tanglewood, Winter we ski at Jimney Peak or head for Lake Placid. Follow your dream.

Welcome to Columbia County!! We are so glad you are interested in us. Just a little agricultural community with beautiful views of the Catskills sitting along the Hudson River. I have 8 wonderful homes in the area to show you. Starting at $225,000 and up to $515,000. beautiful ranches, and two stories, move right in or fix it up. Great school system, safe, sidewalks, pet friendly, library, post office, bank, book store, wine shop.runners,knitters,Horse Thieves Club, rug hookers, chest club. When you start to write down what a village is made of, you not surprised to see why you live here. Call me at Century 21 and we can talk about you moving down, the street, in a neighborhood or out in the country. Ask for Bill at 518-229-9106.

The Old Kinderhook Fair will be held again this year on June 5th. The Militia also will be holding their encampment that weekend behind the Vander Poole house on Broad Street. The applications have been sent out to former participants and two new crafters have called and asked for the paperwork. We have lowered the prices this year to help people coming afar with gas prices. The price is $55.00 for a 10x10 space with your own tent. The Militia parade will start at noon, down Albany Ave and Across Broad Street over to the Vander Poole House. This parade is a very spirited that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Lovers of American traditions will find this very emotional. The uniforms, flags and music will put a smile on you face. Good food will be available from various civic organizations. Please pray to the rain Gods for us. Mark this on your Spring calandar. You will be glad you did.