The Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley have long been a choice for second home buyers looking for serenity, recreation, and the heady mix of culture combined with a spectacular natural setting.
A study by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation reported that about 2,500 second homeowners in Berkshire County have primary residences in the New York City metropolitan area.
A 2018 story in the Berkshire Edge reported that more than half of the homes in Stockbridge are owned by second homeowners. According to the article, the percentage of second homeowners in Berkshire County towns ranges from 16% in Lee to 63% in Otis. In Lenox, about a third of homes are owned by second homeowners.
Data from Realtor.com showed that Hudson, NY saw a 18 percent increase in second home sales from January to March 2021 compared with the period before the coronavirus pandemic.
Many second home buyers in the Berkshires are longtime repeat visitors who decided to become part-time residents. Second homeowners in the Berkshires contribute to the community by paying taxes and supporting area businesses and institutions.
If you’ve made the decision to buy a second home in the Berkshires, we can help you reach your goal. Here are some thing to think about as you begin your home search.
Location of Your Second Home
Think about where you want your second home to be located relative to how you want to live there. Homes in rural settings will offer more privacy but require more driving. Homes close to town centers may come with smaller lots and more traffic congestion. Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY both offer magnificent rural settings as well as bustling towns and communities.
The ideal location for your second home may be influenced by your favorite recreational activities. Do you want convenient access to hiking trails, for example? Or would you prefer to be closer to cultural activities like music and theater? Your home buying criteria should prioritize lifestyle factors that affect location. Then when you begin your home search, you can look in areas that match those lifestyle preferences.
Type and Condition of Home
Are you looking for a single-family home or a condo or townhome? Is a turnkey home a priority or are you willing to renovate? Having an idea of your preferred type and condition of the home will help your real estate agent find candidates that meet your needs. You might also want to rank or prioritize such home features as the following:
- First-floor primary suite
- Extra bedrooms and bathrooms for visitors
- Storage for recreational equipment
- A garage for cars, including vehicles you leave at your second home
- Outdoor living spaces
- Amenities such as home gym and home office
How Often You’ll Use Your Second Home
Think about when you’ll most use your second home. For example, if you want your second home for year-round weekend escapes, you might look for properties located near four-season activities like boating, hiking, biking, and skiing.
Or you might want a second home for seasonal use during the summer months.
Proximity to Highways
You’ll need to travel between your primary residence and your second home. Do some research to find out how close or far you want your second home to be located relative to highway access.
As you look for homes for sale in Berkshire County, MA, you’ll likely encounter one of two major highways that bisect the region. The Massachusetts Turnpike/Interstate 90 extends east-west across Berkshire County and continues into Columbia County, NY. Route 2 is the major east-west highway in North Berkshire County.
In Columbia County, Interstate 90 becomes the New York State Thruway. A second major highway in New York State is the Taconic State Parkway, which follows a mostly north-south route in Columbia County between the Hudson River and the New York-Massachusetts state line. Home buyers hailing from points south will make use of the Taconic State Parkway, which is the major route to Columbia County from New York City.
Drive Time from your Primary Residence
Another factor to consider is how long it will take you to reach your second home. Some Berkshire communities can be reached from Boston or New York City in about two and a half hours. Others are farther away.
Decide the maximum about of time you’re willing to spend traveling back and forth to your second home. This will help you determine a location radius for your real estate agent.
Resale Value
Track the market to see how similar homes have sold in the area you’re considering. Our Berkshire County, MA market reports cover residential and land sales in North Berkshire County, Central Berkshire County, and South Berkshire County. We also track the market in Columbia County, NY. You can also sign up to receive our market reports.
An Agent Who Knows the Area
This brings us to a last and very important point. Work with a real estate agent who is familiar with the area where you want to buy.
Our Stone House Properties agents live and work in the communities where they sell homes. They can offer valuable knowledge and insights about the Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY communities you’re interested in. As a long-distance home buyer, working with a local expert can save you precious time and much effort.
Contact us today to find the home of your dreams in the Berkshires!
