At the end of the day, it’s about relationships. Our clients are our current or future neighbors, and we go the distance to provide top notch, professional, informed service. The team roster has evolved organically over the years, and with consideration.
Jennifer Grimes
NYS Licensed Broker/Owner
While sitting at my desk in New York, selling mortgage-backed securities at Credit Suisse, I’d surf the internet dreaming of fishing the hallowed trout rivers of The Catskills. Then one day a little red cottage on the Neversink River popped up on my screen, and the rest is history. I battled Friday night traffic in summer, and lived the weekender routine for a few years before giving-in and becoming a full-timer.
Now I delight in finding like-minded folks who treasure peace and quiet, and value the powerful pleasures of country life, and look to find their dream spot here in Upstate New York.
In 2007 I founded Red Cottage Inc. and developed that business into the leading curated vacation rentals company in The Catskills and Hudson Valley, eventually selling it in 2022. That makes Country House Realty uniquely qualified to help its buyer clients find the right property should renting be part of the plan.
There’s a full-blown Renaissance taking place up here, with new businesses, shops and events creating a stronger sense of community. And there is tremendous diversity, from the buzz of gentrified Woodstock, to the rolling bucolic hills west of the Catskill Mountains, and of course those famous fly fishing areas around Roscoe and Livingston Manor, to the skiing hubs of Hunter, Windham and Belleayre.
In recent years I’ve brought on a wonderful crew of agents who share the same dedication to customer service and straight-dealing. So our goal is to listen to your priorities and help you cut through all those listings to focus on just the ones that are worth your valuable time. We won’t just steer you toward our own listings or even the firm’s listings, but will work to find the house you’re looking for, with the knowledge to guide you about the market and the nuances of this special, spectacular area.
Some examples of my listings include: Banyan Hill (North Branch), Long Meadow (Long Eddy), Sunnyside Farm (Roscoe), Odell Farmhouse (Bethel), Wisteria Farm (Youngsville), Slipknot (Barryville), Ferrymaster’s House (Boiceville), Bully Hill Hideaway (North Branch).
Erik Freeland
NYS Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
#1 Producer in Sullivan County (per OneKey MLS)
I joined Country House Realty as a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker after working in Manhattan real estate for 9 years. There I gained a reputation as an attentive, diligent, communicative and knowledgeable agent for my clients. As a city transplant to the Catskills I understand what is motivating people to buy an escape hatch from the city or to start a new country life.
I have been fortunate in my dual career. As a photographer I have covered the White House, traveling with the President domestically and internationally on Air Force One, and documenting stories in Haiti, Iraq, Turkey, Thailand, Australia, Russia, Eastern Europe and around the United States. Most recently I documented fragile environments for the New York Times Travel Section (see Bonaire Island, the Everglades, the Grenadines and dogsledding in Maine). I have lived abroad - Paris, England, Italy - but the Catskills always draw me back.
As a seller’s agent, my photographic background has proved to be a valuable asset–drawing attention and turning heads towards their homes. I do my own drone photography and narrate videos that attract widespread viewership. Please see a few of my recent listings to see my multi-pronged marketing approach: Tyler Hill Farmhouse, Tuthill Farmhouse, Laird Rd Modern, Rock Valley Artist Compound and Shady Rock. For a few examples of how Erik integrates drone and video, see this and this or have a look at my YouTube channel.
As a buyer’s agent I am an effective resource and have my finger on the pulse of the market. Some recent sales have included: Beaver Brook, Wisteria Farm, Banyan Hill, and Upper Big Sky, to name a few.
My wife and I bought our 1904 schoolhouse in Western Sullivan County 22 years ago. Since then, I have lived here full-time and part-time. I have explored the region in all seasons on foot, skis, bikes, boats, hiking, alone and with children and dogs. I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the hidden valleys and spectacular vistas with my clients.
Licensed in: NY | PA
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Megan Kinealy-Hill
NYS Licensed Salesperon
In 2015, I took a blind leap of faith and moved to a town I'd spent a total of 16 hours in before packing up my Brooklyn apartment and relocating two hours north to the Catskills. I believe when you find the right place, you know.
I spent many years in hospitality management, and previously worked with a top Upstate hospitality brand to foster the recent renaissance in that space in Sullivan County. I have found that the same qualities that made me successful in that world are just as necessary in this one: curiosity, genuine care and attention to detail. The search for your Upstate home is as emotional and intuitive as it is practical and procedural. I'm here to help you find what you love, guide you competently through the process and technicalities, and offer thoughtful counsel to your most burning Upstate questions like "What's the difference between a septic and a cesspool?", "Where's the best grocery store?" and "Where can I get a proper cocktail?"
I look forward to the opportunity to learn about you and your goals and help you start living your Upstate dream!
Licensed in: NY
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NYS Licensed Salesperson
After growing up in New Mexico, my husband and I were ready for adventure and moved our family across the country to upstate New York. We spent many years in the Capital region before most recently landing in the Sullivan County Catskills. I have truly fallen in love with this community with so many great locals as well as new transplants who have gravitated to the area in more recent years. Of course, there is plenty of outdoor fun to be had in this part of the Catskills but there’s also a growing cultural, dining, and shopping scene too. It is awesome to be a part of all the positive growth. It’s a wonderfully special place to be and I would love to help you find a home of your own whether it’s in one of the lively little anchor towns of Narrowsburg, Callicoon, or Livingston Manor or in a more peaceful and remote spot. And, if you’re interested in expanding your search into Delaware and Ulster counties too, I’m up for exploring other fun spots in the Catskills.
Having spent many years in the IT field, I’m excited to have made the move to real estate. I’ve gained a great deal of experience in the past few years and have provided many buyers with guidance while going through the process of purchasing a home. Whether you are looking for a full-time home, a secondary home, or an investment property, let me help you get started with your own upstate adventure. I look forward to showing you around the Catskills and beyond!
And, sellers, I’m happy to partner with you! I can help to strategize on how to most effectively sell your home. I will ensure your property is reflected in the most positive light and will also market in multiple avenues thus reaching the greatest number of qualified buyers. Amongst some of my most recent sales are: Clearwater Cottage, Aden Contemporary, and Livingston Manor Lake House.
Licensed in: NY
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Richard Dalton
NYS Licensed Salesperson
Growing up in England, amongst a family of architects and conservation-minded renovators, I developed a keen interest in buildings and their settings from a young age. Since moving to the US in 1999, my own family and I have owned homes on both sides of The Hudson Valley, and I have gained personal insights into the communities where I have lived and worked. During that time, I have also invested in multiple properties which required renovations. These renovations ranged from cosmetic updates to a deep energy retrofit where I applied Passive House principles on an 1866 house that was built in the Second Empire vernacular.
With a background in finance, sustainable home design, and project management, I aim to efficiently inform and guide you throughout the search and purchase process. You will find me to be detail-orientated and proactive at trying to find opportunities whose merits may be less obvious from online resources, and eager to share knowledge that can help you implement your own sustainability agenda.
JD Gluckstern
NYS Licensed Salesperon
Having made Sullivan County my full time home in March 2020, I am so excited to be part of the Country House Realty team. My wife and I bought a weekend home through CHR in 2017 and have spent more and more time in the area since then. We had our first child in February of 2020 and felt like it was time to make the leap to a quieter, more nature-oriented experience, versus our hectic Brooklyn lifestyle. We couldn't be happier.
Having been through the purchase process myself, and having made the transition from renter to weekender with a home that was also a vacation rental, to full time Catskills resident, I believe I understand the needs and desires of similar buyers. I come from a retail and nightlife background, and real estate requires the same skill sets: interpersonal communication, attention to detail, creativity and problem solving. I believe in a personal approach, taking the time to get to know each person so I can deliver exactly what they are looking for. Every deal and every house is unique and it takes creativity to navigate that.
Sullivan County and the Catskills are in the midst of such an exciting moment in their continued renaissance. I feel lucky to bring people into this community, and to help cultivate creative and sustainable growth in the area. It doesn't take long to fall in love up here. I'd love to help you find that magic.
Arlena Armstrong-Petock
NYS Licensed Salesperon
I first fell in love with the Catskills while renting a house in Kerhonkson with my husband and pup. It was mid-October, peak foliage, and our host gave us a laundry list of places to check out (Westwind Orchard, Arrowood Brewery, Kingston Stockade District, Minnewaska Trails, Peekamoose Blue Hole, etc.). When packing up our rental after the long weekend, our host's children pulled some carrots out of their garden and said to us, “Look! We just harvested a snack!” And we thought to ourselves, “Wow. These people are doing it right!"
So began our year-long journey trying to find the perfect weekend home of our own. We looked at several places, all over the Hudson Valley / Catskills region. Finally on a snow-covered January morning we found it, just 20 minutes north of our usual rental spot in Accord, NY. We learned A LOT going through the buying process for the first time. And I became enamored with the nearby homes, our adopted community, and the new lifestyle we had acquired.
In 2020 we decided to take the plunge to be former “weekenders” and leave our Clinton Hill apartment permanently. I made real estate a full time career and have been fortunate to be surrounded by incredible agents with a wealth of knowledge.
Having been a New York buyer looking for a weekend escape, I feel I deeply understand my clients’ style and needs. I promise my clients a personal, thoughtful, and professional experience and am excited to help you find your home Upstate!
Kayla McNamara
NYS Licensed Salesperon
I moved to New York City in 2007 to attend Pratt Institute as a painting and art history major. After spending 13 years in NYC, my husband and I decided that we needed a change. We packed up our Greenpoint apartment and set off on a year long travel sabbatical. We traveled all over the states and spent time abroad in hopes of finding a new place to call home. We visited so many amazing places, but we had an undeniable calling to the Hudson Valley. Since moving here in late 2019, we haven’t looked back.
In a short time, we’ve done a lot of living in this area. We’ve lived in a ramshackle old farmhouse in Gardiner looking at the Shawangunk Ridge, resided in and remodeled an 1895 Queen Anne in Midtown Kingston, and are currently working on a midcentury ranch in Hurley. My background in art allows me to see the potential in each home that I show, and to help my clients envision their upstate dreams as well.
I am an avid outdoors enthusiast, and I absolutely love exploring this area that we call home. Just in the first few months of 2021, I have houses in contract in the Rondout, Jewett, Sullivan and Delaware County and beyond. Whether you’re a weekender, an investor, or looking to make a full time move, I look forward to helping you find the perfect property.
Harry McNamara
NYS Licensed Salesperon
I grew up in Denver, with a great appreciation for the outdoors. When I moved to the Hudson Valley with my wife and partner Kayla, we found the perfect mix of outdoor access and cosmopolitan flair. We truly have the best of both worlds, with easy access to the great outdoors, the city, and a variety of charming and idiosyncratic towns where locals and “NYC expats” alike have created a unique, welcoming and rapidly growing community that I am proud to be a part of.
One of the best parts about our region is the history and the homes that come along with it. We have colonial farmhouses, grand village victorians, alpine chalets and carbon-neutral new builds. There is truly something for everyone, whether you desire a private country estate, or can’t give up your walkable neighborhood where your barista knows your order and people chat on front porches as the sun goes down.
Since we moved to Ulster County, Kayla and I have updated and currently manage a walkable duplex rental in booming Midtown Kingston, we have a passive house retrofit and design project in progress in Hurley, and we’ve forged relationships and connections across the region, from Beacon to Livingston Manor.
I look forward to representing you in your search for your dream property - whether that be a village home in bucolic Dutchess County, a ski chalet in the Catskills, or an income-producing investment property.
William Baldwin
NYS Licensed Salesperon
Growing up in Michigan, I spent the first half of my life exploring the beautiful northern wilderness of that state. Hiking, camping, and fishing were the highlights of every Midwest summer. Life would eventually lead me to New York City, where I would meet my wife, and we would have our first daughter. Wanting to provide my daughter with the same exposure to the great outdoors that I had growing up, we began searching upstate New York for a place to call home. That search led us to the small town of Livingston Manor, which we have called home since 2018. We love the community, and the easy access to all the adventure the Catskills has to offer.
My background began in the legal field and then shifted to hospitality business. I have worked at the executive level in multiple hospitality groups and use that experience to help understand what people are looking for and how to deliver it. Additionally, I am a recent home buyer myself, so I understand all the relevant issues that confront buyers and sellers in today’s competitive market.
It is my goal in real estate to help people find a place that they can call home. Whether it be a full-time home, or a home away from home, I can help you find the place that suits your lifestyle.
Antonia Gómez
NYS Licensed Salesperon
As a native New Yorker turned Hudson Valley enthusiast with a background in hospitality and brand marketing, I bring a unique perspective to real estate. Since making the leap to the Hudson Valley in 2022, I've been captivated by the timeless beauty and rich personalities of each upstate community. From the majestic mountain ranges to the sprawling farmland, every corner of this region holds its own special allure.
My professional background before real estate has allowed me to hone my skills in navigating fast-paced, demanding environments with grace and efficiency, which has equipped me with invaluable expertise in working with diverse clients with varying needs and demands.
My goal? To connect you with more than just a house but with a lifestyle and a community that speaks to you. Whether you're searching for a cozy cottage tucked away in the woods or a sprawling estate with panoramic views, I'm here to make your real estate dreams a reality. So, let's work together to find your perfect home in the Hudson Valley.
