Our Lake - Lake George

Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is located in the Adirondack mountains. At 32 miles long it starts in Lake George at the southern tip and ends in Ticonderoga on the northern point. It is 3 miles wide at its widest point which is in front of the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, NY, the average width of the lake is a little over 1-mile. It has a maximum depth of 178 feet (this number varies based on the source you find) located between Dome Island and Buck Mountain but on average the depth is around 70 feet.

10,000 years ago as the glaciers receded they paused at each end of the lake and essentially formed a dam from the leftover boulders and sand. Some ice was left and as it melted it helped to fill up the lake, today the lake is fed by springs and brooks. The lake flows northerly to an outlet in Ticonderoga that links to Lake Champlain.

There are over 170 islands on Lake George, a majority of them being within the town of Bolton. Most of the islands are state owned with about 30 being privately owned. Around 50 of those state owned islands allow camping, a popular summer activity on Lake George. Another popular activity on Lake George is fishing and there are 36 species of fish in the lake according to the Lake George Association.

The lake will freeze completely most winters but there has been a few in recent memory that it hasn’t occurred. The complete freeze, called ice-in, usually happens mid to end of January but you will see ice fishermen out there as soon as there is some visible ice.

Do you think the lake will fully freeze this year? We will see soon enough but in the meantime I will be trying to get in a couple more boat rides on this beautiful lake and waiting for warmer weather again.

For Sale - 20 Oak Lane, Lake George, NY 12845 - Single Family Home

Come check out this upgraded Adirondack style log cabin located about three miles from Lake George Village! My favorite feature of this property is the large rock outcroppings it is built upon. They are really magnificent to see in-person.

This home features two bedrooms and one upgraded bathroom with nice tile work and a beautiful clawfoot bathtub. The house totals 760 square feet so the living room, kitchen, and dining area are all open to one another to maximize the space. There is a natural stone wood-burning fireplace and hardwood floors throughout the main living space.

The screened in deck offers filtered views of Lake George and the house has beach access off Trinity Rock Road. The owners also put in a new septic system and the home has a built-in fire sprinkler system. It is currently a three-season house but has the potential to be converted to a year-round retreat.

This property is composed of two separate lots. The second lot has a small bunkhouse on it done in the same log style as the main house. This property has been well maintained and is ready for you to enjoy.

Our Town - Bolton Landing

Bolton Landing, established in 1799, is located on the shores of Lake George in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. It is 10 miles north of Lake George Village and has a current population of about 2,000 year-round residents. It draws many visitors from Memorial Day to Labor Day as a quieter getaway from bustling Lake George Village. Even though it is smaller it still boasts a variety of outdoor and recreational activities, such as boating, swimming, hiking, and golfing.

Lake Shore Drive (NY Route 9N) runs directly through downtown Bolton Landing. When exploring downtown you will find many shops, restaurants, and marinas. There are two main public beaches, the Bolton Historical Museum, the Sembrich Museum, the public library, Town Hall, a grocery store, public school, fire station, and of course the McDonald Real Estate Professionals office. While there are a handful of lodging options on this short strip of downtown Bolton Landing, you will find the historic Sagamore Resort, probably the most notable place in town. But on your way to the Sagamore is the elegant Boathouse Bed & Breakfast, I highly recommend them if you are looking for accommodations in Bolton Landing, the property is beautiful and the hosts are amazing.

I think this description from the Bolton Landing Chamber of Commerce website sums up the town pretty well. “For two hundred years travelers have proclaimed Bolton Landing on beautiful Lake George a refuge from their hectic daily lives. Since 1799, this sheltered Adirondack community on the shores of Lake George has drawn world-weary writers, artists, musicians, and generations of families enjoying the pure crystalline waters of Lake George.”

It was that particular quaint, picturesque, and artsy vibe described above that brought me here almost 30 years ago. I will post more on the history of Bolton in a later post so keep your eyes peeled for that.

For Sale - 61 Lake Winds Road, Bolton Landing, NY - Single Family Home

Are you looking for some of the best views of Lake George? Well, this home has them, wide-open views that show miles of the lake from almost every room. The house is located in an upscale subdivision in Bolton Landing, NY and is situated on 6.81 acres that provide plenty of privacy.

When you approach the house besides immediately noticing the view you will see how beautifully landscaped the property is. Walking up to the home you already start to notice the custom details, such as the wood arch that welcomes you. There is also a small sitting area on the front porch.

Upon entering the house you are greeted with another fantastic detail in the wood pattern inlay on the maple hardwood floor. From here you look into the living room with a handcrafted stone fireplace and coffered ceiling. Off the living room is the dining area that opens up to the kitchen. Right by the kitchen is the all-season sunroom, a great place to enjoy your morning coffee while taking in the stunning views of the lake.

Also, on the first floor is the formal dining room, the office, a laundry room, and the luxurious master bedroom suite. The bay windows offer fantastic views of the lake right from bed and the en suite bathroom is relaxing with its clean look and whirlpool tub. The additional 3 bedrooms and full bath are all located upstairs.

The basement has been finished and is currently set-up with a family room, an activity room with a pool table, and an exercise area. Even with all that bonus space, there is still plenty of room for storage. This magnificent house also has a spacious 2-car garage and new Trex decking. Oh and did I mention the views, they really are spectacular, definitely a must-see!

For Sale - 27 Carriage Hill Road, Lake George, NY 12824 - Single Family Home

With everything that is going on in the world right now are you starting to feel like you could use a little more space? Well, this custom-designed house may be perfect for you then. It is over 4,000 square feet with 4 roomy bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and 2 half bathrooms. Plenty of room to spread out.

Not only is this house spacious it has a lot of nice accents, like the vaulted ceiling and large stone fireplace in the living room or the red birch cabinets and granite countertops in the kitchen. There is also a brick fireplace in the family room and other brick features in the home. Don’t forget all the bonus space in the 3-story tower.

This house has been lovingly cared for inside and out. It has a rustic feel with all the Adirondack details and styling; like in the staircase which showcases a beautiful log and stick railing. Outside is well landscaped and has a private back deck for enjoying yourself on. There is also a large attached 2-car garage with a workbench.

If that wasn’t enough it also comes mostly furnished, so you can move right in. It is located in a nice association a few miles to either Bolton Landing or Lake George Village. The association includes additional perks like the private beach with a swim platform and gazebo for relaxing by the lake. You can get all of this incredible lake living for $619,000 or if you wanted to purchase the home with a 28’ dock space you can do so for the purchase price of $719,000.

QuaranTACO Tuesdays

With restaurants currently closed for dine-in options, most have come up with creative ways to offer food (and beverages) to their customers. Some of those include fantastic specials, like Frederick’s Restaurant Quarantaco Tuesdays.

We needed a break from cooking at home so we decided to order from Frederick’s for pick-up. It just happened to be on a Tuesday when they were offering their QuaranTaco Tuesday specials. We ordered el pastor tacos and strip steak fajitas, and it was all delicious. Everything was very flavorful and well-cooked, and the portions provided us with multiple meals. I mean there are 4 tacos per order, more than even I could eat on a hungry day! I think we had about a dozen containers with all sorts of toppings. They even gave us chips and salsa to complete our meal.

They also offer adult beverages for takeout to compliment your meal and I regret not ordering a pitcher of their blueberry lime margarita special that evening. What was I thinking!?

We ordered a couple of weeks ago and they did a taco Tuesday menu again last week, check out that scrumptious sounding menu to the left. I am hoping that they will have a similar QuaranTaco menu for tomorrow, especially with it also being Cinco de Mayo, and I WILL be ordering the margaritas if they do. I will be stalking their Facebook page to see what the menu will be. They have been posting their specials there daily so if tacos aren’t your thing they have other options. Give yourself a great meal while also supporting a local family-owned restaurant in Bolton Landing.

COVID-19 and Real Estate

I know everyone has heard so much about COVID-19 and how it is currently changing our lives every day right now but I wanted to also let you know how that affects real estate. The real estate industry, at least in NY, the status from non-essential to essential changed during the process and the directives we were given were changing daily. We have now settled into more of a so-called routine for the time being.

It started that everyone needed to follow the CDC guidelines by minimizing people in the office and support greater sanitizing and cleaning methods. Shortly after that we became non-essential, offices had to close, and we could no longer do any real estate transactions that required face-to-face contact.

Just when we had accepted that real estate would be put indefinitely on hold the Empire State Development agency deemed us essential. Immediately people started to resume business as usual. The agency then had to clarify things and after a few more changes we are at the point we are now.

We can conduct business but nothing that requires face-to-face contact meaning we can not attend closings, we can do virtual showings if the seller allows access to the property, we can get new listings but only if it can be done without physical contact, brokerage offices must remain closed, and we must follow the CDC guidelines if we are in public or entering a property.

So what does this mean for my clients? For buyers, you can still look at listings online but will not be able to see a place in person until we are cleared to resume business. Sellers have probably already noticed a slowdown in activity for this same reason, that most customers are unlikely to purchase a place they can not see in person. Hopefully, we will get back to business soon, I miss all my clients, but in the meantime know I am here to help in any way I can.

Most importantly, I hope everyone stays safe and healthy!

This is how I have been keeping in touch with my family.

For Sale - 4983 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY 12814 - Commercial Property

If you want to start a business in Bolton Landing, NY, I have the perfect location to do so. This commercial property was previously a bar/restaurant right in downtown Bolton Landing. The location is perfect and there are definitely a few businesses I know our town could use.

This building features a beautiful 31' custom wooden bar, Adirondack style trim, wood beams, and hardwood floors. Its rustic style fits right in with the mountainous upstate New York area. It has a full kitchen, walk-in cooler, and a large basement for storage. This place is ready for you to bring your great ideas and make it your own.

The best part of this space to me is the 2 renovated apartments upstairs. Again these are done tastefully in a rustic style with wood throughout each unit. There is a 2 bedroom apartment and a studio apartment. The potential income from these rentals could help pay for the place below or maybe you want to live close to your business, you can’t get much closer than this. I really can’t believe this great deal, $399,000 for business space and two apartments, right in downtown Bolton Landing is still available and I really can’t wait to see what someone brings to it.

For Sale - 1 Sawmill Hill Road, Bolton Landing, NY 12814 - Vacant Land

This 3.18-acre building lot offers you lots of privacy from its wooded area. It is conveniently located less than 5 miles from downtown Bolton Landing giving you the peace and quiet of the Adirondacks but easy access to all the amenities in town.

There is power at the road but the buyer would have to install the well and septic. Priced at $70,000 this lot is priced below assessment. Part of a 5 lot subdivision there are 3 additional lots that can be purchased as well. Those additional lots are between 11-15 acres each and priced at $70,000 each if sold individually. If you wanted to purchase all 4 lots as bundle you could do so for $250,000. More information on these additional lots can be found at the links below.

Lot #1

Lot #3

Lot #4

15 Church Restaurant Experience

A couple of my favorite things, outside of real estate of course, are great food and great wine. So last week when I took my wife out for her birthday dinner I picked 15 Church in Saratoga Springs. It is one that had been on my list to try for a while and it didn’t disappoint. The ambiance, the food, and the service were all beyond what I expected. Others must already know this though because it was a rainy Tuesday night and there wasn’t an empty seat.

We started with a bottle of zinfandel from Buehler Vineyards in St. Helena, CA, a great wine region north of Napa and Sonoma for those unfamiliar. After we ordered we were presented with some amazing crusty but soft bread that was sprinkled with herbs and cheese. We shared the Burrata cheese that had apple jam and other delicious ingredients on it and I also got the Sea Bass Soup, which was a special that night, it had a smooth rich broth with plenty of sea bass in it.

For our main entrees, my wife ordered the Lobster Fra Diavolo. I stole a bite so I can confirm that it was just as tasty as she said it was. She loved the buttery lobster with the sauce that wasn’t too spicy. I opted for another special that night which was the Cowboy Steak. A generous portion that was cooked to perfection and served with some delicious fried potatoes. As if that wasn’t enough food we also couldn’t resist trying the Brussels Sprouts as a side, they are prepared with bacon, apples and caramelized onions and served with a fried egg on top!

Since it was my wife’s birthday we had to have a celebratory dessert and she loves a good Creme Brulee so it was a no-brainer on what to order. Again that didn’t disappoint with the creamy richness of the vanilla bean custard to that crunchy caramelized sugar on top.

As I mentioned briefly the service was fantastic, very attentive but not overly. They do little things for you like the manager gave us some wonderful complimentary Limoncello to thank us for celebrating with them. I can’t recommend this place enough. Now my mouth is watering reliving that meal and I can’t wait for another reason to get back to 15 Church.

For Sale - 19 Claire View Lane, Bolton Landing, NY 12814 - Single Family Home

This spacious 2,794 square foot home has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and is located in a private community in Bolton Landing. Situated on just over 2 acres of property it has a view of Lake George. The home has been meticulously maintained and it is apparent inside and out.

When you walk in the door you are greeted in the foyer with the staircase as the focal point. Off to the right is the family room and formal dining room. That loops into the eat-in kitchen and living room. From here you can also access the 3-season enclosed porch and to the backyard with a nice paver patio, water feature and storage shed.

Back in the house there is an office off the other side of the staircase and a half bathroom. Here is also where you would access the attached garage. Proceeding up the stairs you are welcomed with a sitting area. There is the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, 2 additional bedrooms and a full bathroom. If that wasn’t enough there is a large bonus room to do what you please with it.

I didn’t even get to mention all the small details like central A/C, ceiling fans in all rooms, a full basement with washer and dryer, 2 fireplaces, the beautiful oak floors, and if you are interested in furniture that is negotiable as well. Listed for $599,000 it is definitely worth taking a look at.

Renting vs. Buying

Are you a renter or a homeowner?

Obviously, there are pros and cons to both sides. Maybe you are a renter trying to decide if now is the time you should transition to buying. Maybe you are a homeowner thinking of downsizing or want less responsibility. Have you considered all that comes with each area?

Renting is usually where most people start in their first home because it is a more affordable way to be in your own place. You usually have to come up with a security deposit and a month or two of rent to start and then pay a monthly amount to the owner of the building in exchange for a home, apartment, townhouse and sometimes just a room. Some additional benefits of renting are flexibility if you aren’t planning to stay somewhere that long and no maintenance costs, all issues are handled by the landlord.

But renting does have some cons, you aren’t building your equity as you do with homeownership. Your landlord can increase your rent or decide to sell the property. You may have excessive moving costs due to having to relocate more frequently.

One major benefit of homeownership is having equity, you physically own the house so you have something of value in your name that could bring you a potential return. Another benefit of owning a home is that you can make any changes you want to the property or home, within local zoning laws of course. You also have stability in owning a home and decide when it is time to move.

Some disadvantages to owning a home are that you are responsible for all the maintenance and upkeep, which at times can be expensive and time-consuming. Financially homeownership can be costly, down payments and closing costs add up quickly.

There is no right or wrong here it all depends on your situation and needs. I hope this helped you weigh your choices and you know how to reach me if you have any questions.

For Sale - 29 Main Street, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846, Commercial Property

Not only is this a great property with a lot of opportunity for someone looking to start a business in the area but it is also one of my favorite restaurants to eat at, the Up River Cafe. Besides exceptional food the location of this restaurant can’t be beat. Located on the Hudson River the screened in back porch offers beautiful views during your dining experience.

This turnkey restaurant is ready for anyone to take it over. It seats 123, both inside and out, and has a lot of charm. The building is nicely deigned and it is tastefully decorated. It has been a successful destination for locals and tourists.

The restaurant comes fully equipped and furnished with all the necessities but also includes some specialty items like the soda fountain/ice cream bar. The property also includes a parking lot that can fit 14 cars. There is plenty of storage space and a little area to function as an office. The building is handicapped accessible and has a wine and beer license.

And have I mentioned the view!? It really is a serene and magical place.

Welcome to my blog

Thanks for coming to my website and taking the time to read some of my thoughts. While this is only my first post I plan to post regularly to provide you with important real estate news, market trends, community news and events, general information about me and the things I do. I hope you enjoy what you read and please leave your comments.

So I suppose I should tell you a little more about me to start. I was born in Staten Island, NY, found my wonderful wife there and had our two daughters there as well. When my kids were approaching double digits my wife and I decided we were ready to move somewhere quieter. After searching all the areas of upstate New York for a while we fell in love with Bolton Landing. We loved how quaint it was and beautiful on Lake George, we thought this would be a great place to raise our daughters.

We walked into McDonald Real Estate Professionals and asked to see some properties that we could build our home on. After some searching, we found a few acres in the woods and made the move in 1992. We rented a house right in downtown Bolton Landing for the first year while we built our custom log home. At this time I was retired from the New York City Department of Sanitation and if you know me I like to keep busy so when Willie Bea McDonald approached me to get my real estate license and work in her office I decided to go for it. In 1993 I successfully became a licensed NYS Real Estate Salesperson.

Since then I have been working full-time doing real estate. My favorite part of the job is all the great people I have meet over the years. I love helping to make people’s dreams come true, whether it is a first-time homeowner or someone looking for that unique island property, it is all rewarding to me. Not to mention I get to do this in one of the most beautiful places in the country.