Looking to purchase a small property somewhere in the Catskills
I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole on the Catskills recently. I'm not from the US, but the area looks incredible—especially the mix of hiking, lakes, and fall foliage, with skiing close enough to make it attractive in winter too.
I'm relocating to Canada for work, so I'll be relatively nearby for a few years, and I'm considering buying a small cottage (roughly 2 bed / 2 bath) as a second home that I'd also rent out on Airbnb when I'm not using it. Budget is around $150k–450k, and I'd be happy with either a fixer-upper or something already renovated.
For those who know the area well:
- Which towns or areas would you look at?
- Ideally somewhere that's great in the summer and within a reasonable drive of decent skiing, so it has year-round appeal.
- Are there any places you think are undervalued today but have good long-term potential?
- Are there any areas you'd avoid (for reasons that aren't obvious from Zillow)?
I've done some initial research, but I'd much rather hear from people who actually know the region before I start building financial models around occupancy, nightly rates, maintenance costs, etc.
I'd appreciate constructive advice and local knowledge. I'm aware that short-term rentals are a contentious topic in some communities, but I'd like to keep this discussion focused on locations and what makes them good (or bad) choices.
Thanks!