J. Philip's Westchester Real Estate Blog: New York: Hopewell Junction

Last week I wrote a blog post entitled Developers Should Spare the Trees. In it, I decried the clear cutting, scorched-Earth methodology of removing every single tree in the building of a new subdivision. Lo and behold, this past week, while driving not far from the inspiration of that post, I came upon the Sagamor subdivision in Hopewell Junction. 

I forget what initially caught my eye; it might have been a clump of trees near new-looking homes, but it doesn't matter. I turned into the neighborhood and was happy to see that the developer did a fantastic job of keeping trees while still building beautiful homes. 

The homes themselves are very nice; typical houses are about 2500-3000 square feet above ground, and most if not all are center hall colonials with large yards (an acre or more) and 2-car garages. The development was completed around 2001. Recent sales in Sagamor are well above $500,000. The development is in the Wappinger Falls school district, with John Jay High school, Van Wyck Middle school, and Gayhead Elementary as the local public schools. 

Sagamor is located less than a mile from the Taconic State Parkway, so it is a very good location for commuters who need to get on the highway without a long trip. it is also right off of county Route 82, making it very convenient in inclement weather- county roads don't stay unplowed for long.

I actually wasn't going to do another piece on a Dutchess county neighborhood for a while, but the trees had me when I drove in. Big, majestic trees older than I am, proudly pointing skyward, spared the bulldozer because the builder was too smart to put dollars over beauty and nature.  Hats off to the builder!

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

Drive through Swiss Hamlet just once and you'll appreciate the name; beautiful homes in classic styles with stunning views of the valley. Residents have a full homeowners association which includes tennis courts, a clubhouse, and beautiful swimming pool. The amenities are run by the Swiss Hamlet Homeowners Association, located in the clubhouse right in the middle of the neighborhood.  

Swiss Hamlet homes range in age from those built in the early 70's right through new builds. One interesting constant, aside from the fact that nearly all are quite upscale, is that they are constructed with environmentally friendly materials (long before it was a trend): natural siding and wood roof shingles (as opposed to asphalt) are the norm. And the architecture of Swiss Hamlet homes are often stunning, especially if you like older styles, like tudors. 

I love stone homes and slate roofs. I listed my first Swiss Hamlet house in 2007 and have loved it ever since. It is actually a natural for a Westchester broker like me to end up there, because Westchester expatriots love neighborhoods like Swiss Hamlet- Westchester living with Dutchess prices. Moreover, even though it is a sleepy, woodsy area, the Taconic parkway is 5 minutes away, making it a perfect commuter locale. 

One thing a builder cannot give you is a view, and the fantastic view is the first thing that hits you when you drive into the neighborhood. On a clear day the residents can see for miles, even when the trees fill in with leaves. 

Swiss Hamlet is served by the Wappinger Falls School District. The elementary school is Fishkill Plains. The middle school is Van Wyck, and the high school is John Jay. If you'd like to see if the area is good for you, you can browse listings in Swiss Hamlet and the surrounding area. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission