2233 Helderberg Trail , Berne, NY 12023(Albany County)

There are six barns here, of varying sizes. A 20x60 one has an 8 cement floor and was used as a shop. There is a pull-down stairs to the loft. The granary is 16x16 and has a potbelly stove, so one could camp there in the winter if wanted. Another barn is 30x40 with a heavy plank floor and a hay loft. There is a block 2 story garage, 18x24. The big barn had a section removed for timber salvage and is now 20x40, with an open side. Across the street is a 40x40 barn (poorer condition than the others). These last two are very close to the road.

There is a drilled well, 80+, with lots of water, though some sulfur. And a dug well with tasty drinking water. And a modern septic. The lot is nicely shaded with mature trees, an old road down to the creek, and it has a feeling of privacy hard to get on a tract of this size.

The home suffered extensive fire damage two years ago. Please do not attempt to enter it. First built around 1800 according to the historical marker, it had 3483ft2 of living space. 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a fireplace, and nearly 90 of wrap-around covered porch. It was uninsured at the time of fire and is the reason the property is for sale as the owner does not have the resources to rebuild and, disabled, does not farm.

An exact figure on taxes is not available as, without the home, its assessment was recently substantially lowered but new bills have not yet been received. And since the owner is retaining some land (he wants to control a tiny watershed uphill and to the side from what he is selling), significant tax adjustments would need to be made anyhow. Please refer to the enclosed maps to make sense of what I am about to say. Here's how we have priced things. Parcel #1 includes all buildings, has a bit over 3 acres and about 739' of road frontage plus the 450 on Fox Creek. No one can build across from you as you'd own both sides of the road: $82000. If you want more land, Parcel #2 may suit suit you well, you'd get all of #1 + enough additional land so you'd have just over 21 acres, 2 fields in a very good state of tillage (no sprays used) and views to the upper Catskills and Helderbergs along with 1522' of road frontage. There is a dug well on this portion as as well as the 2 wells at the home section. Some of the extra land is lightly forested, but most are open hay meadows: $119000. Note: these prices are for a quick sale only. expect higher if you need lots of time;

(Please be aware that no survey has been done yet so acreages are our best estimates. We have checked with the Town and are satisfied that no barriers are presented as long as there is at least 3 acres is sold. Also, the owner would like to have 30 days after closing to remove his possessions.)

People have inquired about how bad the fire was, what is salvageable and so forth. I will give you my impressions. The upstairs is the worse. I have not been up there: maybe its entirely safe to walk on, maybe not. There is smoke damage throughout; everything is black inside. Both floors. The upper windows are all out and the western part of the home is burned through, but this was the portion least used, over the garage. In the basement, it looks the same as it was before the fire. Excellent foundation, by the way. Furnace, water systems, cistern, electric entrance (looks like 200amp) and wiring, PVC drain lines, water softener, foundation, floor joists and sub flooring - these were all untouched. Most of the siding was untouched as well as dirt floor ceiling joists, sliding glass doors, and wall studs, but all interior surfaces were smoke blackened. In addition there are on the porch well over 30 windows that were not touched, along with maybe 4 doors The roofing is steel and does not show damage over the main part of the home. And of course the driveway, wells, septic, and underground plumbing were not affected either. Id be tempted to tear away the west wing and the second story, rebuilding on that, with all new interior coverings of course, and youd have a well built home, large, and like new for a fraction of the price of a new one of the same size.