$396,000

Your Own Secluded Clearing in the Catskill Woods, Two Minutes from Town Wake up in the treetops. This barn-red, 4-bedroom, 2-bath retreat sits in its own private clearing, surrounded by mature forest, with total privacy. Outside your windows you see only trees and sky. Yet Margaretville's restaurants, cafés, pharmacy and supermarket are a 2-minute drive or a 20-minute walk away. The house has two living levels over a full basement. The upper level is all light and glass: windows on every side bring the forest indoors, so it feels like living in a treehouse. Morning light filters through the branches, and the view changes with every season, from summer green and fall color to snow on the pines. The open living and dining space has real character. It features exposed beams, reclaimed barnwood, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and a wood stove. On a winter night, with both fires going, it is the warmest room in the Catskills. A propane heating system adds reliable backup, a real advantage in mountain winters. Step out onto the 30×8 elevated deck, a natural perch above the trees for morning coffee or evening drinks. Below, a stone patio sets the scene for summer dinners and fire-pit nights under the stars. The full basement adds generous storage and flexible space. The detached two-story garage holds two cars on the main level, so snowy mornings are easy. Upstairs, a 480 sq ft open space is a blank canvas for a studio, home office, gym or creative retreat. The grounds are refreshingly simple. An easy-care lawn opens into the surrounding woods, which need no upkeep and give you the feel of a private forest. Old stone walls, mature trees and wide-open sky complete the setting. Then there's the location. Margaretville gives you everyday life on foot: coffee in the morning, groceries on the way home, or dinner out. Margaretville Central School is about 0.7 miles away. Belleayre Mountain skiing and the Pepacton Reservoir are a short drive for weekends outdoors. Annual taxes are a modest 3658. This is not a remote cabin where privacy means inconvenience. Secluded, not isolated. Disappear into the woods and still be in town for dinner in two minutes.