Craig Watters
Historic Riverfront Estate
The de Rham Riverfront Estate dates to 1802, and sits on a bluff above Constitution Marsh with direct water access to the Hudson River beyond. A center hall colonial design with formal parlors, a grand ballroom, 10' coffered ceilings, and wide plank pine floors that have seen two centuries of footsteps. Eight-foot French doors open to what may be the largest wrap-around porch in Putnam County and unforgettable sunset views over the meadow, river and the rugged terrain of West Point
This is the kind of property that comes to market once in a generation.
My Sales
Recent and Favorite Transactions
Some recent and favorite deals where I've represented the seller or buyer or both. Every transaction on this page is different — a 1801 homestead with direct Hudson River access, a mountain wellness compound on 13 acres and a Cold Spring village cottage built in 1827. The variety is what makes it fun. This is what the Hudson Valley real estate market actually looks like.
Mountain Modern
Designed by Frank Dushin — the celebrated local architect whose work integrates structure and landscape in the tradition of the Hudson Valley's modernist moment — this gated property on 10 private acres overlooks a mountain stream with 14-foot floor-to-ceiling windows pulling the exterior in. Three stone woodburning fireplaces, a heated gunite pool, and private decks off each bedroom.
View For A King
Stuning views from this converted castle high above the Hudson, with soaring ceilings, three fireplaces and a turret(!), a main balcony plus six Juliet balconies, all with river views. A one of a kind development and luxury conversion in the heart of the Hudson Highlands with views from the Bear Mountain Bridge to the 'Gunks and the CatskillsDicks Castle, Garrison
Wellness Compound
Built in 1985 and sited below a forested ridge in the Hudson Highlands, this property was designed as a family compound from the ground up — a luxury farm kitchen with custom end-grain cabinetry and a pollination garden, a detached spa house with a sport floor gym, yoga studio, steam room, and 60-foot lap pool integrated with a custom whirlpool. The architecture picks up the color palette of the surrounding hardwoods. Thirteen acres of privacy, ten minutes from Metro-North.
1700's Stone Colonial and Saltbox
This one in Warwick is in my top three of all time. Close friends as clients, a one-of-a-kind historic property, and a tech-forward marketing solution that created sticky interest and bidding war. Went to contract in 8 days, and closed 12% over list price.
​The stone Colonial here dates to the 1760s, possibly earlier. The timber frame saltbox alongside it was originally built in Maine in the late 1700s, later disassembled, and reassembled on a new foundation and merged with the stone Colonial into a single home that is genuinely unlike anything else on the market.
​
Unusual properties demand unusual marketing. Standard photography couldn't tell this story, so I built a full Matterport 3D interior scan loaded with historic education tags, and created a 3D exterior model using photogrammetry — drone and handheld camera images composited into a full 360-degree turntable.
Dirt Road Suburbia
This charming cedar clad colonial hit the market right as COVID did. The showing protocol was something else — waiting on the lawn while one buyer at a time would tour solo and have to come back outside to ask questions. Standing in flower bed looking in the windows was the only place a couple could discuss the room together. At least one or two disclosures. But by following every last regulation to the letter, we kept on showing to willing buyers when many listings hit the pause button. Found a great buyer, and had no interruptions.
Orchard Farm Estate
Marlboro sits on gentle sloping hills above the Hudson's west bank in the heart of Ulster County's orchard and vineyard country — the land has been cleared here for centuries, and some of the apple trees lining these roads are old enough to prove it. Sited atop the locally famous Manions Hill with panoramic views of the river and the Highlands to the East, this meticulously maintained estate home was move-in ready — bluestone patios, perennial gardens, updated kitchen, pool and views.. Perfect.
Adirondak Lake Life In The Hudson Valley
Greenwood Lake. A renovated contemporary cottage inside a private lake association — beach access, dock access, modest association fees, and an instant community built in. Greenwood Lake delivers the full upstate lake experience without the four-hour drive to the Finger Lakes or the Adirondacks. Boating, sunset cruises, waterfront dining, and more amenities nearby than most true lake communities can offer.
My clients wanted water, they wanted lifestyle, and they wanted it within reach of the city. This checked every box they didn't know how to find in one place. Sometimes the search is the service.
Riverfront Captains Home
New Hamburg is one of those Hudson River hamlets that rewards the people who find it. A genuine micro-neighborhood forced into isolation by the separated by the Wappingers creek estuary, it's this kind of unique topographical anomaly that creates real community. You definitely know your neighbors in New Hamburg.
​
Modest in size, this Victorian home carries an unusual amount of fine detail —Marble fireplaces and custom nautical themed millwork, the kind of specificity that could only have been personal.
​
Sometimes I feel like a curator, assisting the transfer of history from one custodian to another. This is one of those properties
The Tiny Home With A Big View
A talented investor client — a referral from previous business had the vision and the execution on this one. Smart design choices, careful material selection and quality craftsmanship transformed a 1940's Highlands mountain cabin into
something genuinely covetable. I was happy to do my part
with staging, 3D modeling and twilght photography.
We closed over asking. a new record in the tiny home market in the area - and it led to more business.
Quality construction, even on a small scale, is profitable at any price point.
Maximizing that value requires the right real estate partners that understand the investment.
Modern Mountain Perch
In Putnam Valley, at the end of a private road and bordering protected park land, this is the kind of place you cant describe to people, you just have to show them. Exposed bedrock rises out of a true Hudson Highlands backyard - Steep slopes with rocky outcroppings and natural granite terraces, perfect for exploring
escaping, and contemplating. That combination is hard to find
anywhere, much less one hour from New York City.
The buyer, a renowned residential architect saw the potential immediately. Unfortunately it took creating (and winning) a bidding war, and was able to move from A/O to contract to close in near record time. Moving fast and my knowledge of local septic limitations and how it would impact future improvements played a role in strengthening our knock out offer. Soon we closed as a weekend retreat for his family - now the transformation..
Lower Dutchess Contemporary
When a client trusts you three times, you don't take it lightly. I sold his Garrison home, then repped him as the buyer on this one, and then sold it again when a job transfer had other plans. That's a relationship built on results, not promises.
​
On a lot selected specifically for its size and wooded end-of-cul-de-sac privacy, this builder built home was different, and it was apparent the moment you walked in with finishes well above the price point for the comps: custom tilework, pot filler, radiant heat throughout, Heated oversized garage with oversized doors.
​
When a title concern arose over the precise septic location, Google Earth's historical imagery layers resolved it cleanly before it could become a problem. Sometimes the best tool is a free one.
Sold.
Lower Village Historic
One of the most photographed homes in Cold Spring, this early 1800 dutch cottage was a blast to market, but we had an accepted offer the first weekend, so I never got to go crazy with the history angle. Lesson learned..
Located in the lower village, this home was originally much closer to the waterfront than it is today. As most riverfronts along the Hudson, 'reclaimed land ' created more usable level space, usually the result of fairly steep sloping land to the riverfront.
Before trucking, the river was the highway of commerce. This home likely served as an inn for sailers, bargemen, and the farmers who delivred goods to the river from the interior for transport to NYC and beyond.