Growing Towards a Flower Farm of Our Own & Navigating Real Estate in New York

Growing Towards a Flower Farm of Our Own

Hi everyone! Thank you for sticking around on our socials this past summer. We’ve been a little quiet online because we’ve been in the process of purchasing land and a home for our future flower farm. While we’re so excited about this new chapter, it’s also been… overwhelming.

Navigating Real Estate in New York

We found a house with nearly 3 acres in the Catskill region, nestled among the mountains between the small towns of Prattsville and Ashland in Greene County.

We’re thrilled that we were able to find something within our price range with a flat field and plenty of room to grow flowers, thanks to our agent from Anatole House.

But here’s the truth: buying a home in upstate New York has introduced challenges we weren’t prepared for.

Step 1: Finding the Right Agent

The very first step when navigating the real estate process in New York was finding an agent we could really communicate with—someone who understood our vision. It took a couple of tries before we connected with Kayla, who jumped in at the last minute and scheduled a tour with us that same week.

✨ Takeaway: Don’t get discouraged if your first agent doesn’t feel like the right fit. The right person will make the whole process smoother.

Step 2: Building the Team

Once we secured an agent, Kayla was able to refer and help us connect with all the other key people who would become pivotal in this journey:

• Attorney – Required in New York to handle contracts.

• Lender – To guide us through financing.

• Tradespeople – For inspections, repairs, and property needs.

Since we were out of state, networking with these professionals felt intimidating at first. I wasn’t sure when to reach out, what to ask, or even what information to share.

✨ Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to ask questions—even if you feel like they’re “obvious.” These professionals expect it.

Step 3: Navigating New York's Unique Rules

When I interviewed attorneys, one asked: “Why New York? You know we do things differently here, right?” And she wasn’t wrong. Here are some key differences we learned:

• Attorneys are required for real estate transactions.

• The contract process is relatively slow.

• Closing costs are higher than in many other states (thanks to legal fees and taxes).

• The overall timeline is longer than expected.

✨ Takeaway: Every state is different—do your homework, and prepare for extra costs and delays in New York.

Step 4: Managing Stress Along the Way

As someone with chronic anxiety and who is neurodivergent, this process has been a real test of patience and self-care. Even with supportive professionals explaining things, it still felt like navigating unfamiliar terrain with hidden “gotchas.”

✨ Takeaway: Build in extra time, practice self-care, and remind yourself it’s okay to feel overwhelmed—it’s a big deal!

Step 5: Closing and Final Details (Current Stage)

We’re currently in the final stretch! At this stage, both the seller’s attorney and my attorney finalize the contract terms, the lender prepares the closing disclosure (itemizing all fees, taxes, and costs), you finalize your home insurance, and you provide your closing funds.

✨ Takeaway: The closing stage is where all the pieces—contracts, funds, insurance, and legal reviews—come together. Staying organized and keeping clear communication with your team makes this complex process manageable. Even then, unexpected issues can arise, so having a strong team and thorough preparation will help you handle surprises with confidence

Step 6: A Curve Ball

Just when we thought we were inching closer to closing, the title search revealed a surprise: the neighbor’s driveway and garage encroached onto our property by 8 feet for the garage and 2 feet along the driveway.

Thankfully, I had recently hired a surveyor (shout out to Bert—truly a character, but a gem) who caught the issue before the title was finalized with the lender and my attorney.

Because the title wasn’t clean, the lender’s attorney paused the escrow process until the problem could be resolved. This meant the seller’s attorney had to work with the neighbor to secure a legal easement before we could move forward.

So, we wait. Once the easement is in place, the bank can approve the title, and we can finally proceed toward closing.

✨ Takeaway: Unexpected issues will come up—sometimes big ones. Having a thorough survey and a strong legal team in place can save you from costly surprises later.

Looking Ahead

This journey hasn't been easy, but each step brings us closer to our dream: a flower farm of our own. If you're considering something similar, especially in upstate New York, know that while the process can be daunting, I hope that it will also be incredibly rewarding.

Here's to fields full of flowers soon! In the meantime, I'll follow up on the next steps to close, move in, and start planning for the flower farm, while also building new community connections.