Tom Morhous and Caron Pelletier faced an unexpected challenge earlier this year when their landlord in Los Angeles informed them of plans to sell the house they had rented for nearly a decade. The couple, along with their 11-year-old daughter Bixby, were settled in a community they valued—close to the beach and friends—with rent below market rates. Despite having the first opportunity to buy, their $1.2 million offer fell short, prompting them to reconsider their options.
Recognizing the high cost of relocating elsewhere within Los Angeles, the family expanded their search beyond the city. They focused on the Hudson Valley region in upstate New York, an area that held personal ties for Mr. Morhous, who grew up in Schenectady, about 150 miles north of New York City, where his parents still live. The move would also place them nearer to other family and friends scattered throughout the Northeast.
The Hudson Valley offered more space at a price point inaccessible in Los Angeles, which was important for Mr. Morhous, who works in advertising, and Ms. Pelletier, who is in marketing, as both primarily work from home. Their housing criteria included two bedrooms for communal use, two separate offices, and two full bathrooms.
In May, Mr. Morhous traveled to New York for an intensive home search, visiting over a dozen properties with local real estate agent David Neiman of Compass. Their budget was set below $800,000.
Among the options was a fully renovated three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom home near Beacon’s Main Street, listed at $748,000 with annual taxes around $12,000. This 1,750-square-foot house, built in 1900, featured modern amenities including a long kitchen with an induction stove and granite counters, as well as a backyard with a wooden deck and stone patio. A Metro-North train station was located about a mile away.
Another possibility was a newly built three-bedroom, three-bathroom house situated on an acre two miles outside Beacon, priced at $749,900 with $14,000 in property taxes. This larger home, with more than 2,600 square feet, provided a dedicated office space, making it suitable for remote work, although its distance from the town center necessitated reliance on a car for daily activities, including access to the train.
A third option was a four-bedroom, two-bathroom residence near Highland, N.Y., priced at $650,000 with taxes just over $10,600. Sitting on five acres, the recently renovated home offered spacious living and an office, but its location across the Hudson River created a sense of isolation. While a train station in Poughkeepsie was a 10-minute drive away, the commute to New York City via train was longer.
Ultimately, the family chose the three-bedroom home outside of Beacon, drawn by its elevated views and the feeling of seclusion it provided. They submitted a $765,000 offer, surpassing a competing bid, which was accepted shortly before Mr. Morhous returned to Los Angeles. The sale closed on July 20, and the family moved in two days later.
Settling into the larger space brought relief for Mr. Morhous and Ms. Pelletier, who appreciated the increased comfort and yard for their daughter. Bixby, initially apprehensive about the move and skeptical of her parents’ decision, has begun to embrace her new environment, enjoying Beacon’s Main Street and the novelty of having her own bathroom. The family’s relocation underscores trends of urban residents seeking more affordable housing and quality of life enhancements in less densely populated regions.