darker light, and a bright white hue in brighter conditions. Equally robust and comfortable in any circumstance, the Explorer 40 also features an Oysterlock folding clasp, which prevents accidental opening, and an Easylink comfort extension, which allows the wearer to increase the bracelet length by approximately 5mm for enhanced comfort. In a word, spectacular. $7,700 Rolex.com
Citizen Tsuki-yomi A-T
g et
Want some good news impacting 2024’s inventory? In some markets, more houses became available for sale toward the end of 2023. As of mid-October, there were about 400 properties on the market in Ulster, compared to the mid-200s last year, Sweeney says. “As inventory starts to creep up, we could see a downturn in prices, which would bring back those fatigued buyers,” Sweeney says. For now, it’s still a sellers’ market. Interest rates matter and there’s no immediate sign that they’re coming down. Let’s say you want to buy a $500,000 house, with $100,000 down. At 3 percent, your monthly payment would be $2,108; at 5 percent, $2,684; at 7 percent, $3,326, a whopping $1,218 more than your 3 percent bill. “That takes people out of the market because they can’t qualify for a mortgage,” Sweeney says. Cash is still king, of course and most buyers in the $1 million plus range are all or mostly cash.” As far as hot markets in Ulster, “Saugerties exploded, and the town of Rochester (Accord and Kerhonkson) has done exceptionally well,” Sweeney says. So let’s put our crystal ball aside and take a wait-and-see approach to how the market will play out in this corner of the planet in 2024. As always, as we enter spring, more answers should be clearer regarding the state of real estate in our neighborhoods.
Iconic Elegance These historic watches go well beyond just telling time. By Mitch Rustad
Rolex Explorer 40
Whatever your outdoor sport may be, it’s time to step up your game with the latest iteration of a true classic. Forever known as the watch that accompanied the first humans confirmed to summit Mount Everest in 1953, the Rolex Explorer is legendary, and the Explorer line has expanded with this spectacular new 40mm model. Crafted from Oystersteel, an alloy specific to the brand, this extravagant timepiece features a Chromalight display that emits a long-lasting blue glow in
Did you ever have a luxury watch that could literally read the moon? In addition to being a sleek, sporty and gorgeous timepiece, the Tsuki-yomi A-T is the world’s first moon phase watch, combining Citizen’s legendary and innovative atomic timekeeping with styling that embodies the moon’s surface and a window at six-o’clock displays the current moon phase. Beyond just telling the time, this timepiece features a moon phase display, world time in 24 time zones, a perpetual calendar and day-date functionality. $850 CitizenWatch.com
Breitling Endurance Pro
When it comes to luxury meeting lifestyle, it’s hard to top the Endurance Pro, the ultimate athleisure watch. In other words, this lightweight beauty is ideal for high caliber athletes and the casual, everyday hiker—for those whose professional and sporty lifestyles blend seamlessly together. Who says rigorous workouts and being fashionable don’t go together? The Endurance Pro comes loaded with delights: an ultra-light case, a robust material 3.3 times lighter than titanium and 5.8 times lighter than stainless steel. Better yet, this timepiece is non-magnetic, thermally stable and hypoallergenic, which makes it highly resistant to scratches, traction and corrosion. $3,400 Breitling.com
bey watch Breitling Endurance Pro comes loaded with delights and is the perfect gift for that special someone.
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