Rural Otselic has outdoor recreation and second homes
Otselic, a rural town 39 miles from Syracuse, is nestled among rolling greenery and state forests. Outdoor recreation such as hiking, snowmobiling, fishing and hunting are popular pastimes in the area. “Otselic is a very rural area; the majority of the draw for the properties that I sell over there are recreational buyers,” says Tere Stronach-Bullen, an associate broker with Chenango County Realty. Stronach-Bullen has been working in the industry since 2012. “People looking for camps, getaway places, outdoorsmen, the hunters and the people who like the great outdoors.” Most homes are second homes used as seasonal cabins for those looking to get away and enjoy the natural scenery.
Homes in simple styles on farmlands and in hamlets
Homes are along winding roadways on farmland or clustered together in hamlets. Many homes have wells and septic tanks. Homes in flatter areas near the Otselic River may flood. “If you're looking for a second home, it is in a great, very quiet area,” says Stronach-Bullen. “If you like to snowmobile, if you like to hunt and fish, that’s a big draw to the area.”
Cottage, National and ranch-style homes are common. They have a median selling price of $350,000. “Inventory tends to be older in the area, so I would recommend doing a home inspection. These are not cookie-cutter homes; each house is going to have its own individual personality,” says Stronach-Bullen. “If you are looking for a year-round residence, you’ll probably have to put a little work into it to bring it up to what a potential home buyer's standard may be.”
Otselic Valley Central schools get Cs
The Otselic Valley Central School District is a single school district serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Otselic Valley receives a C from Niche. The school library is public and holds events for the community, such as arts and crafts and chair yoga. Some students attend the Sherburne-Earlville Central School District, which gets a C-plus or the DeRuyter Central School, which gets a C.
State Routes lead to Syracuse and Utica
State Route 80 leads 39 miles to Syracuse and state Route 26 leads 44 miles to Utica. County Road 16 leads 19 miles to Norwich. The Community Memorial Hospital is 16 miles away in Hamilton, and the Syracuse Hancock International Airport is 48 miles away. Houses of worship such as West Smyrna Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and United Methodist Church are in the hamlets of Otselic and South Otselic.
