Home  /  Areas Served  /  Chatham, NY
Chatham, New York

Chatham, NY.

The lender who actually answers - and gets it closed. From first-time buyers in the village to farmhouse purchases out on the county roads, Brian Marchand makes the mortgage the easy part.

5.0★ average rating
166+ five-star reviews
Local to Columbia County
Answers days, nights & weekends
Before you dig in — a word from Brian
“Chatham is where people find the acreage they wanted. Acreage is also where appraisals and well-and-septic get interesting.”
Brian Marchand Brian MarchandSr. Loan Consultant · NMLS #481563
Your Chatham loan consultant

Home financing,
the way it should be

Buying or refinancing in Chatham shouldn't mean giving up when a file gets complicated. Brian Marchand has helped buyers throughout Columbia County - from first-time buyers in Chatham village to move-up families on land in Ghent and Old Chatham.

This is where Brian's persistence stands out. One local buyer put it simply: the team "worked with me in spite of hurdles to get my loan approved."

Been told "no" somewhere else? That's exactly where Brian goes to work. Yes, when other lenders say no.

Brian Marchand, mortgage loan consultant serving Chatham, NY
What actually moves your number

Three things that decide
a Chatham payment

A village center, a well-regarded district, and a lot of rural acreage - each one changes a different line of your file.

Columbia County's low rate

Columbia's effective rate runs about 1.40%, among the lowest of the counties Brian serves. On a county median value of $347,100 that works out to roughly $405 a month in taxes before principal and interest.

Chatham Central School District

Chatham CSD covers the village and much of the surrounding town, with edge addresses falling toward Ichabod Crane or New Lebanon. School levies typically drive 60% to 70% of a New York tax bill, so the district line moves your payment more than the town line does.

Acreage changes the appraisal

Plenty of Chatham listings come with real land and outbuildings. Conventional appraisals give limited value to acreage beyond the homesite, and barns can be treated as contributory or not at all. If the price assumes the land, the appraisal needs to be discussed before the offer, not after.

Getting to know Chatham

A snapshot of
Chatham, NY

4,100Population
$347KCounty median home value
$82KCounty median household income
~1.40%Columbia County effective rate

A village with a working main street surrounded by farmland and country properties. Popular with Albany commuters who want land, and with second-home buyers priced out of Hudson.

Neighborhoods & areas: Chatham village · Old Chatham · East Chatham · Ghent

Population is a 2020 U.S. Census figure for Chatham. Home value, household income and the effective rate are Columbia County U.S. Census / ACS estimates; town, village and school district figures vary. For general reference only.

The real numbers

What it costs to buy
in Chatham

Beyond the sticker price - the monthly math, local property taxes, the school districts and the programs that can shrink your out-of-pocket.

What the escrow line looks like
$347KCounty median home value
→
~$490Est. taxes + insurance / mo*
  • Property taxes at ~1.40% (est.)$405
  • Homeowners insurance$85
  • Principal & interestRun yours →

*Escrow illustration only. Taxes and insurance estimated against the Columbia County median value of $347,100; your actual assessment, exemptions and premium will differ. Principal and interest are not shown here because they depend on your credit, loan program, down payment and market conditions on the day you lock — use the calculator or call me for real numbers. Not a commitment to lend. Equal Housing Lender.

Run your own numbers → Get pre-approved

Property taxes

Chatham sits in Columbia County, where effective rates run about 1.40%. Against the county median value of $347,100 that is roughly $405 a month before principal and interest. STAR and veterans credits can reduce it.

School districts

The village and most of the town are served by Chatham Central School District, with edge addresses falling toward Ichabod Crane or New Lebanon. Because school levies typically account for 60% to 70% of a New York tax bill, the district gets confirmed for the exact address before an offer goes out.

You may not need 20% down

Brian works with 3% & 5%-down conventional, FHA (3.5% down), zero-down VA, plus USDA across much of Columbia County, and SONYMA first-time-buyer loans with down-payment assistance. First-time buyer? He'll line up every credit you're eligible for.

See loan programs →
From upstate New York clients

Real buyers.
Real results.

★★★★★
Brian and his team were awesome and really helped me with a pretty complicated process. Can’t recommend them enough!
AAlexis B.
Verified client · Zillow
★★★★★
Brian explained everything well, was very thorough, and always answered my questions quickly. I would recommend him to everyone.
JJameson P.
Verified client · experience.com
★★★★★
I highly recommend Brian. He consistently provides a five-star mortgage experience for my clients - quick response and deep knowledge.
GGenevieve S.
Verified client · Google

Verified reviews from Google & Zillow · See all 166+ reviews →

In & around Chatham

Serving Chatham &
Columbia County

Type in your address to see the real driving distance and time from your doorstep to every town we serve nearby.

Drive times to each town

Enter your address to see the real driving distance and time to every town we serve nearby.

Sorted by drive time - closest first. Tap a town to find it on the map.

Estimates via OpenStreetMap routing - typical driving times, not live traffic.
Good to know

Chatham mortgage
questions, answered

I want land. How does that affect the loan?+
It affects the appraisal more than the loan. Conventional financing gives limited value to acreage beyond the homesite, and outbuildings may or may not be treated as contributory. On larger parcels the appraiser may need comparable sales with similar land, which are thinner on the ground. Where the land is the point of the purchase, a land or lot loan sometimes fits better than a standard mortgage.
What do I need to know about well and septic in Chatham?+
Outside the village, private well and septic are the norm. FHA, VA and USDA loans require water potability testing and septic clearance before closing, and a failed test turns into a repair condition on a deadline. Order those inspections early in the contract period rather than discovering the problem in week four.
Is Chatham realistic for a first-time buyer?+
In the village, yes. Entry prices there sit well below the county median, and SONYMA first-time-buyer financing with down payment assistance is used here regularly. The county's low effective rate also helps the monthly number more than buyers expect.
Why is the tax figure on the listing different from what my lender used?+
Listings often show the seller's bill, which may include a STAR, Enhanced STAR or veterans exemption that doesn't transfer to you. Underwriting qualifies you on the forward-looking figure.
How fast can I get pre-approved?+
Often the same day or the next. You can start your pre-approval online anytime, or book a quick call with Brian.
What loan programs work best in Chatham?+
Conventional 3% and 5% down, FHA at 3.5%, zero-down VA, and SONYMA first-time-buyer loans with down payment assistance all get used here. USDA zero-down reaches across much of Columbia County, which surprises most buyers. See the full lineup on the Loan Programs page.
Are you actually available on nights and weekends?+
It's the single most common thing clients mention. Homes and offers don't wait for business hours, so Brian doesn't either - call or text and you'll hear back quickly, even after hours.