Staley Real Estate LLC

Staley Real Estate initially opened its doors in 1949. It was the first real estate company in Northern Dutchess County—appropriately so since the Staley family prides itself in its historical ties and its historic “firsts.” The company was founded by its first principal broker, Homer Knickerbocker Staley Sr., whose name when broken down can be traced back as far as the early 1600s. His first name was taken from his uncle Homer, who himself was named after the Greek poet. He also carried the Knickerbocker name, because the Staley's are descendants of the Knickerbocker family, whose roots go back to Holland 400 years ago. There is a copy of the Knickerbocker family tree hanging in the Staley office today. Currently, the business is run by his son Homer Knickerbocker Staley Jr., along with one of his grandsons, Daniel Lewis Staley.

The Staley's roots reach far back into Rhinebeck history. Homer Sr. was the 5th generation of the Staley clan to live in this historic town. Back in 1963, when Brooke Russell Astor decided it was time to cut the Astor ties in Rhinebeck, she sought out Homer Sr. to liquidate the 2800-acre estate known as Ferncliff. There is a copy of a map of the property posted on this site that shows where Homer Sr. made red pencil marks of parcels of land and homes he sold during this period. At this time, Homer also asked Brooke Astor to donate a 200-acre track of the estate to be a forest preserve, to remain “forever wild.” The parcel, which is located at the intersection of River Road and Mt. Rutsen Road, is known as Ferncliff Forest. Both Knick and Dan sit on the Board of Directors today.

Homer Sr. was also the first chairman of the Rhinebeck Planning Board with his term beginning in 1960 and ending in 1971. During this time he also worked on the town’s first Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 1971. Homer Jr. can tell you stories about how the community was against this control over their land, but Homer Sr. had the vision and passion to make this happen. Rhinebeck was one of the first towns in Dutchess County to have such a document. Homer Sr. continued to be active in real estate through the late 1980s, when high interest rates and old age caught up with him. He passed away in 1995 at the age of 86.

Homer K. Staley Jr., called Knick, has held a continuous N.Y. State Real Estate License since 1963, when he returned from a tour in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Knick worked part-time in real estate while employed with IBM until the company made cutbacks in 1993. Knick retired after 29 years with Big Blue and concentrated full-time on the Staley Real Estate tradition. He is a past Rhinebeck Town Councilman, past President of the Dutchess County Association of Realtors, and the current President of the Columbia/Greene multiple listing service. For all of the offices he holds in the real estate industry, Knick still considers his customers—you—his first priority.

Dan Staley is a 7th Generation Rhinebeck resident who loves the rich history of Rhinebeck’s past residents and the Hudson River estates and homes they left behind. He specializes in historic real estate but also loves working with the public. He is a N.Y.S. Licensed Real Estate Broker, a Desert Storm veteran, and a member of the Rhinebeck Town Board. He also has extensive knowledge in zoning and planning.