Lifelong Catskills resident Kim Riera believes that with the right mindset, homeowners can make a short-term rental a force for good in their communities. “The best way to balance the needs of guests and the local community is to create opportunities for shared experiences—moments where people can get to know each other, find common ground, and even celebrate their differences,” Riera explains. “When visitors feel welcomed and locals feel respected, short-term rentals can add to the richness of a place, not take away from it.”
In 2015, Riera founded Stay Catskills, a short-term rental management and real estate company focused on balancing the long-term needs of mountain residents and their communities’ historic reliance on tourism. Riera’s focus is on helping homeowners with deep ties to the region rent out their homes with conscience and care.
Stay Catskills’ portfolio is as diverse as it is quirky—ranging from tiny, off-grid cabins for those seeking solitude to spacious custom log homes that can host large families or groups of friends. “At any given time, I typically manage between 25 and 30 short-term rental properties in the area,” she says. “I’m selective about the clients I work with. I specifically take on homeowners who want to spend time here, who genuinely care about the area, and want to be part of the community.”
For owners looking to be responsible hosts, Riera emphasizes several key principles. “Owners who rent out their homes need to be good neighbors first,” she states. “The most important thing is to treat my rentals like a relationship with the neighbors, not just a business. I want to support homeowners who are truly invested in our community—people who understand that being part of a small town means showing up, being respectful, and giving back.”
Last year, Riera put her decade of experience to work renovating her childhood home in Bovina Center so she could share it with vacationers, too. “After my parents moved in 2022, I wanted to keep the 200-year-old home in our family, and preserve its place in our lives,” she explains. “Rather than selling or leaving it vacant, turning it into a rental gave it a new purpose. My hope is that when my children are older, they might want to live there and continue the tradition.”
Together with her husband Marcelo, who owns local construction company Riera Improvements, the Rieras renovated their family home, known as Bovina Post after its historical function as the town’s post office.
Together the Rieras and their three teenage sons designed the home and outdoor spaces to honor the family’s past while adding cozy updated features. Following the advice she gives her clients, Riera focused on modernizing the home with high-end furnishings from Casper, West Elm, Article, and Spoonflower that would make any vacationer feel right at home.
Vintage elements like original 1970s wallpaper in the three bedrooms and the postmaster’s original inkwell in the dedicated workspace honor the home’s rich history. In the first floor sun porch, she added a green light from her father’s auction house. Multiple lounging spaces, including the wood-trimmed living room, multiple patios, and an ample backyard provide plenty of space to unwind. Riera even partnered with local artisan Taylor Foster of Heaven on Main Street to create custom soaps and candles infused with nostalgic fragrances inspired by her youth.
So far, the experience has been enriching—not just helping with the expense of keeping her childhood home in the family. “One of the most meaningful parts of this experience has been the people,” Riera reflects. “I’ve welcomed guests who used to live in or vacation in Bovina. They’re thrilled to come back and stay in a home with such deep ties to the community. At the same time, it’s been just as exciting to host guests who have never been to the area before. Seeing them fall in love with the town for the first time has been incredibly rewarding.”
This article appears in July 2025.
