Nice to meet you.

A woman with blonde, wavy hair in a white button-up shirt and beige pants sitting on a rug in front of a tan couch in a room with large window and cream-colored walls.

Arlena Armstrong-Petock

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson at Anatole House

I first fell for the Catskills while renting a house in Kerhonkson with my husband and our dog.

It was mid-October—peak foliage, peak cozy—and our Airbnb host handed us a lovingly obsessive list of local spots: Westwind Orchard, Arrowood Brewery, the Kingston Stockade District, Minnewaska trails, Peekamoose Blue Hole… you get the idea. When we were packing up to head home, their kids pulled fresh carrots out of the garden and yelled, “Look! We just harvested a snack!” And we thought: “Okay. These people are doing it right.”

That weekend set off a year-long search for our own upstate escape. We looked at houses all over the Hudson Valley and Catskills—each one promising the perfect location and good bones. Finally, on a snow-covered January morning, we found the one, just 20 minutes from our usual rental spot in Accord. And let’s just say… we learned a lot. About houses, yes—but also about ourselves, septic systems, the cost of doing things, and how much local contractors will haunt your dreams.

In 2020, we ditched our Clinton Hill apartment, left the “weekender” identity behind, and made the move upstate full-time. I pivoted to real estate as a career (as in, actually studied, licensed, and threw myself in), and I’ve been lucky to work alongside some of the sharpest, most seasoned agents in the region.

A cozy living room with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, featuring two windows, a cream-colored sofa with pillows, a modern floor lamp, a wooden coffee table with decorative objects, and a black lounge chair with an ottoman.
Corner of a cozy living room with a wood stove, a window with a candelabra, a firewood holder filled with logs, a sheepskin-covered chair, and a leather lounge chair.

I offer a personal, knowledgeable, strategic, and frankly pretty fun approach to helping you find your upstate place—whether it’s a cozy cabin, a multi-family investment, or a farmhouse with enough room for your sourdough starter and your in-laws.

Since becoming an agent, my listings have been featured in The New York Times, Dwell, Remodelista, and Realtor.com’s featured properties. You can also find interviews with me on Chronogram, AD’s Clever, Dwell, Spoak, and Salam Hello.

When I’m not touring houses or negotiating deals, I’m usually doing some wildly unnecessary DIY project at my own home, foraging for mushrooms, bragging about my garden, in a yoga class, or moonlighting in the fashion world for old city friends who still remember my past life.

As someone who started this journey as a New York City buyer looking for a second home, I get what my clients are searching for: space, charm, clean design, better air, and a little magic.

  • We feel so lucky that our paths crossed with Arlena and couldn’t have imagined a more perfect agent for us!

    Her knowledge of the area and the competitive market was invaluable to us; she very much got our vibe and was determined to help us find our dream home. She was very communicate and it really eased our anxieties. She assembled an absolute dream team for us with our mortgage broker, lawyer and inspection — as far as home buying goes, we felt like we hit nothing but green lights with Arlena and her dream team! As far as we’re concerned, Arlena was the best agent for us and we couldn’t be happier with the process and results!

    Harrison & Marnie, Kingston

  • She stayed on top of the process and got us to the closing table over asking.

    Arlena was very helpful navigating my whole sales process. I was given advice before listing on getting everything ready. She provided contacts for staging. Her online presence was very helpful in gaining a lot of attention to my listing. Once the offers came in she gave great advice on what to consider.

    Kristian, Eldred

  • I highly recommend Arlena to anyone in need of a reliable and caring real estate agent.

    I had the pleasure of working with Arlena recently and I cannot speak highly enough of her exceptional service and expertise. Her knowledge of the market, attention to detail in marketing materials, consistent communication and overall approach made the entire home selling experience smooth and stress-free. I highly recommend Arlena to anyone in need of a reliable and caring real estate agent who is committed to providing top-notch service and delivering outstanding results.

    Gabe, Parksville

  • Arlena knows just when to engage with you as a buyer and is attentive to details we had no idea to look out for in a property.

    Arlena was the first and only realtor we ever spoke with regarding our first-time home buying experience and boy, did we get lucky! As a realtor, she is communicative, resourceful, and incredibly knowledgeable about local happenings. As a person, she is encouraging, genuine, and incredibly supportive, which was SO appreciated when it came to fixing up all the small things that could easily become overwhelming (see her Instagram for some major DIY inspiration!). We truly could not have asked for a better buying experience. Thank you, Arlena!

    -Jamie & Hilary, Shokan

  • Arlena helped me find my perfect, secluded dream spot during one of the craziest times in the market.

    I was a first time homebuyer trying to navigate a particularly difficult time for buyers in the Hudson Valley, but Arlena made the process smooth and easy to understand and always kept a positive attitude ensuring I never got discouraged. Her advice and recommendations were invaluable and I'm so thankful I had her in my corner. Arlena is an absolute gem - both as an agent and a human! — and I could not be more grateful to her for helping me find my dream home.

    Camie, Gardiner