First Tioga Realty, located at 54 Central Ave. in Owego, N.Y., in the historic Delaware and Hudson building, is a regional source for homebuyers and sellers, offering multiple services. The building dates back to about 1860. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Licensed real estate broker and owner, Roger Katchuk, of First Tioga Realty, stands inside his 54 Central Ave. regional office in Owego, N.Y. in the historic Delaware and Hudson building. Katchuk, along with a staff of licensed real estate salespeople, are members of multiple realtor associations in the twin tiers of New York and northern Pennsylvania, which allows them to offer various services for homebuyers and sellers.
First Tioga Realty, located at 54 Central Ave. in Owego, N.Y., in the historic Delaware and Hudson building, is a regional source for homebuyers and sellers embracing the complex world of real estate. Whether it is buying a new home or completing a successful home sale, licensed real estate broker and owner, Roger Katchuk, and a staff of licensed real estate salespeople guide clients through the entire real estate process.
First Tioga Realty is a member of the greater Binghamton, Elmira-Corning and Bradford-Sullivan Association of Realtors, and is also affiliated with the Ithaca Board of Realtors, as well as is a member of both the National Association of Realtors and the New York State Association of Realtors.
Katchuk has been an active member of the board of directors of the Greater Binghamton Board of Realtors since 2005 and is the 2016 president-elect. An Owego resident, Katchuk is focused on raising his family here, with ties that go back to his grandfather’s farm on Winchell Road as well as his father’s work as an Owego deputy.
Katchuk’s career path has its origins from college sports and several years of high school sports at Chenango Forks. Words of wisdom from a high school swim coach inspired Katchuk to focus on diving.
“I’m glad the swim coach took me aside one day,” Katchuk said, and added, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for his encouragement.”
Fast forward a few years, Katchuk was a two-time All American and coached at the university level as well as coaching international teams in swimming and diving with the United States Sports Academy. The academy, an organization that prepares men and women for careers in the profession of sports, launched Katchuk’s coaching career overseas, which took him to Saudi Arabia, Brunei and other exotic places. Later, Katchuk coached seven years in Owego.
Katchuk has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Coaching from Fairmont State University and a Masters in Sports Management from Marshall University. At one point he took a break from education; a good paying yet grueling job working a jack hammer along Routes 81 and 17 is just one experience he says helped pave the way for his interest in construction.
The world of real estate construction allowed Katchuk to travel extensively for many years, some of those years traveling with a Saudi Sheik. Based out of Saudi Arabia, Katchuk worked as a design consultant and project manager on resorts, health clubs and condos in China, Tunisia and the French Riviera, among others, and in turn inspired him to move into real estate investing.
“It was an exciting experience in my life,” Katchuk said.
Katchuk has purchased and developed more than a dozen of his own properties, including the property at 54 Central Ave. The building stood empty for quite some time prior to Katchuk moving in two years ago.
According to information provided by Tioga County Historian, Emma Sedore, 54 Central Ave. was constructed around 1860. First used as stables by the Park Hotel and later as an office practice and livery stable by Edward F. Vorhis, a veterinarian, Katchuk said Vorhis purchased the building in 1907, based on deed records. Sedore shared that Burt W. Miller rented it as an automobile salesroom, and in the 1950’s through the 1970’s it was owned and used by Tioga Electric.
From his personal research on the property and also information gathered from the deed, Katchuk shared that the Delaware and Hudson Railroad was in the building from 1885 to 1907. Katchuk’s research of Delaware and Hudson history to date has led him to finding records of the company using horses as yard switchers, needed to pull canal boats and move railroad cars around.
Walk through the front door of 54 Central Ave. today and it is difficult to imagine that the building was once used by a railroad. A significant renovation process replaced and refurbished a majority of the inside details to make a chic office environment as well as the addition of two apartments on the upstairs floor. A visitor’s curiosity is sparked when the original hinged doors used by the stables are noticed hanging on Katchuk’s back office wall, which cover a large screen that Katchuk uses to show his clients available property photos.
Katchuk is hosting his first seminar of the New Year on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the First Tioga Realty office in Owego. A guest presenter will discuss retirement real estate for individuals downsizing or joining a 55-plus community. Seating is limited. RSVP to Roger@FirstTiogaRealty.com or call (607) 223-4158. The cost is to bring pet supplies to be donated to a humane society.
For more information, visit firsttiogarealty.com or call the main office at (607) 687-9800.
