Diana Polack

I’m Diana, an agent on the Upstate Curious Team. I believe that, aside from my passion for real estate and community, one of my strongest attributes is that I was a business owner for 30+years. I had a staff of 20+ people and understand that time is money and that collaboration is the best way to get my clients into the property of their dreams. I ask the right questions to help my clients better understand and uncover what they’re really looking for, which can be tough to nail down: Why this town? Why this budget? Why _______?

A previous client shared with me that he hired me as his buyer’s agent because he’d seen me in action on the buy side of a flip he was selling. While he said he first thought me “aggressive,” he quickly corrected that to “wonderfully assertive” when we started working together. ??

I first jumped into real estate 35 years ago when I took my licensing exam while 9-months pregnant. I had studied architecture in school and was working in Construction Management in Tribeca, and my love for the spaces we were in led me to become a realtor. Fast-forward 35 years, and I’ve come full-circle: my love for spaces combined with my love for connecting people with community and appreciation for the natural beauty in the Hudson Valley.

I lived in Montclair, NJ with my husband, raising our family together. We decided that after 28 years, we wanted to live by the water in somewhere more peaceful with more nature. I was drawn to the Hudson Valley by its natural beauty, but also the people here, and the slower way of life.

Prior to real estate, I ran ArtWare for Good for nearly 30 years, serving schools and nonprofits with art-based fundraisers and custom donor recognition tile murals. We had the opportunity to support the incredible work of nonprofits impacting education, clean water, and women's rights domestically and around the world in Haiti, Nepal, Rwanda and Cambodia. We also developed a creative team-building program with a social good component for corporations around the US.

When I’m not working with my clients, you’ll find me running the Hudson Valley Women's Collaborative, walking in the woods, kayaking, and exploring the nooks and crannies as well as the amazing artisan food and crafts in the Hudson Valley. Fun fact — ask me about my roller disco queen years.

Are you a serious first-time home buyer, or at a different stage in your life and looking to downsize, or maybe something in between? Let’s work together!