Buying a home in Westchester

Re: Buying a home in Westchester

• lawyer707 member

  

  January 2013

  it totally depends on what is the most important to you. Are school districts very important? If so, do you want large schools or small schools? Is distance to the train station important or do you drive? How many bedrooms are you looking for? $450 is a do-able budget in Westchester, especially with the housing market being so-so, but some areas will definitely be out of your reach depending on what you are looking for. I live in Northern Westchester and love where I live, but there are definitely better areas depending on your needs.

  

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• erbmiser

  January 2013

  Thanks for your response! I would like to live close to a train station - we both have cars, but I prefer the train. We intend to have kids, but none yet - a small school district would be great. You are in Northern Westchester - do you work in Manhattan? What's your commute like? Do you have kids? We're currently considering Pleasantville, Chappaqua areas - and would LOVE to find something in the River towns, but I don't know if we'll be able to afford it, given that we want 3 BR, 2 BA...

  Thanks for any advice!
  

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• lawyer707 member

  

  January 2013

  Well then you might want to look at Croton (where I live). You may be able to find something with that budget. I am now a SAHM to my 2 month old daughter, but my husband works in the city and commute time from Croton Harmon (the train station we use) by train is around 45 mins. It's also a major hub so there are tons of trains. The hudson line is really good as far as being on time and running frequently. The SD in Croton is pretty small and it's a close-knit town. Pleasantville is a nice area and probably a good place to look with your budget. Chappaqua is typically expensive and you may have a difficult time finding something nice for your budget, but the SD is amazing. Briarcliff is nice with a good SD, but there's no train station. Yorktown is super affordable, but no train station either. The other river towns are definitely worth a look (especially irvington, dobbs ferry, and ardsley). Not sure what you can get with your budget though. Let me know if you have any more questions.

  

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• navybride06 member

  

  January 2013

  You may also want to look in Croton Falls, North Salem, South Salem, Somers for your price point.  You will probably get a bigger house, and better taxes then looking further south.  All those towns have a train or one extremely close by.  Harlem (blue) train line for them.

  

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• reganrn

  January 2013

  We live in North Salem and love it. Great school districts, pretty driving. Commute into the city is 63 minutes I believe from Purdys train station.  I did the commute into the city for a while and it was a grind at only 3 days a week.  I agree with lawyer that Croton is ideal for a commuter, something like 40 minute express trains. Taxes in Westchester are very high all over but particularly high in Chappaqua and Briarcliff was ridiculous when we looked, 17,000+ Good luck!
  

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• Sewilson33 member

  

  January 2013

  Bedford Hills, Mount Kisco, Pleasantville, Somers, Salem, Bedford... all Northern Westchester and good school. I'm in bedford and love it.
  

  
  
   
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