Top Home Buying Tips for New Yorkers

research the area

The first step to buying a home is researching the area and hopefully fall in love with the location. You may be moving for work or family, you deserve to love where you live.  New York State offers a wide range of historic landmarks and cultural events that can satisfy the most refined tastes. New York has it all – an amazing art scene, word class museums, breathtaking architectural heritage. If that is important to you, consider living in Westchester County.

Research the range of restaurants, bars, sports, concerts, art etc. that will keep you entertained and allow you to interact with people in the community. On any given day, there’s always something interesting to do in Westchester country and to explore something new.

Location is the most important factor in buying a home. Location affects the value of the house, how much you have to pay in taxes and utilities, and how long your commute is.

The location of your new home should be within easy reach of where you work. If possible, try not to commute more than 30 minutes each way. If there are no neighborhoods near where you work that meet these criteria, look farther out into other parts of town until one does appear.

Transportation

New York has a great transportation system. There are 6 ways to get from Westchester to Manhattan by train, bus, subway, taxi or car. It takes about 1 hour from Westchester and Manhattan. Operated by Metro-North Railroad (MNR), Westchester to Manhattan service departs from Westchester and arrives in Harlem-125 St. Typically 476 services run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance.

Metro-North Railroad (MNR) operates a train from White Plains to Harlem-125 St every 20 minutes. Tickets cost $8 - $20 and the journey takes 42 min. Alternatively, Westchester County Bee-Line System operates a bus from Central Ave @ Harding Ave to 5Th Ave @ 85Th St every 4 hours. Tickets cost $3 and the journey takes 1h 4m.

Hospitals

When it comes to hospitals, you want to make sure that you're close enough to one in case of emergency. It's also important that your hospital has the specialized services that are important for your family. For example, if someone in your family has an illness or condition and requires ongoing treatment or monitoring, it's essential that the hospital be able to provide those services on site.

In addition, some hospitals may have additional amenities such as restaurants and other services on site--or even within walking distance (which is helpful when caring for an infant).

Here are some local hospitals:

Four Winds Westchester (Psychiatric)
Katonah, NY 
 
NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital
Cortlandt Manor, NY 

Montefiore/Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, NY 

Montefiore/Sound Shore 
New Rochelle, NY 
 

NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital
Bronxville, NY 

Northern Westchester Hospital
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 

Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
Sleepy Hollow, NY

The multitude of small villages that comprise Westchester County have unique qualities, attractions, and histories.

Westchester County is home to over 100 villages, each with its own unique character. These small communities offer residents an abundance of options for entertainment, shopping and dining as well as residential living. The many village parks, playgrounds and recreational fields provide ample space for children and families to play while their parents enjoy a leisurely stroll or run through the neighborhood on their way to work.

There is a rich cultural history that continues today in both traditional businesses like bakeries and restaurants as well as contemporary establishments like wine bars where you can sample local vintages from around the world at any time of day or night! Westchester County is a great place to live.

The vibe of the town, does it fit with yours?

Let's work together! I can help you buy or sell your New York or Connecticut home.