[chickok]

Hello,

My husband is considering a transfer to Manhattan. We would be relocating from Chicago and have 3 young children. What suburbs would you recommend within an hour commute of NYC? It is important that the schools be excellent. Where are there any 3-bedroom homes under $500,000?

[Whalehead]

This is a tough one. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, lived in Manhasset, NY on Long Island, and now live in Ridgefield, CT.
It is very hard to find a suburb within an hour's travel that prices have not gone sky high.
Floral Park, NY, in Nassau County is a nice town and an easy commute to
NYC via the LIRR. Many of my friends growing up who were NYC policeman and fireman live or lived there.
My mother's neighborhood of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn is nice, but not suburban. It is an ethnic (mostly Italian American) neighborhood. It's an easy commute via express bus or subway
Sorry I could not be of more assistance.
Dan

[Dockside]

Whalehead is right...that is a tough one, that's why you aren't getting many replies. Try googling Mamaroneck, NY. It's in Westchester County, great schools, but a few homes might available around your price. High property taxes, though.

[deadcrowsflyeast]

look into lower fairfield county.

If family and schools are ur thing wilton/redding is the ticket...+ they have a large amount of train commuters into nyc

500k will barely get you in but the schools are primo in those 2 towns

[gomet]

That's a joke about Wilton & Redding for 500K right !

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by gomet

That's a joke about Wilton & Redding for 500K right !

Checking the local MLS that services Redding and Wilton, here's what I found:

REDDING - 112 single-family properties (median = $899,000)
$400,000 - $499,999 - 5 properties
$500,000 - $599,999 - 12 properties
$600,000 - $699,999 - 13 properties
$700,000 - $799,999 - 16 properties
$800,000 - $899,999 - 13 properties <= median
$900,000 - $999,999 - 7 properties
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999 - 35 properties
$2,000,000 - $2,999,999 - 4 properties
$3,000,000 - $3,999,999 - 3 properties
$4,000,000 - $4,999,999 - 3 properties
$5,000,000 - $5,999,999 - 1 property

WILTON - 137 single-family properties (median = $1,199,000)
$400,000 - $499,999 - 4 properties
$500,000 - $599,999 - 6 properties
$600,000 - $699,999 - 11 properties
$700,000 - $799,999 - 13 properties
$800,000 - $899,999 - 14 properties
$900,000 - $999,999 - 11 properties
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999 - 54 properties <= median
$2,000,000 - $2,999,999 - 18 properties
$3,000,000 - $3,999,999 - 5 properties
$4,000,000 - $4,999,999 - 1 property

I don't envy you...

[kenfried]

you are going to have to choose, commute or schools.

$500,000, & good schools,-- longer than 1 hour commute. maybe 1.5 hour commute.

[chionactis]

my brother-in- law and sister-in-law both work in NYC. they were living in NJ (South Orange) and making the commute. But, they moved to CT because it was too expensive living there with taxes and all. They moved to WILTON, CT and commute into NYC daily. I doubt the house they live in is less than $500K - probably closer to $800K - but that is their neighborhood. but, they can afford it with the salaries they make. good luck.

[Magdalena1]

Originally Posted by chickok

Hello,

My husband is considering a transfer to Manhattan. We would be relocating from Chicago and have 3 young children. What suburbs would you recommend within an hour commute of NYC? It is important that the schools be excellent. Where are there any 3-bedroom homes under $500,000?

Hi,
If I were you I'd consider Stamford/ Norwalk. It does have good schools, there are nice areas to live, taxes are much lower than in NY. There are many Manhattan professionals who commute to work by train every day. I could advice you also Darien/ New Canaan/ Greenwich, but I don't think you could get any house for 500,000 in those areas. If you need any help/info with buying/renting a house let me know. Prices went down a lot here, and it's a good time to buy now.

[charlives]

Danbury an option? Maybe too far.