Chestnut Ridge, NY (Hempstead, Ramapo, Spring Valley: for sale, real estate, condos)

[Chubbyhugs]

My husband and I grew up (and work) in Bergen County, and as adults have found out that it's just too darn expensive to settle there. We stumbled upon Chestnut Ridge while driving around, and the home prices seem extremely reasonable.

So my questions are as follows:

1. Is there any reason why the homes are significantly better priced than the surrounding towns?
2. Can you tell me anything else about Chestnut Ridge?
3. Is there another town that's near Bergen County that's in the same range price-wise?

Thank you!

[cpiseco]

1) and 2): Chestnut Ridge is close to Spring Valley, which is really not one of the nicer villages in Rockland County. Don't get me wrong, there's potential, but more of the lower income families stay in Spring Valley. More lower incomes, more crime...a lot of good people live there, but a lot of not so nice ones do, too. There are some nice sections of Chestnut Ridge, but they're small and the prices are probably higher in those sections.

3) I suggest Pearl River. Yes, it's higher priced, but the taxes aren't as bad as the rest of the county and it's a beautiful town all around.

[JennyOnTheMove]

It seems that Chestnut Ridge is a great area, since it borders Montvale, Woodcliff Lake and has a great Waldorf School, The Hungry Hollow Food Co-op and features lots of groovy hippies and fabulous forward thinking eco-chicas! It's a great place, and you can get an ENORMOUS house for peanuts. There's no good reason for the cheapness of the homes. Just go south to shop and you're in good shape.

[Weapon X]

Spring Valley schools explain the low prices. There's alot of gang activity and a couple of years ago there was a stabbing at the school. Location-wise, it's not bad, but the schools really ruin it.

IIRC, it used to be part of Spring Valley, but they were able to break themselves away and rename the area Chestnut Ridge.

[Janessa Mondestin]

Answer to question #1: The amenities, school district and overall home sales/new construction in the area affect the driving up of home prices in the area. There were considerable new homes built in Chestnut Ridge but not as active as Stony Point, Garnerville, Pomona, etc... Those areas were almost empty before the boom so it awarded contractors more room to play with construction.

I believe it was 1987 that Chestnut Ridge decided to seperate from the Village of Spring Valley. The Village of Spring Valley continued to become segmented - Hillcrest is now recognized to be a seperate section as well as New Hempstead. However, Hillcrest, Spring Valley, Chestnut ridge, and New Hempstead share the same P.O. 10977.

There is a lot of speculation about many towns in the county at one point or another. So it wouldn't be fair to judge one area over another by an email. It would be more beneficial for you to drive through the area and see it for yourself. Issues like Diversity and Beauty are personal; what is suitable for you may not be for another - and thus, it takes your own judgement to evaluate.

Question #2: Check on City-Data.com for demographics and check on Real Estate - Rockland & Orange County Homes for Sale - for school rankings. There's plenty to do in the county, it depends on what you are into.

Q#3: Towns close to NJ border: Suffern, Monsey, Pearl River, Orangeburg, Piermont/Grandview/Sparkill area.

[rusty78]

Originally Posted by Chubbyhugs

My husband and I grew up (and work) in Bergen County, and as adults have found out that it's just too darn expensive to settle there. We stumbled upon Chestnut Ridge while driving around, and the home prices seem extremely reasonable.

So my questions are as follows:

1. Is there any reason why the homes are significantly better priced than the surrounding towns?
2. Can you tell me anything else about Chestnut Ridge?
3. Is there another town that's near Bergen County that's in the same range price-wise?

Thank you!

On this web site they compare the schools in Rockland to the other schools throughtout the state....rating them...the Spring Valley High School which covers Chestnut Ridge is rated at 42......Clarkstown South High School is rated at 85....Nanuet High School at 82....Pearl River High School at 90...Suffern High School at 84...where do you want your kids to attend High School???......
Of course...if you do not have children...it may not matter to you....but in any Real Estate Book you purchase...dealing with buying a home....they will stress.....LOCATION...LOCATION...LOCATION...one of the first things in location is the school system....after all...why would you invest most of your money into a home and then send you children to private school???...and you can't even deduct private school education off your taxes....then eventually...you will have to deal with the re-sale issue down the road...when you retire....basically, you will spend more for your home in the surrounding areas...have a smaller home...but your equity will be much safer....so...do yourself a favor...go house hunting one Sunday...visit some of the open houses...see what you are getting for your money...then take a week day off....and go visit the local high schools that covers the area you are considering purchasing in.......good luck

[JennyOnTheMove]

So, essentially its the schools. And possibly non-Jews don't feel comfortable in that area. That's my guess. The Waldorf School, St. Joes, or Saddle River Day school are your schools. Also, maybe the hippies, LOL. The Biodynamic Organic Farm, The Food Co-Op, the Nature Camp and the Hippie Toy Store. Oh and the Wholistic Reiki Veterinarian, LOL. I looked at three houses this week, all Big Bi Levels in Chestnut Ridge, all under 500k. I have adult kids, so I guess its all good for me. You get so much house, so much land, and so little money, compared to nearby Montvale, which the same house would cost $850k - but I'm guessing if you do have kids, then unless you're a Waldorf School Parent ($15k a year for middle school!!!!!) then you shouldn't move there!!

[rusty78]

Originally Posted by JennyOnTheMove

So, essentially its the schools. And possibly non-Jews don't feel comfortable in that area. That's my guess. The Waldorf School, St. Joes, or Saddle River Day school are your schools. Also, maybe the hippies, LOL. The Biodynamic Organic Farm, The Food Co-Op, the Nature Camp and the Hippie Toy Store. Oh and the Wholistic Reiki Veterinarian, LOL. I looked at three houses this week, all Big Bi Levels in Chestnut Ridge, all under 500k. I have adult kids, so I guess its all good for me. You get so much house, so much land, and so little money, compared to nearby Montvale, which the same house would cost $850k - but I'm guessing if you do have kids, then unless you're a Waldorf School Parent ($15k a year for middle school!!!!!) then you shouldn't move there!!

It is more than the schools that should concern you...perhaps the taxes, the services, depreciating home value, etc.... that should be considered before looking at how much more you can get for your money....for Chestnut Ridge is in the East Ramapo School District within the Town of Ramapo....and there is a very large and ever expanding Hassidim (?) population within East Ramapo...they are mostly all Rabbi's and as such...they purchase their homes, vehicles, etc...., etc...., etc.... in the name of a Yeshiva and/or Synagogue and as a result pay less in taxes (if any) than someone else who has the exact same home....SO TELL ME, WHO DO YOU THINK PAYS THE TAXES THAT THEY DON'T?????......
Do yourself a favor....go buy a book on buying your first home....read it over...and pay attention to the section LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION - .....it will spell out what you should be looking for...for it is more that what I can get for the same money!!!!

[Titus Pullo]

Originally Posted by rusty78

On this web site they compare the schools in Rockland to the other schools throughtout the state....rating them...the Spring Valley High School which covers Chestnut Ridge is rated at 42......Clarkstown South High School is rated at 85....Nanuet High School at 82....Pearl River High School at 90...Suffern High School at 84...where do you want your kids to attend High School???......
Of course...if you do not have children...it may not matter to you....but in any Real Estate Book you purchase...dealing with buying a home....they will stress.....LOCATION...LOCATION...LOCATION...one of the first things in location is the school system....after all...why would you invest most of your money into a home and then send you children to private school???...and you can't even deduct private school education off your taxes....then eventually...you will have to deal with the re-sale issue down the road...when you retire....basically, you will spend more for your home in the surrounding areas...have a smaller home...but your equity will be much safer....so...do yourself a favor...go house hunting one Sunday...visit some of the open houses...see what you are getting for your money...then take a week day off....and go visit the local high schools that covers the area you are considering purchasing in.......good luck

That is one of the best answer / opinion I have heard anywhere. I am a 1st time homebuyer looking in the Rockland area. Spring Valley caught my eye because there are dozen of low priced condos inside Ramapo Tower on South Cole Avenue. But after reading some posts here, I think it might not be a good investment (even though I'm married w/ no kids). Thanks for those good tips.

[ckhthankgod]

here's information on schools that serve Chestnut Ridge: Greatschools.net Search: chestnut ridge