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So I may be relocating from the NY Metropolitan area to Syracuse (or the greater area). I am in my mid thirties, married with a 1 year old daughter. As most people moving to the area, I think my biggest fear has to do with the weather / winters. With that in mind, in terms of neighborhoods, people have recommended staying south of the Thruway due to the amount of lake effect snow... And in lower areas... Can anyone speak to those statements? Are they actually true, or are people overstating folklore?
As it pertains to schools and "quaint" neighborhoods, I keep reading that FM and Dewitt are some of the better areas in terms of school districts, but due to the nature of my job, I am unsure that I will ever get to take advantage of those benefits (since my daughter is only 1), and looking into these neighborhoods may only be for potential resale value. Nonetheless, I am somewhat perplexed by the high taxes I keep seeing. While I think we are inclined to buy a "newer" home (1990+), the taxes on these properties are fairly high (even by NY Metro standards). Therefore, can anyone recommend some areas where these (taxes) are not as high, and which would still have a decent commute to the Syracuse University Area?
I also would want to add that we are not against buying an older fully renovated older home, but in cases where older homes are renovated (at least where I live), tax assessors are fairly merciless. By the way, it is not my intention to sound pretentious at all, but we currently own an older home, and the constant repairs are something that we do not want to have to do anymore.
In short, is there a good neighborhood that you can recommend where someone can find a (hopefully newer) house in the 350k range with taxes that will not be a lot higher than 10k?
I want to thank everyone who contributes beforehand, because I have been reading this site and have been finding a lot of useful information. Please note that if these have been answered before, I am re-asking because either years have gone by, or because I would want to hear your opinions regarding my particular situation.
So I may be relocating from the NY Metropolitan area to Syracuse (or the greater area). I am in my mid thirties, married with a 1 year old daughter. As most people moving to the area, I think my biggest fear has to do with the weather / winters. With that in mind, in terms of neighborhoods, people have recommended staying south of the Thruway due to the amount of lake effect snow... And in lower areas... Can anyone speak to those statements? Are they actually true, or are people overstating folklore?
As it pertains to schools and "quaint" neighborhoods, I keep reading that FM and Dewitt are some of the better areas in terms of school districts, but due to the nature of my job, I am unsure that I will ever get to take advantage of those benefits (since my daughter is only 1), and looking into these neighborhoods may only be for potential resale value. Nonetheless, I am somewhat perplexed by the high taxes I keep seeing. While I think we are inclined to buy a "newer" home (1990+), the taxes on these properties are fairly high (even by NY Metro standards). Therefore, can anyone recommend some areas where these (taxes) are not as high, and which would still have a decent commute to the Syracuse University Area?
I also would want to add that we are not against buying an older fully renovated older home, but in cases where older homes are renovated (at least where I live), tax assessors are fairly merciless. By the way, it is not my intention to sound pretentious at all, but we currently own an older home, and the constant repairs are something that we do not want to have to do anymore.
In short, is there a good neighborhood that you can recommend where someone can find a (hopefully newer) house in the 350k range with taxes that will not be a lot higher than 10k?
I want to thank everyone who contributes beforehand, because I have been reading this site and have been finding a lot of useful information. Please note that if these have been answered before, I am re-asking because either years have gone by, or because I would want to hear your opinions regarding my particular situation.
Again, Thank you.
The lake towns of Skaneateles and Cazenovia both have lower tax rates than most other Syracuse areas, though the property prices may be a little higher (especially Skaneateles). Both have 25-30 minute commutes to SU and have very quaint villages and good schools. Town of Skaneateles and Cazenovia tax rates are approx 2.5-2.9% (villages slightly higher), compared to rates mostly in the 3.4% - 4.5% range in many other desirable CNY areas. How "merciless" the tax assessors are will vary by town, but I would expect most towns to re-assess your home based on your purchase price (either up or down) within a year or two of you buying.
I wouldn't worry much about the snow -just plan on getting snow tires for your cars. The worst lake-effect snow is in a region called the tug-hill, north of Syracuse on I-81. That area is a little far out to be considered a suburb of Syracuse and there really isn't much housing stock there - it's very rural.
So I may be relocating from the NY Metropolitan area to Syracuse (or the greater area). I am in my mid thirties, married with a 1 year old daughter. As most people moving to the area, I think my biggest fear has to do with the weather / winters. With that in mind, in terms of neighborhoods, people have recommended staying south of the Thruway due to the amount of lake effect snow... And in lower areas... Can anyone speak to those statements? Are they actually true, or are people overstating folklore?
As it pertains to schools and "quaint" neighborhoods, I keep reading that FM and Dewitt are some of the better areas in terms of school districts, but due to the nature of my job, I am unsure that I will ever get to take advantage of those benefits (since my daughter is only 1), and looking into these neighborhoods may only be for potential resale value. Nonetheless, I am somewhat perplexed by the high taxes I keep seeing. While I think we are inclined to buy a "newer" home (1990+), the taxes on these properties are fairly high (even by NY Metro standards). Therefore, can anyone recommend some areas where these (taxes) are not as high, and which would still have a decent commute to the Syracuse University Area?
I also would want to add that we are not against buying an older fully renovated older home, but in cases where older homes are renovated (at least where I live), tax assessors are fairly merciless. By the way, it is not my intention to sound pretentious at all, but we currently own an older home, and the constant repairs are something that we do not want to have to do anymore.
In short, is there a good neighborhood that you can recommend where someone can find a (hopefully newer) house in the 350k range with taxes that will not be a lot higher than 10k?
I want to thank everyone who contributes beforehand, because I have been reading this site and have been finding a lot of useful information. Please note that if these have been answered before, I am re-asking because either years have gone by, or because I would want to hear your opinions regarding my particular situation.
Again, Thank you.
Keep in mind that you may not even have to go that high for a newer home in this area and taxes are usually shown without exemptions: RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List
Also, you can get to anywhere within the area within 20 minutes or so. Generally, the further north you go from the city, the more snowfall on average in the area, but it isn't like you go north of the city and it is white out conditions. It is more gradual or you don't really get impacted until you get north of say Brewerton or Central Square.
Jamesville-DeWitt and Fayetteville-Manlius are good and you do have people affiliated with Syracuse university that live in both of those districts. However, you can find and have people that live in other parts of the area or even the city of Syracuse, generally on its East Side or even some in what I call the "old money" neighborhoods in other parts of the city. Some may even live in places just inside of Madison County to the east in the Cazenovia or Chittenango areas too.
As for popular in the area and with some newer homes, the second and third ring places to the north/NW like the Baldwinsville area, Cicero(North Syracuse and Central Square), Brewerton(Central Square SD) and Clay around Route 31(parts are in the B'ville, Liverpool or North Syracuse SD's) would fit in that regard. Marcellus east of the village(in 13108 zip), parts of Onondaga Hill(13215 zip, parts of the Westhill, Onondaga Central and West Genesee, maybe in the Marcellus SD) and parts of Camillus(13031 zip) also fit.
If I can think of anything else, I'll try to post it.
Keep in mind that you may not even have to go that high for a newer home in this area and taxes are usually shown without exemptions: RealtyUSA - Property - Property-List
Also, you can get to anywhere within the area within 20 minutes or so. Generally, the further north you go from the city, the more snowfall on average in the area, but it isn't like you go north of the city and it is white out conditions. It is more gradual or you don't really get impacted until you get north of say Brewerton or Central Square.
Jamesville-DeWitt and Fayetteville-Manlius are good and you do have people affiliated with Syracuse university that live in both of those districts. However, you can find and have people that live in other parts of the area or even the city of Syracuse, generally on its East Side or even some in what I call the "old money" neighborhoods in other parts of the city. Some may even live in places just inside of Madison County to the east in the Cazenovia or Chittenango areas too.
As for popular in the area and with some newer homes, the second and third ring places to the north/NW like the Baldwinsville area, Cicero(North Syracuse and Central Square), Brewerton(Central Square SD) and Clay around Route 31(parts are in the B'ville, Liverpool or North Syracuse SD's) would fit in that regard. Marcellus east of the village(in 13108 zip), parts of Onondaga Hill(13215 zip, parts of the Westhill, Onondaga Central and West Genesee, maybe in the Marcellus SD) and parts of Camillus(13031 zip) also fit.
If I can think of anything else, I'll try to post it.
Thank you for the comments and responses. Some follow up questions (again, thank you beforehand).
Is the commute (even in the midst of winter) around 30mins from the towns you have recommended to SU? I can put this in google directions, but I am unsure how roads/drivers get once snow hits.
Also, when you state that the taxes in these houses are shown without exemptions... Can you elaborate as to what exemptions you mean? I have read a bit about STAR, but I am not overly familiar with it. Would it be fair to say that it will reduce my taxable property / assessment by 63k?
I had looked at areas like Lysander, B'ville and Clay, but people at the University advocated for staying within JD & FM; not sure whether there is a reason beyond the schools. I had heard great things about Cazenovia, but it seems to be almost a 45min commute to the job, and I am unsure whether I would be pushing it there with the Mrs...
You can also grieve your home assessment in regards to property taxes and there are income tax benefits in relation to property taxes that one could look into as well.
I think the suggestion about where to live has more to do with proximity to the University versus schools, as B'ville is a good SD and the other 2 are solid/good as well.
Even during the winter, unless it is a pretty bad storm, the commute isn't much different. So, it could be anywhere from 20-30 minutes, depending on where you are coming from.
I will say to not underestimate the Western suburbs/towns/school districts like Westhill, West Genesee, Marcellus, Skaneateles and even the parts of the Onondaga Central SD near those districts. Those are some of the best SD's in the area.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 12-11-2016 at 12:54 PM..
I much rather walk into something knowing what I am getting (and perhaps expecting something a bit better), than getting a high tax bill and hoping to grieve it down (may not always work).
You are right that proximity may have weighed on people's input. Personally, I think I am just getting a sense of objective opinions. Obviously, I would want to be in a good school system (and you seem to indicate that these all are), but commuting an additional 10 minutes won't kill me if I am getting a bit more for my money. Ultimately, commuting 20 or 30 minutes won't make or break me (I currently commute anywhere between 1/1:30 hrs each way).
I will look at the districts you are recommending too. I do not know anything about them (asides from Skaneateles), although this last one can be a little pricier than some of the other options I have been looking at. If you believe that Westhill, West Genesee, Marcellus and Onondaga Central are worth looking into (as well as JD, FM, Clay, Lysander, B'ville, Cazenovia and Skaneateles) I will certainly do so. Nonetheless, it seems like you advocate that academics are fairly close in all of these; if that is the case, the decision may come down to actual commuting time and perhaps the best possible "deal" to be had.
I much rather walk into something knowing what I am getting (and perhaps expecting something a bit better), than getting a high tax bill and hoping to grieve it down (may not always work).
You are right that proximity may have weighed on people's input. Personally, I think I am just getting a sense of objective opinions. Obviously, I would want to be in a good school system (and you seem to indicate that these all are), but commuting an additional 10 minutes won't kill me if I am getting a bit more for my money. Ultimately, commuting 20 or 30 minutes won't make or break me (I currently commute anywhere between 1/1:30 hrs each way).
I will look at the districts you are recommending too. I do not know anything about them (asides from Skaneateles), although this last one can be a little pricier than some of the other options I have been looking at. If you believe that Westhill, West Genesee, Marcellus and Onondaga Central are worth looking into (as well as JD, FM, Clay, Lysander, B'ville, Cazenovia and Skaneateles) I will certainly do so. Nonetheless, it seems like you advocate that academics are fairly close in all of these; if that is the case, the decision may come down to actual commuting time and perhaps the best possible "deal" to be had.
I'll say in terms of commute and quality, J-D would be first. You literally have areas of this district that are essentially walking distance from SU's South Campus housing area. Second may actually be Westhill's Onondaga Hill portion, as you could just drive across the Valley section of Syracuse take a left on Brighton, a right onto Ainsley Drive, a left onto Jamesville Ave which veers into Comstock Ave to the campus. Parts of the F-M district are either the same or a slightly longer commute.
With this said, from what I've seen, some of the newer homes in the West Genesee SD seem to show a relatively lower initial property tax. It is a bigger SD than the 3 above and is still a good quality SD with plenty of shopping.
Thank you for the comments and responses. Some follow up questions (again, thank you beforehand).
Is the commute (even in the midst of winter) around 30mins from the towns you have recommended to SU? I can put this in google directions, but I am unsure how roads/drivers get once snow hits.
Also, when you state that the taxes in these houses are shown without exemptions... Can you elaborate as to what exemptions you mean? I have read a bit about STAR, but I am not overly familiar with it. Would it be fair to say that it will reduce my taxable property / assessment by 63k?
I had looked at areas like Lysander, B'ville and Clay, but people at the University advocated for staying within JD & FM; not sure whether there is a reason beyond the schools. I had heard great things about Cazenovia, but it seems to be almost a 45min commute to the job, and I am unsure whether I would be pushing it there with the Mrs...
I live on the West side of Caz Lake, which is the side closest to Syracuse. I work downtown and my spouse works at SU. Both of our commutes are a little less than 30 minutes. Rush hour times can add 5 mins or so, but that's a relatively short window. Snow isn't normally that much of a factor. If we get a big storm, things may move a little slow, but they normally get the roads clear pretty quickly.
I believe the star rebate is equivalent to a $30k assessment reduction, provided you are not a high-earner. It's more if you're a senior citizen.
So based on your responses, in terms of commute, quality and school districts JD, Westhill's Onondaga Hill area, FM, West Genesee and Caz (western side) seem to be the ones I should start with; then on a second level I can look at Clay, Lysander, B'ville and Skaneateles. Does this sound accurate?
I will try to stick with the 350 range and see what I can find in those areas, if need be, I can always look elsewhere.
It does seem like the STAR program (as 9square states) will issue a credit for the assessment on 30k of the property. If the assessment is done based on purchase price, this is always a plus. Anyways, maybe a non-sequitur, but has anyone had any experience with foreclosures in the area? Considering the pricing, is it even worth to go into that world?
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