Yorktown Heights, NY (New York, Mount Vernon, White Plains: sales, broker, home)

[house shopping]

I say again... My opinion, based on fact. Yorktown Hights IS overrated and most definatly overvalued. Obviously cause prices have already begun to fall. Fall it shall do some more too! paying $5-10K for taxes for a school district that is not that much better than ones in the immediate area is the real "silly" thing IMHO. I guess to each his/her own though. My point is again, mmmmmnyah its alright I guess.... Yorktown hights is just alright for the amount $$$ you would spend on a home and taxes. I assure you that there are many other great places in the area within the same distance of the city despite what the poster sais. lots of other great areas for less money but you just have to shop around.

whats happened in Ohio was never suggested would happen here. however, the price will drop alot more that it has already in Westchester. only the begining. 08 will be a great test year. we shall all see

[dma1250]

Originally Posted by house shopping

I say again... My opinion, based on fact. Yorktown Hights IS overrated and most definatly overvalued. Obviously cause prices have already begun to fall. Fall it shall do some more too! paying $5-10K for taxes for a school district that is not that much better than ones in the immediate area is the real "silly" thing IMHO. I guess to each his/her own though. My point is again, mmmmmnyah its alright I guess.... Yorktown hights is just alright for the amount $$$ you would spend on a home and taxes. I assure you that there are many other great places in the area within the same distance of the city despite what the poster sais. lots of other great areas for less money but you just have to shop around.

whats happened in Ohio was never suggested would happen here. however, the price will drop alot more that it has already in Westchester. only the begining. 08 will be a great test year. we shall all see

Well, we can just agree to disagree. For my money, Yorktown Heights offers almost the same (or in some cases better) commute time and the same if not better lifestyle as it's neighbors Chappaqua, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, and Croton, all of which are more expensive. And the schools are certainly as good as those in the above mentioned towns. So, for me, it is indeed a bargain compared to its neighbors. But you can disagree.

As for price drops proving that a place is overvalued, that argument could be made for any town in Westchester since prices have dropped across the board. Prices are dropping because people are waiting to see what the market will do next--especially in the city (where they continue to rise). Whether it is undervalued or overvalued, Yorktown Heights is still a bargain compared to the surrounding towns.

[house shopping]

Originally Posted by dma1250

Well, we can just agree to disagree. For my money, Yorktown Heights offers almost the same (or in some cases better) commute time and the same if not better lifestyle as it's neighbors Chappaqua, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, and Croton, all of which are more expensive. And the schools are certainly as good as those in the above mentioned towns. So, for me, it is indeed a bargain compared to its neighbors. But you can disagree.

As for price drops proving that a place is overvalued, that argument could be made for any town in Westchester since prices have dropped across the board. Prices are dropping because people are waiting to see what the market will do next--especially in the city (where they continue to rise). Whether it is undervalued or overvalued, Yorktown Heights is still a bargain compared to the surrounding towns.

Im not really disagreeing with you... I see what you are saying for the most part. But your facts are a bit off. Just a bit. Like schools and commute times. I wonder do you currently own a home? if so is it in Yorktown hights?
I don't own a home and as the name implies I'm shopping. but you are right... I am waiting to see whats going to happen. I would think its pretty obviouse. It will be dropping just no one has a crystal ball and say how much of a drop and how long it will take to reach the bottom. Like most I hope to get in at the right time. Timing is everything.

Troubling to me is that you are now comparing yorktown school system with chappaqua and others??? or do I misunderstand you... also Yorktown has a moratorium on buildings due to the overdemand and underdesigned sewage treatment as well as other civil services that are lacking. This however you can pretty much expect from northern westchester and the putnum areas. The only thing that I was saying is that paying 10K taxes on a typ. $350k home is foolish. everyone knows that the taxes in yorktown is high. even if you can somehow proove that its all in the schools (its not). Personally I think something is mis-managed. again to each his own. As for me... I may end up in Yorktown and that would be perfectly fine IF the price is right. they aren't so I aint lookin there! and as a result many aren't either...

[dma1250]

The Yorktown moratorium is due to the residents' desire to severely limit and control development. YH is essentially "built-out" and we want to be sure that the minimal amount of future development is done right. Neighboring Cortlandt has had a moratorium for years and years for the same reason. The Yorktown moratorium will be in place until the new "comprehensive plan" (which controls and limits all future development) is finalized. The recent election saw the victory of Democratic candidates (to the Town Supervisor position and council member seats) who were anti-development. The residents are very concerned about making sure that what makes our town special--it's open space and great beauty--is protected. Fortunately the town added a few hundred acres to it's already sizable amount of protected land in just the last year.

The sewage system issues have to do with the fact that YH is in the watershed, and everything must meet new State and Federal guidelines and be approved by the city and state. The new sewage plant will solve those problems. But, like most of northern Westchester, the majority of homes have private septic systems--only the few right in town are on the sewage system, so it is not an issue that affects many residents. There is absolutely no build-able land in the small area covered by the system, so I don't know where you get the idea that the moratorium on new development is related to it. I can't think of any other civil services that are "lacking." Also, the median home price in Yorktown Heights is $550,000--not 315.

And yes, I am saying that the Yorktown school system is as good as those in Croton, Chappaqua, Katonah, etc. It is a remarkable system. Check out the scores on goodschools.net--perfect 10's. It's one of the only systems with separate primary and elementary schools and it is know to educators in the area to be one of the most innovative and effective systems around. The test scores aren't as high as Chappaqua's, but that is one of Chappaqua's failings--they teach to the test and are only concerned with scores and college admissions--not actually teaching kids.

I feel like you and I could go at this for ever. So I think I'll stop responding now. But it has been fun...

[house shopping]

hmnnn, there are plenty of homes in Yorktown Hights in the 3-400k range...NOOOOO... YH schools do not compare to Croton, Chappaqua, Katonah. Than to say that Chappaqua teaches to a test is beyond me. Sounds like its something someone who cant afford the area would say. Is it possible, maybe as testing upholds standards. BUT, after the standards you have to teach these kids otherwise the paying parents will not go for that. Thats BS.

I wonder, I am non-bias as I am shopping for a town to buy in. So- I'm not conncted to YH. However, I have asked dma1250 to tell us if he resides in YH. Seems to me he/she does as there seems to be an underliying agenda to play up YH. As I have said YH is a good place to live but to compare it to areas mentioned and say its as good with perfect 10's NNNNNOPE. To say its more than 30 minutes more to putnum county border NNNNNOT. There is an agenda because he/she lives there. we can compare one thing though... in yorktown Hights you WILL pay as much taxes as Croton, Chappaqua, Katonah

Again, Yorktown hights mmmmmnyah its alright I guess

[house shopping]

ok I think my point is proven here.

[dma1250]

Originally Posted by house shopping

ok I think my point is proven here.

Did you make a point? I must have missed that. I said I'd stop responding so I did. In fact, you haven't said much of anything in any of your posts so there isn't anything to respond to. You obviously aren't very familiar with Yorktown Heights or its schools, so there isn't anything to say to you other than to spend some time here, see the variety of areas and amenities, and visit the schools.

I will say that I have stated that I live in Yorktown Heights in at least 20 posts, so I didn't see the need to restate it. I "talk up" all of northern Westchester on this site whenever I can because it is a fabulous, undervalued area. I have never said anything that I did not truly believe. And I truly believe that anyone who compares the houses, prices, taxes, amenities, and schools of Yorktown Heights to those in the neighboring towns will agree that it is a bargain.

[house shopping]

Bargain? ha! my point is proven here. All of what you spew is bias (Because you reside there)non-informational and meant to play up the area. I have driven the area and even spent a few days in your town, talked to the locals and went to the schools and it is way overvalued IMHO.

Since you say I have not made any points let me list them for you. perhaps this way you may comprehend:

1. taxes for an inexpensive 300K home in YH can reach a whopping $10-12K OUCH!
2. Schools in some Yorktown areas equate to Cortland and schools in YH equate to white plains (where taxes are typicaly $5000). Looking at reports, visiting the schools, talking to administration, having insider information will confirm this for you.
3. schools in katonah/lewisboro, chappaqua, Bedford, pound ridge are far superior to the schools in YH. and guess what you pay the same taxes here.
4. The distance to the putnum border is within 5-7 minute drive and taxes come down $5-$7000 yearly. WOW!
5. Commute to the city from YH (unless you are in mid town) is senseless and would take over an hour.
6. Moratorium exists in the town due to mis-management issues. Mis-management of open space, civil services, sewage treatment. All real serious issues.

There are more, shall I go on?

Finally, I would say that when you live in any given area/town you tend to start to glaze over the troubled spots and issues. Of which Yorktown has its share. Its obvious to me that the poster here is trying very hard to sell us on YH. Even with all of its problems, sure its a nice place to live. However, what I said all along is that for the money you are better off in the neighboring towns. I sure hope that clarified it for you. I tried to make it as short of a list as possible for you... However, there are many points to make. Somehow I don't believe that you will be gettin' it! I think that the polititians could use a guy like you. Have you tried running for public office?

[dma1250]

As I said, you've made no points since every single thing you wrote is wrong.

The median house price is 550K and the median property taxes are closer to 7K. Homes that sell in the 800K to 1.5K range will have taxes around 12-14K, depending on the age of the home and amount of property.

The schools are far superior to Cortalnd or White Plains by any measure. By any measure they match those that you mentioned. I am an educator and researched the school extensively before choosing YH.

The Putnam border is 15 minutes from Yorktown Heights, not 7.

The commute to the city is indeed an hour, but that is shorter than the commute from most of Katonah/Lewisboro or Bedford and Pound Ridge.

The morratorium has nothing at all to do with management issues. It is about controlling and minimizing growth and preserving open spaces.

I am not sure what your beef is with the town, but you obviously know nothing about what life here is actually like or what the town offers. You are clearly one of those people who simply enjoys spewing venom.

[dma1250]

And another thing...if you are going to say that anyone who lives somewhere is biased and shouldn't be listened to you, then the entire funtion of this board is null and void. I come here to hear what residents of different areas have to say about living there. I am certainly going to give more weight to a resident who actually knows the area than to a hysterical basher. One can only hope most people will have that much sense.