Help! White Plains transfer/need home nj or ct or ny? (Ossining: house, school district)

[Sccrown]

I could really use some city-data advice: my husband is being transferred to White Plains, and we are concerned that our housing budget may prohibit us from finding a home with good schools. He is willing to commute up to an hour. Price range for homes = upper 400's. We love the idea of walkable community but are willing to forget that as long as the house is updated/renovated with lots of families. I am from the south, so I know absolutely nothing about commutable areas in Ct, NJ and NY. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

[jjinla]

Before you are set to a housing budget, make sure you factor in our property taxes, which vary wildly but would be around $10k for that house in any good school district.

NJ is out of the question as you would need a bridge, and southern is out of your range. Maybe northern Westchester, but that's pushing it for a updated house.

[Sccrown]

Thanks JJinla. Any thoughts on Danbury and New Fairfield, CT?

[jjinla]

I'd post on the CT board for that. I'm not sure what traffic is like getting to either, but the 95 is horrific.

Would your husband consider living way north on the Harlem line to take the train to work?

[kletter1mann]

Look up along the I-684 corridor. There are lots of people commuting to WP from Danbury, Bethel, etc. Consider also Putnam county.

[richrf]

Originally Posted by Sccrown

I could really use some city-data advice: my husband is being transferred to White Plains, and we are concerned that our housing budget may prohibit us from finding a home with good schools. He is willing to commute up to an hour. Price range for homes = upper 400's. We love the idea of walkable community but are willing to forget that as long as the house is updated/renovated with lots of families. I am from the south, so I know absolutely nothing about commutable areas in Ct, NJ and NY. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Hi,

I have been searching for a place in Westchester for some time. I think your best bets are probably around Port Chester or Ossining. I am currently living in Chicago but have been actively hunting for a few months now. I have a very good realty agent who gave me complete access to Listingbook which is a great and comprehensive MLS service for Westchester. DM me if you would like her name.

[jjinla]

Both of those areas are predominantly Hispanic and have just OK schools. Not sure that is what she is looking for. If you don't need a NYC commute and are tight on $$, stay far away from lower Westchester.

[kletter1mann]

Originally Posted by jjinla

Both of those areas are predominantly Hispanic and have just OK schools. Not sure that is what she is looking for. If you don't need a NYC commute and are tight on $$, stay far away from lower Westchester.

+1.

The commute from Ossining would be a completely unnecessary PITA. And Port Chester doesn't make any sense on any level.

LOOK NORTH. Especially if you're from the south. The farther north you go the more normal people become and all the bad things you hear about NY begin to diminish - less rush, less rudeness, less aggressive behavior, less ostentatious keep-up-with-the Jones'. Cheaper too.

[Sccrown]

Thanks so much!

[jimazee]

Looking north sounds good for you, at least to consider. Include Putnum County and north of Danbury areas to start. Brewster is one place to look, there are plenty of others. While you are at it, appreciate how the Internet has improved the process of doing such a search, and how we now take it for granted.

Regardless of where you look, try to evaluate commuting during expected hours, and consider the weather factors (it does snow here...). Oh, and as others suggest, taxes and even energy costs should be evaluated, as the budget tightens. Talk to locals or use this board as you hone in on possibles for more real world info. Good luck.