Compared to Chicago burbs... (New York, White Plains: houses, buy, movies)

[QueenPizza]

Hi there. My husband and I recently relocated from the Northshore of Chicago, a beautiful community about 15 miles north of downtown called Wilmette. Historic home, walk to town/30 min train to city, friendly and fun neighbors...it has been very tough finding something on par with what we've become used to. Husband works in Tarrytown, I'm starting my search in Westchester but likely will have to expand to NYC. Top of our budget is $800k, making things even tougher. Plus..we want another interesting historic home. No kids yet but two dogs who need a yard. We love going to breweries, hiking, art, seeing live music and are liberal politically. Open to "lower" rated school districts but understand that affects resale.

Anyone else out there make a similar relocation? Will there be more houses this spring? We've been exhaustively combing through listings, almost nothing has sparked our interest. Eyeing Ossining but what's with those taxes?!

Help!

[987ABC]

If your husband works in Tarrytown, and you don't work, than you can get much more house for your money if you move north. As you can imagine, you pay a high premium for good and quick commuting access to Manhattan. Since you don't need that, than don't pay for it. You may like some of the areas in northern Westchester near the river - Croton, Cortlandt, ect. Another option is Nyack - fits your requirements for a progressive area (my word, not yours). A lot of historic-type homes. The area is walkable. Schools are good, but not rated as high as some others because of economic diversity. But they are safe and the offerings are excellent. Don't be dismayed by the bridge. Commute from Nyack to Tarrytown is nothing. Much of what people consider bridge traffic is in the approaches. You won't need much access for them on either side. The bridge itself will move. your total commute each way might be only 5 miles. Another area in Rockland you may like is Piermont. South Orangetown schools are excellent, and you have very convent access to Manhattan when needed (off peak).

[koctail]

Why not just buy in Tarrytown? I see lots of homes under 800k there. I would avoid northern cities because then you will never visit Manhattan and will feel isolated..

[koctail]

Originally Posted by 987ABC

Much of what people consider bridge traffic is in the approaches. You won't need much access for them on either side. The bridge itself will move. your total commute each way might be only 5 miles.

The on-ramp in Tarrytown going to Nyack easily gets backed up a lot during evening rush hour. So this 5-mile commute could easily take 30 minutes. Use google to see if it can tell you historical averages..

[987ABC]

Originally Posted by koctail

The on-ramp in Tarrytown going to Nyack easily gets backed up a lot during evening rush hour. So this 5-mile commute could easily take 30 minutes. Use google to see if it can tell you historical averages..

A 30 minute commute is not that bad. And this would probably be worst case, although maybe not uncommon.

[rwch]

Pleasantville sounds about as close as you can get to your criteria in that price range and with an easy commute to Tarrytown (or White Plains/NYC). Mt Kisco and Katonah are a bit farther, but not bad options nor is Croton-on-Hudson which does great for historic homes but less well for walkable shops and NYC train time. Dobbs Ferry is tougher budget wise, but also worth considering and has a nicer NYC commute. Elmsford, Sleepy Hollow, and Ossining all trade off worse schools for cheaper housing, but I'd consider them far from the feel of Wilmette (closer to North Chicago/Waukegan vibe).

I'd think of something like Irvington, Larchmont, Scarsdale, or Hastings-on-Hudson more directly comparable to Wilmette, but equivalent homes in the New York area are significantly more expensive than Chicagoland. It's not impossible to find something walkable with a yard under 800K, but it is rare and you are probably making some significant compromises. Keep an eye out for eastchester schools just south of the station in Scarsdale, an older home a little south in Hastings, or a smaller place in Dobbs near Ashford and Broadway.

There is typically more inventory in the spring, but it's not a radical difference, the turnover in Westchester just isn't that high. Good luck.

[QueenPizza]

Thanks, everyone! Your feedback helps confirm what we were thinking. Fingers crossed a few more options are listed before we get into the dead of winter. We're in temp housing in downtown White Plains now, at the very least it confirms this is not really our vibe. (Although I'm a-okay being able to walk to the movies / grocery store, and the Bronx Parkway Greenway is great.)

[streetsmart]

Nothing is going to come on the market now. You're looking at February at least for the new spring market to start, with the bulk of listings coming on in March - May. It will depend on the weather too. A nice early spring = earlier market, lots of snow and people wait to list.

[rwch]

Holidays and early winter are pretty much dead time. If you want to move into something before April, you are very likely seeing all the options already.

[allanny13]

Pleasantville and Katonah would be good bets. Also Chappaqua and Briarcliff but your budget would be difficult.