Yonkers vs Stamford - where would you buy a condo or coop? (White Plains: HOA fees)

[INTLWorld]

I've been looking around both Yonkers and Stamford for a 2bd rm condo or co-op to spend a max of 175k. I did the math and it's cheaper to buy a place than rent. I'd also like the option to sublet, but it's not a requirement. I normally from home, and go to clients, so the second room would primarily be for my home office or computer and desk. I'd like around 1k sq. ft. and a balcony as well. I do not know either area very well, but I know Stamford a bit better. I know Stamford is safer too. The taxes and HOA fees seem to be the same for both, so there is no issues there. Yonkers condo's can be 50k cheaper though. Rather not select White Plains, as I'll run into my ex-wife all the time. Wasn't amicable; though I tried.

Open to ideas and suggestions.

[Nancy-NJ-NY-ME?]

Yonkers and Stamford are two really different places. Where do you want to live - NY or CT? Yonkers has a lot going for it, especially is you need / want proximity to NYC.

Yonkers' housing choices are large and diverse. There are urban-ish areas, as well a scenic. One edge is along the Hudson River. Traveling north along Broadway / Route 9 will take you to the northern to the quaint "river villages" of Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown.

As you work from home, I may want to identify neighborhood and area aspects that are important to you. Then see which locale offers the most.

[vladlensky]

The only thing I'd note is that the city of Yonkers levies a personal income tax of around 3-4%, which is not insignificant and should probably factor into overall COL.

In terms of neighborhoods, the Greystone portion of Yonkers along the Hudson is generally pretty nice, it borders Hastings-on-Hudson and has a dedicated train station and parking. Not sure about shuttle/bus service, though. Westchester has a Bee-Line service which does serve certain train stations in the county.

We also looked in Stamford when shopping for a house and there were a lot of good condo options. Ultimately the relative traffic along I-95 corridor and the New Haven line led us to Dobbs Ferry which is just a little north of Yonkers. I'd suggest checking out some of the rivertowns for condos as well, which you may preferable to Yonkers yet still in a comparable price range, factoring in income tax etc. Good luck in your search.

[allanny13]

Avoid the Yonkers city tax, Stamford does not have one (and has much lower property taxes as well). I think it's probably a more desirable city as well, you even get beach access in the summer which is a random nice perk. If you need to commute to the city Stamford is a hub with many express trains.

[wp169]

Did you look in Hartsdale, or is that too close to WP? I would never move into Stamford with all the traffic on I95, it's one of the busiest traffic corridors in the entire nation, I think it's in the Top 3. I travel north into CT. about four times a year, and hitting that I95 traffic going south into Stamford comng home is bad enough infrequently. I start getting stressed a few days before the trip just thinking about it. The Merritt Pkwy is no better at rush hour. I would rather pay the Yonkers tax than put up with it everyday, lol.