No sidewalks? How can you.. (Buffalo, Yorktown: sales, rental, house)

[movingnorth2]

Living in NYC, I'm so used to going out and simply walking... especially when you have kids, you put them in the stroller and .. well... stroll. We visited some towns in Westchester.. but they don't have sidewalks. So one always have to drive?? What if you just want to go for a walk? Do you have to drive somewhere and then walk? It seems sooo strange to me. We love a house we saw in Yorktown but again, no sidewalk and on what seems to be a busy road.. I don't imagine one could walk on it, Old Yorktown Rd near Comprond. How do you handle this?

[dma1250]

I moved from Brooklyn to Yorktown and I understand your concern. Actually, I specifically did not want to be on a street with sidewalks because they all look so 'suburban,' which I simply can't handle having been born and bred in the city. I really wanted a more rural feel. So we bought on a very quiet, country road with no sidewalks. Our street is mellow enough to walk on, which we do often (and I used to push the stroller up and down the hills). We also can walk from our property to state-owned woods behind us, which is great.

But if you're on a busy road and aren't adjacent to woods, yes you'll have to drive to walk. As strange as that may sound, you get used to it and even grow to appreciate it--our weekend walks our now a major highlight and we plan where we want to go. There is an amazing array of gorgeous places to walk (and bike) in northern Westchester and I really love being able to choose where to go depending on our moods and what we feel like. In Brooklyn we always took the same walk or we had to suffer through the subway (not fun with kids).

If the house you're thinking of is on route 132, you should be close to Downing Park, which is adjacent to the huge FDR Park which has loads of walking trails (one of which is very stroller-friendly). You're also very close to the North County Trailway, a linear bike path that runs 20 miles and goes right through Yorktown.

You'll find that getting the kids in and out of the car is incredibly easy compared to strollers, buses, and subways. Especially in bad weather, being able to comfortably drive anywhere is a major plus.

If giving up sidewalks is too much to bear, look in Croton or Katonah. They are very walkable but still have easy access to beautiful preserves and nature and are not suburban or dense.

Check out this blog for more information on events and places in upper Westchester:

Northern Westchester Home

Good luck.

[movingnorth2]

thanks for your reply, I see you post here often and I always find your information helpful. I visited Yorktown and thought it was beautiful and since then have read lots about it and talked to a few residents. They all rave about the town, especially about family oriented activities/facilities and schools. So we found the house we want to live. The deal started as simply a rental. Now the owner wants to include an option to buy to the contract. He wants to fix the price now, which I find quite high based on research. On top of it, now after 6 months we will have to tell him whether or not we want to buy the house. And if we don't, he wants to start showing the house again while we are living there. Is this totally crazy or normal?? I'm upset because I looked at a lot of homes and found "the" one. I'm ready to close on the rental deal and all of a sudden I find myself negotiating a lot of things. The house showings I find particularly annoying, given we are finally leaving NYC for some peace and quiet and now in 6 months Ill have strangers coming in and out of my home? And I have little children.. these showings are going to get on my nerve. If we decide to buy, then we'll be ok but what if we don't?? Is this an unusual request or it does happen? Is this reasonable?? Sounds like this owner is desperately trying to sell before prices go down...which I understand... but I want to rent! The house is lovely and it might work for us but I just want to live there first for 1 year, the whole point of renting first. Asking $550K for a 1850sqft, 4 BR, family room, 2 (1 1) Bath on a busy street... nice level property... any thoughts? i feel compelled to pursue this rental but, boy, are they asking for a lot...

[Viralmd]

Where our house is, in Bedford Hills, it'd be odd to actually HAVE a sidewalk. This comes with living in the 'burbs.

[dma1250]

Movingnorth, thanks for the compliment. I'm not a realtor so I can't say what is usual or not. But I personally would not agree to having realtors show a house you are renting--that sounds totally unacceptable. And I wouldn't agree to a purchase price now in case you want to buy in 6 months. If the owner won't rent without both of those conditions I'd find another house. Not knowing the house, the price you mention sounds pretty good based on my sense of what has been selling lately. Good luck.

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by movingnorth2

Living in NYC, I'm so used to going out and simply walking... especially when you have kids, you put them in the stroller and .. well... stroll. We visited some towns in Westchester.. but they don't have sidewalks. So one always have to drive?? What if you just want to go for a walk? Do you have to drive somewhere and then walk? It seems sooo strange to me. We love a house we saw in Yorktown but again, no sidewalk and on what seems to be a busy road.. I don't imagine one could walk on it, Old Yorktown Rd near Comprond. How do you handle this?

Living in Buffalo (Erie County), I have always walked on sidewalks in (my) city. Almost immediately upon entering neighboring towns, the sidewalks basically come to an end. I don't like that.

[Natalpaz]

It is normal for the owner to want to pursue the sale of the house while tenants still live there. It is, however, completely unreasonable to start showing the house 6 months before the lease expires, 2 months seem to be more commonly accepted timeframe. In my last rental deal we had a clause in contract that advertising and showings will take place in the last 60 days of the lease.
As to the fixed sales price - I would never agree on that. From your description $550,000for this house seems high to begin with, and in a year the prices might be lower than right now. I'd go back with a simple 1-year rental agreement.
Hope this deal will work out for you - good luck with it!

[K&F]

Does he have a current appraisal? done by a licensed appraiser? I think a future sale would be based on appraised value at the time of sale (or close to it).

I wouldn't make this deal and if you're not comfortable with so many aspects of it, you have to think that your relationship with this landlord will not be a walk in the park - and having a good relationship with who you are renting from is important.

I'd keep looking.

[Kevrltr]

The owner is looking for too much. Find something else somewhere else if he will not be more reasonable.

Get an agent that represents you to help with the negotiations.

All the best
Kevin O'Shea