Thoughts on Tarrytown (White Plains, Yorktown, Peekskill: apartments, foreclosures, renters)

[paulyc44]

I have seen a few threads on here about Tarrytown, but nothing substantial.
From what I have read, it seems to be a great historical, picturesque, quaint little town with decent schools and a fairly convenient communte to NYC where my wife and I work. At first I was looking more toward Croton-On-Hudson, but why go that far north when Tarrytown seems to have the feel we're looking for with nore reasonable prices.

Our budget is roughly $400K and we plan on renting for a year before buying a home. Seems like there are a great deal of options such as town homes, condos, and single family homes. Leaning more toward a condo or townhome.

What are your thoughts on Tarrytown?

[fyrisle]

I liked Tarrytown (nice village, nice views of Hudson) buy chose Croton-on-Hudson/Yorktown heights because they had better school scores.

[sdcity]

You cannot buy a decent single family home in Tarrytown for 400k. Otherwise it's pretty nice if you have the $$$

[paulyc44]

Originally Posted by sdcity

You cannot buy a decent single family home in Tarrytown for 400k. Otherwise it's pretty nice if you have the $$$

Hmmm... I have seen a handfull of listings with a 400K budget. I also am conifdent that prices have to come down so anything that is $450K now will be around $400K when I am ready to buy. Also, foreclosures will be part of the inventory when I am ready to buy in 2012.

Anyways, where do you suggest I look? A bit further North? Croton-On-Hudson?

[Dave the H.]

Originally Posted by paulyc44

Hmmm... I have seen a handfull of listings with a 400K budget. I also am conifdent that prices have to come down so anything that is $450K now will be around $400K when I am ready to buy. Also, foreclosures will be part of the inventory when I am ready to buy in 2012.

Anyways, where do you suggest I look? A bit further North? Croton-On-Hudson?

Some prices can be relatively low, but two things to be aware of:

* Taxes can be very high in T'Town, especially relative to the price of a house.

* Some of the nicer, less expensive homes are in the Tappan Landing area. However, you do have the sound of bridge traffic as a low hum, at minimum, nearly all the time.

But I like T'Town. We rented there, thinking we'd buy a house there...but decided to buy in Peekskill instead.

[paulyc44]

Originally Posted by Dave the H.

Some prices can be relatively low, but two things to be aware of:

* Taxes can be very high in T'Town, especially relative to the price of a house.

* Some of the nicer, less expensive homes are in the Tappan Landing area. However, you do have the sound of bridge traffic as a low hum, at minimum, nearly all the time.

But I like T'Town. We rented there, thinking we'd buy a house there...but decided to buy in Peekskill instead.

What made you go so much further north? Do you commute to NYC?

[fyrisle]

I think there is a wider selection of homes in your price range in Cortland Manor and Yorktown, both near Croton-on-Hudson. There are also homes in your price range in some areas further east such as South Salem and Somers but you would have to be willing to settle for a longer commute.

[sdcity]

Originally Posted by paulyc44

Hmmm... I have seen a handfull of listings with a 400K budget. I also am conifdent that prices have to come down so anything that is $450K now will be around $400K when I am ready to buy. Also, foreclosures will be part of the inventory when I am ready to buy in 2012.

Anyways, where do you suggest I look? A bit further North? Croton-On-Hudson?

I've actually visited several places in Tarrytown in my house search. 95% were very bad and the pictures didn't do them any justice! I did find 1 decent house but it went into a bidding war. Still I am sure the person got it under 450k and got a hell of a deal. So yes its possible, but not easy by any means.

Anything can happen by 2012, maybe Tarrytown will be more affordable. Foreclosures are very hard to buy right now especially in your price range, unless you pay in full cash. But maybe you will be luckier than I. Just make sure to be patient and don't get too invested in any one home.

I can't suggest any places to you without knowing more about your personality/circumstances. Personally I am young and have no kids, so two things are essential to me, more of a "city" feel and train commute times to NYC. For those reasons and my budget, White Plains appeals the most to me. I might go Tarrytown if I could afford it though (close to the TZ bridge reduces my commute time to work).

Generally, as you go further north, commute times increase, "city" feel decreases. Hope this helps and good luck!

[wordlife]

It really depends where you are looking in Tarrytown when it comes to prices. I don't know what the buyers market is like but I do know the renters market over there and it is kind of expensive at the moment. I feel like once that waterfront development is finished the rents may rise higher due to the fact there's supposed to be a movie theatre and some shops located around those apartments, but only time will tell.

[paulyc44]

Thank you all for your input.

I gotta let it out here. I am so friggin' frustrated and upset over how far out I am being pushed away from NYC with regard to searching for a decent 3 bedroom home in a nice area that is pretty for goodness sake! I don't want to commute 3hrs per day, but no matter where I search across the tri-state I can't seem to find the 3 most important things to my wife and I for our 400K price point.

I hope these rediculous inflated home prices deflate faster than an air matress when you open the latch. It's just not right. My wife and I, combined, make 150K yet we have to go 100 miles away from where we work. F it man, I aint buying didly until the market collapses. I hope it does because where it's at now isn't real. Sorry peeps, but it aint right - and I don't give a crap if people owe more than there house is worth. I worked hard to be able to be in a position to buy. All we want is what we worked for.

Phew.