Moving to Westchester (New Rochelle, White Plains, Rye: apartment, houses, purchase)

[gbook2]

I start a new job in NYC next month and my family and I have been planning a move down there. We have a 4yr old and a 1yr old and currently live in West Hartford, CT. WH is a great place to raise children but very few job opportunities up here. We're looking at Westchester so we can live in a house instead of apartment and hopefully live in a town with good schools.

Our range for a house is 475-500k, with ~12k/year in taxes. We've been looking at New Rochelle, but are also considering other communities. We're basically looking for two things: jewish community and good schools. Hopefully we'll also find a place not on a busy street. I guess my definition of "good school district" is one that is safe and can adequately prepare my kids for college. I don't care if the schools are competitive or have 100s of AP classes. Average curriculum and safety are my concerns.

What towns meet those criteria? Is it realistic to find a sub $500k house in a good school district near synagogues?

[jimboski93]

I can't help you on the location of synogues, but my fiance and I are just completing our home purchase (in White Plains) and can offer some pointers. Moderator cut: No promotion of personal blogs, please.

Our budget was pretty similar so here's what we found:
White Plains / North White Plains - good schools, affordable taxes, nice areas to live - also some not nice areas. Home prices start in the mid-$400k range, but more likely $500k+. North White Plains can be cheaper.

Elmsford - cheaper, with lower taxes than WP. Areas not necessarily as nice, and schools are referred to as okay.

Scarsdale - very expensive houses and very high taxes. Great place if you can afford it with great schools.

Hartsdale - also high taxes and not a lot of lower priced houses.

[ponytrekker]

Not a lot in your price range unless you are looking for a fixer upper or a smaller house.

For a tiny house in Hastings on Hudson, you're looking at 500k. Maybe 5 houses in Chappaqua fit that bill.

[bg7]

You can try the Larchmont side of Mamaroneck. There are houses in that part of Mamaroneck for 500K or less (not the Rye side of Mamaroneck, the houses there are more expensive because of the different school district). There is an active synagogue on the corner of main street in Larchmont and the school district is shared with a chunk of Larchmont so your kids will likely go to the same schools as some of the people at the synagogue. The school district certainly meets your stated criteria. The synagogue is a 5 min drive. Good luck.

[jjinla]

$500K max with $12K in taxes in Larchmont? Unless you want to be on a really busy street or live in a house under 1200 sq. ft. (if even that) I'd scratch that off the list.

Even homes in Mamaroneck or Rye Neck in that range are going to be in the run-down sections near the train or in a flood-prone area.

With that budget, I'd go north. Anything in that range in a heavily Jewish area is going to be tiny.

[bg7]

jjinla - I didn't say Larchmont, I said "the Larchmont side of Mamaroneck". There are multiple houses around 500k or less. See Trulia.

[bg7]

here's one on Palmer ave.
389 Palmer Avenue, Mamaroneck NY | MLS# 3122002 - Trulia

here's one on Bishop - close to the railway, but at least its a short walk to the station!
316 Bishop Place, Mamaroneck NY | MLS# 3123917 - Trulia

Of course if you want to be IN the heavily Jewish area, rather than close by it, these places won't meet the bill. But at $500K, you'll probably have to make some compromises.

[jjinla]

What the heck is the Larchmont side of Mamaroneck? Either way, both of these homes are nowhere near Larchmont, and are indeed shoeboxes. People coming from NYC might put up with that for a family of 4, but West Hartford?

Also, make sure to check FEMA's flood maps. Not sure about the one on Palmer but I'm fairly certain that the one on Bishop gets water regularly...the whole area near the station and Fenimore was impassable after Irene and the following rain storms.

[czarinalex]

Come up to Yorktown! There are many houses in the 2000sq ft range in the $400's. Taxes will be about 10-12K. Our school system is excellent, the town is very family friendly and the commute from the Croton train station is about 60 minutes to grand central.
We are not Jewish but many of our children's friends are. There are at least 3 different synagogues in town.

[bg7]

jjinla - Mamaroneck is in between Rye and Larchmont. There's a Larchmont side of Mamaroneck and a Rye side of Mamaroneck. Results in two different school districts and pricing. Its not a "what the heck", its straightforward.

The OP is looking for, to quote "a sub $500k house in a good school district near synagogues". They've already looked in New Rochelle. I gave them a link to houses meeting those basic criteria right nearby, 15 mins from New Rochelle.

I thought this was about the OP, not some Larchmont status-anxiety.