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Im a 35 year old single mother of 2 sons. I currently live in the Bronx and work in Stamford Ct. I've been considering purchasing one of the AFFORDABLE Fox Island townhomes on Fox Island Rd and Alto Ave. Without such price consideration, I would not be able to afford to purchase a home at all. While I acknowledge that Westchester County taxes are relatively high; I am very concerned given the unfavorable information I've learned so far about the school system in Portchester. I have a high school student and an elementary school student. Is anyone familiar with the zoned high school and elementary school for this development. I would like to look into the schools. As you can imagine, the school system is very important in terms of my decision to move to Portchester. I am also interested in afterschool programs if any should exist.
My price range is $225,000. Does anyone think that there is a possibility of me finding a single family, 3 bedroom home in Westchester County considering the current market. There are some new developments in Yonkers; however, the area is even more questionable that Portchester. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
I don't think there's ANY such home for $225K, even in Yonkers, and certainly not in Port Chester for that matter.
I'd say that Port Chester schools are better than Yonkers or the Bronx, their main issue is a fast growing Hispanic immigrant population that has strained the budget for ESL services and thus affected budgets in general. I wouldn't put them on a level of say Scarsdale or Chappaqua for sure (just to name two "elite" districts), but then again you have to be rich to afford those kind of districts sadly.
The sad fact of this part of the country is that if you want to live in a decent school district, you either have to be making 6 figures or have your whole family in a 1-bedroom apartment. Even in "poor" school districts like Yonkers or Mt. Vernon, $225K might get you a 3 bedroom co-op apartment at best. Compared to most areas of the country, this area has not softened as much, kind of amazing given that we were about as unaffordable as California.
Because you live in Stamford and taxes are cheaper there, you might consider Fairfield County, though to get affordability you'll still need a long commute. $225K might get you a 3 bedroom condo in Danbury (and that's still probably way pushing it); it would definitely get you one in Bridgeport, but schools would be a problem. East and north of Bridgeport, you start seeing something remotely resembling those kinds of price levels in reasonable school districts; but also it would be commutable distance-wise, it wouldn't be if you work "regular rush hours" as the traffic in that area rivals that of Los Angeles.
Thanks for the feedback, It is greatly appreciated. I will look further into the elementary and high schools zoned for the Fox Island townhomes.
Best Wishes to You.
Yeah, I live in Mt. Vernon in one of the nice suburban areas near Bronxville where you're OK for elementary school but not beyond, so when my kids get to that age in a few years not sure I'll even be living in this area at all as it's just too unaffordable unfortunately. Personally I think unless it is in a real rotten neighborhood or the school is rundown or one where your kids would "stick out" and be uncomfortable I'd grab that Port Chester deal by the horns, especially since you work in Stamford, which is close (which I meant to say in my previous post instead of live in Stamford).
While there are certainly differences between school districts, there's also a lot of "microanalyzing" in these parts between districts and the people talking up how good and bad schools are usually make the kinds of incomes where they can make that choice without much struggle or stretch.
That's what im thinking in terms of seizing this opportunity. I looked up the zoned elementary school, which happens to be a magnet school. Board of Ed stats were not too bad. I am not very familiar with the Portchester area at all, so I would really need to begin familiarizing myself with the area, crime rate, etc. It's in a perfect location considering my job in Stamford and my family supports in the Bx. Wish me luck. Again, thanks a million.
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