Westchester View

A few days ago  I wrote about the return of retail to Larchmont NY.  I mentioned the newly opened HomeMade Pizza Co. as one of the new comers to the Palmer Ave. in Larchmont.   I hadn’t actually had the time to sample the pizza – but what I heard was all good!

Well, Hurricane Irene came and went – and during the prep I turned to a couple of friends of mine for help.  The day before the storm hit my friend Ed, helped me prepare the house, doing some of things I lacked the skills and brawn for.  After tussling with a hornets nest – literally – I was in definite need of some aide.

Soooo this week I decided to thank them by bringing a great bottle of wine and a wonderful pizza right to their door.  I went to HomeMade Pizza Co -  and they created a fresh beautiful pizza for me to bring to them. Within 10 minutes I was on my way.  We followed the very simple instructions – baked it in the oven on the parchment paper provided -  and a few minutes later we had some of the freshest pizza I had ever tasted…We had the Miesian – totally awesome!

HomeMade Pizza Co. lives up to its reputation…You can order online or by phone and in a few minutes you can pick up your pie.   When you are ready, you bake at home in your own oven.   They also have a fine assortment of salads.

© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.

Today I found myself on the River Walk with a friend that I hadn’t seen for a long time in Tarrytown.  Sadly, my photos on the River didn’t work out because my camera was on the wrong setting.  However, on my way home I decided to check the progress on the Tarrytown Train Station.

The Train Station is just steps away from the new development  Hudson Harbor – a new luxury condo development that is selling very well.  The renovation at the train station has been part of bigger project to revive the river front.  Various development projects have been springing up along the Hudson including the River Walk which is meant to run along the Hudson River from the northern tip of Westchester County in Peekskill – all the way to the border of the Bronx in Yonkers.   You can see my photos of the Yonkers portion of the River Walk as well as the some pictures I took of the Tarrytown River Walk earlier this year.

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The Larchmont real estate market has been going great guns for Q2 2011.  Larchmont homes have a special place in the public mind.  Whether it be in the Larchmont Village proper or the Larchmont P.O.,  when families think about putting down roots for a long stay – this is one of the first Westchester NY locations  on their list.  And who can blame them?  An easy commute to Manhattan, walkable neighborhoods steps from shopping and fine dining combined with proximity to the Long Island Sound – what could be better?

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Ok – So I admit it, I have been so busy revamping parts of my website and redoing my database that I am shockingly late on market reports for the area for Q2.  Being true to my pathetically geeky self -  I don’t just pull the stats from the MLS because I feel that  local differences are very important in this market – so all the data is actually culled by me personally…Think of it as knitting your own sweater by hand vs. buying it off  the rack and hopefully you will consider the numbers worth the wait.

First up are Scarsdale houses.  In general, Scarsdale real estate is very resilient. The Scarsdale single-family home market is no exception.   When I refer to Scarsdale in the SF home market, I am directly referring to the town (municipality) of Scarsdale which includes homes only within the Scarsdale schools.   The Scarsdale PO which includes areas such as Edgemont, and parts of Yonkers and Eastchester are a market unto themselves.

A Scarsdale house has done very well over the past 2 years.  Median price was $1,113,000 in Q2 of 2009 at the height of the bear market and has risen steadily through 2010 and 2011 to  $1,295,000 and $1, 468,000 respectively.  That’s a nice 13% increase over Q2 2010 – not bad for a big bad bear market!

Sales volume has taken a similar path with volume rising steadily – totally shaking off the ending of the tax credit.  going from 36 total sales in Q2 2009, to 44 sales in 2010 and 61 sales in 2011.  Once again – not bad for a bear market.  Scarsdale houses have pretty much shrugged off the bear.

If you look at inventory the market indicates about a six month inventory which is neither bull nor bear.  Nevertheless all other indicators are actually up – not down or flat.

With almost all sings bullish – this is a strong market and buyers have to be realistic if they want to buy into this market.

©2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com  – All rights reserved.

These are photos that I took at Manor Park in the summer of 2009 – It was a beautiful summer day – hot but dry and I had my pal Jade with me.  I’m checking out a new video program as my program of choice – Animoto has such poor customer service that I have been forced to move on. I loved the way they put stills together into a terrific slide show that was really over-the-top.  It was easy to use and fun to work with.  But it didn’t play nicely with Word Press on the internet explorer  browser – which 80% of my clients appear to use.   Their customer service refused to address this issue  and then wanted a nice stiff fee to upgrade service to professional.  That would be fair enough if they would FIX what is wrong.   Why would I do that if 80% of my readers have a hard time viewing the videos?   So now I’m trying something new…Hope you like it.   This is my first attempt with this slide show – so forgive the lack of polish…Manor Park is terrific.  A wonderful place to spend some time taking in the boats the water and the general scenery.

Meanwhile – note to Animoto – fix your system before you try to strong-arm money out of people.  You’ll find that if you twist arms for money without providing any service – you will be sorely lacking in customers.   Animoto had a great platform – but it needs to work on all browsers or chasing people for money won’t work.

©2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.

When Westchester NY home buyers start thinking about high end cooperatives in a walkable neighborhood with easy access to Metro-North – they think almost reflexively of Garth Road in Scarsdale P.O.    And with good reason.  The train is a mere 5- 10 minute walk as is the village of Scarsdale.  You have tree-lined streets, lots of parking (admittedly mostly street parking) and numerous complexes, many of which  pre-war charmers with high ceilings and high ceilings and wonderful layouts.

But just a little to the east you have virtually the same thing in Larchmont NY -  though this area remains a bit under most buyers radar.    Nevertheless there are a cluster of wonderful cooperatives  and condos located on North Chatsworth Ave., Washington Square and New Jefferson.  The complexes along this one square block  are just steps from the train and about 2 blocks from the heart of the village.  You can easily leave the car  behind for most shopping and fine dining.  NYC is 35 minutes away on the New Haven Line.   Larchmont is also an express stop during peak hours which is an added bonus.

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First some bad news – rents in our area are headed north – in a big way:

In recent years, renting has become the new thing to do.  Sort of a post-modern version of “shabby chic”  that was so popular in the 80s  that I remember in high school and college.    Since the beginning of the recession in 2008, rents have been low which has been a wonderful  gift to  former home owners who had sold their homes by doing the unthinkable….bringing money to the closing table.  They needed a break – and ironically, just about the only break this terrible recession gave anyone was in the form cheap rent.
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One of the nice things about living in Westchester NY is that every town and village  has its own events and unique character that all Westchester residents can enjoy.  Larchmont NY Homes are very popular because of all that the village has to offer.     This summer Larchmont’s Memorial Park is hosting concerts at 7 PM every Monday from July 11 – August 1.    Granted the first concert has already passed us by – but there are three more:

July 18 – A Night of R&B with Reunion
July 25,  Caribbean Rock & Roll with Twist of Fate
August 1 – Woodstock Here We Come with Back To The Garden 1969

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The Stonecrest Cooperative:  21 North Chatsworth Ave – Larchmont NY:

BACK ON THE MARKET AFTER FULL BATHROOM RENOVATION!

Since this listing has its own page with its own domain name – I did not create a new posting for it.  So this is just to announce that the unit is back on the market after undergoing a complete bathroom renovation.  The price is very competitive and the location nothing short of ideal.

The complex is located in an area that is  the Sound Shore version of Garth Road in Scarsdale or downtown White Plains.   In fact, anyone looking for a condo or coop  in these locations would be well advised to take a serious look at the coops and condos on  North Chatsworth Ave. generally. Located steps from the train, fine dining and shopping it was rated a “Walkers Paradise” by Walkscore.com.  You really can leave the care behind!  Larchmont is an express stop on the New Haven line  – just 35 minutes from Grand Central Station.

Below are some photos of the interior of the unit – which is large in size has high ceilings and ample closet space and wonderful views.

If you would like to learn more about this listing including the affordable cost of living, a video and links to many more photos you can click here TheStonecrest3C.

© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.

For the last two years I have posted a July 4th  holiday calendar and judging by the number of people  viewing and the phone calls – it has been a huge success.

It’s not too early to think about the 4th of July Weekend – heck it is almost upon us.  There is no need to go to Manhattan  for great 4th of July fireworks and events – Just look at these Westchester events  chock full of fireworks.  Save gasoline and stress and forget the city this year.  There is plenty to do in your own back yard and you save gasoline and stress.

A NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR – TAKE IT WITH YOU ON YOUR SMART PHONE!

Use the QR Code at the bottom of this page and  have these great events with you all weekend – where ever you go.  Go to QuiQR to get this feature for your smart phone if you don’t already have it.

Village of Mamaroneck Fireman’s Carnival:
Harbor Island Park – Mamaroneck Ave and Boston Post Rd.
Begins Tuesday  June 28  7-11 PM .  There is a parade on June 29th and fireworks on July 4th.  The event continues through the 5th of July.
This is the Fire Department’s annual fundraiser.  But the event itself is special and fun for ALL.
Independence Day Celebration  – White Plains
White Plains High School – North St. between Bryant & Ridgeway
June 30 6-10 PM
A fun filled evening of  inflatable rides, entertainment  and fireworks.
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