Larchmont homes typically evoke tree-lined streets and mature neighborhoods. This area does not disappoint on any of these. The area is strictly residential – yet for the most part it is walkable neighborhood – many of the homes being a mile or less from the train station and parts of the village. Some areas are somewhat further from town – so walkability depends upon you precise location. But leaving the car behind is indeed an option for a large portion of this neighborhood. Because this is a long established neighborhood, Larchmont homes generally have a distinctive Old -World charm about them. Tudors seem to dominate the area although Colonials are very much in evidence as well. But don’t let the age of these homes fool you. Most of them have aged gracefully and boast many upgrades that can give you the best of both worlds: old world charm – with modern amenities. The lot sizes run the gamut from roughly 0.12 acres to over an acre in larger homes. In general, the homes close in to the village sit on smaller lots.
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Recently, I’ve had several inquiries from would be home sellers about whether now is the time to consider downsizing their home. Scaling back is never easy and should not be undertaken lightly as it means a significant change in your lifestyle, but from a financial standpoint, I would have to say that the answer would be a very strong “YES!” if you are a Larchmont homeowner.
In the midst of a national housing crisis many would-be sellers are sitting on the fence asking whether now is a good time to scale back into something smaller. This is particularly true of empty nesters or soon-to-be empty nesters. With real estate – as with all large ticket items – it is best to buy low and sell high.
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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.
There is a lot of competition with Westchester NY homes for sale. During this major housing recession we’ve learned that aggressively promoting the home from top to bottom is extremely important.
When I list a home I tell the seller a hard truth that permeates this market whether you are listing at the high end in Scarsdale or Larchmont to a small coop in downtown White Plains. That truth is that buyers are demanding and LAZY….Seriously, most buyers just don’t want to lift a finger to do anything. The thought of sweat equity has been left in the dustbin of the bull market along with no-doc, low-doc and stated income loans.
Given this atmosphere – where buyers are skimming the cream and leaving the rest – we think often of bringing in stagers to achieve a depersonalized move-in ready feel to a home. People make upgrades just to sell a home. New kitchens and baths are often installed just to appeal to buyers. But what about that all-important first impression? Before people even enter your Westchester home? Curb appeal is very powerful and if you miss out on plantings during this summer market – you are missing an opportunity – and perhaps leaving money on the table.
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When listing your Westchester NY home for sale - choosing a good listing agent is critical. One issue that you should consider in the selection is what kind of photographs they put into the MLS. Seriously, I am often shocked at what many agents seem to think is an acceptable presentation. Buyers are pouring over public facing versions of the MLS. Most will cherry pick the homes with the best photos and discard the rest. With many homes for sale at this time, the process of elimination begins on line. Poor photography means fewer showings and less offers. Its really that simple.
Photos should be warm – inviting and should include neighborhood photos so that buyers that are not purely local can get a feel for the area before even getting in their car.
Exteriors need to have curb appeal. I took these three pictures in Larchmont NY. One was of a house (not my listing) and the other two give the feel of the area immediately surrounding the home. Make no mistake – when listing your home a picture really is worth 1000 words…
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The aftermath of the tax credit had varying effects on Larchmont homes for sale.
In many ways – it was a story of two completely separate markets. Single family homes for sale in Larchmont were strong with prices heading upwards and sales volume virtually unchanged from 2009. But the cooperative market had slowed down significantly. Prices have stalled, but an underlying weakness in that market indicates further declines in store.
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Or at least miss out on that property you had your eye on….
Westchester NY homes for sale is a mixed market. But some indicators are starting to point upward. Last weekend I was out with more than one buyer who was surprised when they found a couple of homes they had their eye on already had offers and were heading for contract. I had warned them about the great bird in the hand on several occasions – but they didn’t listen. Buyers feel that there is no hurry right now and that is where they are wrong. The urgency is only felt after they lose out because they were overconfident of the strength of the buyers market.
The Irony of a Buyer’s Market:
When its a seller’s market – buyers wish that it were a buyer’s market – but they then proceed to snap up overpriced homes like they were hot pancakes. When its a buyer’s market – the buyer’s disappear or sit on their hands waiting for the deals to get “even better.”
Most buyers end up waiting until its too late and then we are back to a seller’s market….Where buyers once again complain that they wish they hadn’t missed the buyer’s market and snap up overpriced homes like they were hot pancakes. The perpetual cycle continues!
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I rarely set up a separate post to promote my open houses, but I thought I would do so this one time because…..
I am pleased to offer a raffle for a $25 gift certificate for the popular and well acclaimed CHAT 19 American Grill.
One of the most active hot-spots for fine dining in Larchmont NY (and more recently Scarsdale NY) Among Larchmont restaurants – Chat 19 is one of the busiest and after sampling the food and the comfortable ambiance, I can see why. I wrote a review of Chat 19 just few months ago. I had many a happy meal there with my father and his sister when she was in town. My Dad lived in Larchmont for 28 years and was quite a fan of Chat 19.
The Stonecrest – Larchmont NY is a wonderful pre-war complex – in an elegant Tudor style. It is a doorman building with a parking lot and garage – although there is a wait list for parking. Located just steps from the train and town. You can literally give up the car and walk to almost everything. The Larchmont to Grand Central Station commute is just over 30 minutes – making this slice of suburbia more convenient to work than some residential locations in Manhattan. The video below gives a great feel for the complex and the unit.
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Larchmont Property underwent a downturn over the past year. Traditionally, this market had been quite resistant to recession forces however, the crash of 2008 brought prices down. But while it brought prices down those lower prices brought out buyers – particularly in the single family home market. Always desirable for its schools, easy commute and great location, homes for sale Larchmont NY are always in demand. Inventories are relatively low when compared to the rest of Westchester.
Larchmont NY Cooperatives:
At first glance, it appears as if cooperatives in Larchmont underwent a significant price increase over Q4 2008. But that didn’t square with comperables in individual complexes. Looking closer, there was a descrepancy in the number of 1 BR vs. 2 BR units sold. So much so that it skewed the numbers. Instead of prices being up over 18% – when I compared 1 BR coops from Q4 2008 to Q4 2009 – prices were actually down over 22%. Inventories are consistant with single digit depreciation with about 8 months of overhang on the market. Sales volume remained steady over the previous year – which is a positive sign in spite of the price drop.
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