Page 25 - Westchester Relocation Guide 2021

Brenan Pothetes and Mimi Salcedo (and their pets) are embracing suburban life in Ossining.
the number of people making the daily Metro-North roundtrip has dropped off dramatically, and the longer train ride doesn’t loom as large in buyers’ minds. Towns like Yorktown Heights and even Cortlandt or Garrison are becoming an option, because, Welch explains, “The commute is not as much of a concern these days; buyers aren’t as worried about it as many will be working remotely.”
Perennially popular areas, like Larchmont, Rye, Chappaqua, and Scarsdale, are also still very much in demand, adds Elwell of Douglas Elliman. “The towns that have always have had strong demand kept surging in demand,” he notes.
Elwell also believes some of the old rules do still apply. “Proximity to Manhattan is still king,” he says. “The closer towns to Manhattan have traditionally been more desirable, and I don’t see that changing. What’s selling well now is what’s always sold well in Westchester.”
There is growing consensus among agents that the types of homes and amenities that are hot right now have changed across the board. The new crop
of buyers seeking refuge from the city in light of the pandemic have embraced a “more is more” philosophy.
“The trends have been turned on their heads for sure. Previously, everyone wanted in-town living and a smaller footprint; they didn’t want a large yard to take care of,” Doern explains. “Now, it’s no longer less is more. Buyers want the home office; they want room for
in-laws or grown children to stay; they want a big property and a pool and access to outdoor activities.” Tennis courts, outdoor kitchens, paddocks, basketball courts, and gardens are other hot outdoor amenities, according to a recent web survey done by Houlihan Lawrence.
Ample interior space is also on the top of everyone’s wish lists these days, adds Knief. “Buyers want room for kids to play, homework areas, workspaces, Zoom rooms, etc. Houses with a home office or two, already in place, are selling at a premium.”
Adds Elwell: “We are definitely seeing buyers interested in a little more space than normal. If they were thinking of buying a three bedroom, now they want to get a four bedroom and use the fourth bedroom as an office.” And, Anover notes, “People are looking for spaces where everyone can congregate, like a media room to watch movies or a big kitchen where you can cook for the whole family.”
Whatever home suits a family’s needs — and whether they prefer the Sound Shore, a Rivertown, Northern Westchester, or somewhere closer to Manhattan — it’s clear the Westchester suburbs are the new hotspot.
Always-popular Scarsdale has remained a strong contender for Westchester house-hunters.
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