Buying a Home in Westchester County
Three things about buying here surprise people arriving from elsewhere. The mansion tax lands on the buyer, not the seller, at a threshold that in Westchester is an ordinary family home. The inspection usually happens after an accepted offer but before contracts are signed, so you spend that money earlier with less commitment on both sides. And if you’re looking at a co-op, there’s a board package and an interview that can add weeks and can be declined without a stated reason.
What you get working with me: a shortlist of towns that genuinely fit your commute and budget, the full cost picture before you make an offer rather than at closing, and properties previewed before you see them so your weekends go to real contenders.
Selling a Home in Westchester County
Pricing in Westchester is town-specific and often village-specific. A county-wide figure tells you very little about your street, and the first two weeks on market are when your buyers are actually paying attention — a listing that sits gets re-read as a problem.
What you get: pricing built on what’s closing in your village, professional photography and drone footage, staging through StagePoint, and an honest number rather than the one that wins the listing appointment. If your buyer pool is likely to include people also looking in Connecticut, I can tell you how your house compares to what they’re seeing over the line.
Home Staging in Westchester County
StagePoint is our in-house staging service, for occupied and vacant homes alike. Staging is part of how I list a house rather than something you have to go and arrange yourself.
The reason it matters: your photographs are the first showing, and most buyers decide whether to book a visit from them. In a market with as much inventory competition as Westchester, spending on the thing that drives that decision is usually the highest-return money in the sale.
Want the full market report for Westchester County?
We want to ensure that you have all the information needed to make the best decisions when it comes to your home goals. When you enter your info below you will get instant access to the area's latest market report, complete with sales and demographic trends.
News and Advice
Read helpful resources and articles related to the area.
5 Negotiation Moves That Help Sellers Win in …
Even in a competitive market, selling your home isn’t just about getting an offer - it’s…
What It Really Costs to Sell Your Home …
When you sell your home, everyone wants a piece - agents, attorneys, inspectors, the town clerk,…
Is Now the Right Time to Sell in …
Data SaysLet’s be honest — every seller right now is asking the same question:“Should I sell…
Areas We Serve in Westchester County
Westchester divides most usefully by which Metro-North line serves it, because that decides your commute more than distance does. Three lines run through the county.
- New Haven Line — The Sound Shore
- The eastern edge of the county, closest to the Connecticut border, and the same line that serves Stamford. If you’re comparing Westchester against Fairfield County, these are the towns to compare.
- Rye — coastal, at the top of the county’s market, with a walkable village centre
- Larchmont — a compact, walkable village with a strong waterfront community
- Mamaroneck — a working harbour town with more housing variety and better value than its neighbours
Harrison — larger and more spread out, with West Harrison and Purchase inland
New Rochelle — the most varied market on this line, from downtown high-rises to large lots in the north end
Port Chester and Rye Brook — the best value on the Sound Shore, right against the state line - Pelham and Pelham Manor — small, close to the city, strong village character
Harlem Line — Central Westchester
Inland and running up the middle of the county. Generally the shortest commutes in lower Westchester, and the furthest reach into the northern towns.
- Bronxville — a small, prestigious village with one of the shortest commutes in the county
- Scarsdale — among the most expensive in Westchester, and known for its schools
- Tuckahoe and Crestwood — smaller and more affordable, with the same line access
- Hartsdale and Greenburgh — mixed housing, including a substantial co-op and condo market
- White Plains — the county’s urban centre, with condos, apartments and a real downtown
- Pleasantville, Chappaqua and Mount Kisco — village centres with more land, further north
- Bedford, Katonah and Armonk — the northern towns, with acreage, horse property and the longest commutes
Hudson Line — The River Towns
Along the Hudson, with river views and a distinct character from the rest of the county.
- Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington — walkable villages on the river, each with its own small downtown
- Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow — historic, walkable, with a growing restaurant scene
- Ossining and Croton-on-Hudson — more house for the money, with a longer ride
- Yonkers — the county’s largest city, the widest price range, and the most varied housing stock
- Peekskill and Cortlandt — the northern end of the line, the lowest prices in the county
Not sure which line or which village fits? That’s the conversation worth having before you start touring. Tell me your commute tolerance, your budget and what you need from a town, and I’ll narrow it to two or three.