Introduction

Nestled in the heart of Westchester County, New Rochelle is a charming and vibrant city that has been attracting an increasing number of people seeking a suburban lifestyle while still being close to the excitement of New York City. Known for its picturesque waterfront and historical landmarks, New Rochelle offers a diverse range of housing options that cater to different budgets and lifestyles. In this blog post, we will explore the various aspects of New Rochelle housing, from its affordability to the types of homes available, and why it’s considered a hidden gem in New York.

Affordability in New Rochelle

One of the most appealing aspects of New Rochelle is its relative affordability compared to the nearby areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn. With median home prices in New Rochelle around $660,000, this suburban community offers a more budget-friendly alternative to the skyrocketing prices found in other parts of New York. The city has also seen significant growth in recent years, with new developments and revitalization projects increasing property values and rental rates. As a result, New Rochelle has become an attractive investment opportunity for both first-time homebuyers and seasoned investors.

Types of Homes

New Rochelle boasts a diverse selection of housing options, including single-family homes, condos, co-ops, and apartment complexes. Whether you’re looking for a charming Victorian, a mid-century modern, or a sleek new construction, the city has something to offer everyone. Some popular neighborhoods in New Rochelle include:

1. Wykagyl: A historic and upscale neighborhood with large, stately homes and a country club.
2. Rochelle Park: Known for its charming tree-lined streets and picturesque homes, this neighborhood is perfect for families and first-time homebuyers.
3. Residence Park: A desirable neighborhood with a mix of well-maintained older homes and new construction properties.

Amenities and Transportation

New Rochelle offers a variety of amenities and recreational opportunities, including several parks, marinas, and golf courses. The city is also home to a growing arts and culture scene, with numerous galleries, theaters, and festivals taking place throughout the year.

When it comes to transportation, New Rochelle is well-connected to New York City and other parts of Westchester County. The New Rochelle train station provides easy access to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, with a commute time of approximately 30 minutes on the Metro-North Railroad. Additionally, major highways like I-95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway are easily accessible, making travel within the region a breeze.

Conclusion

With its beautiful scenery, diverse housing options, and convenient location, New Rochelle is truly a hidden gem in New York. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer looking for affordability or a family seeking a suburban lifestyle, this city offers a unique blend of qualities that make it an ideal place to call home.

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Photo by NY Times

New Rochelle is located in lower Westchester County. It is a city of roughly 80,000 people. It was started in 1688, over 300 years ago.

There is a large variety of housing in New Rochelle including single family homes, 2-4 family homes, multi-family apartments and condos/coops, and a variety of commercial interests mixed throughout the city. It is mostly suburban. The single-family homes were mostly built in the early to mid-1900s with varying architectural style. The northern portion of New Rochelle above Hutchinson River Parkway has more split-level homes built in the mid-1900s.

There are portions of New Rochelle that front the Long Island Sound, which is the body of water to the eat of Westchester County. Some of these homes are large with fantastic water views. Water views make appraising challenging as there are very few homes to compare too. Sometimes, there are no recent sales and historical appraisal data is used to determine water view adjustments.

New Rochelle also has a small Downtown area with some high-rise buildings that are mostly residential in nature. Downtown New Rochelle is near the train station and Highway 95, which runs north and south on the East Coast of the United States.

I love appraising in New Rochelle. Every home I see is different.

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We all know that feeling…

When you finally found your dream home after months of searching and almost giving up. It is indeed an exciting and happy time, but finding the perfect house isn’t a “home run” just yet. It’s more like the first base really. After all, buying a home is a huge step in most people’s lives! It is a process with certain steps that must be taken carefully. It may seem daunting at first, but if you as a home buyer ask the right questions and get the necessary the help, then you can make the process smoother.

Examining Mortgages and Appraisals

Unless you have the cash stashed somewhere, the next logical step for you to take is to get a mortgage. Don’t worry… you are not alone. The majority of buyers in the US market apply for a mortgage when they are purchasing a home. In most cases, before a bank or lending company grants your request for a loan, they require an appraisal to be made on the said property.

But what is an appraisal? Who does it? And why is it necessary?

To answer these relevant questions, here are the 5 basic facts every home buyer must know about home appraisals:

1. Banks and lending companies almost always NEED an appraisal before granting a loan to a home buyer.

But why?

An appraisal is an opinion of market value of the home or real estate property. The bank want to assure that the home is at least as valuable as the contract price.

But why do banks need this assurance?

Unfortunately, it is a known fact that not all buyers can fulfill their mortgage obligation. Borrowers, for whatever reason, may stop paying the bank the promised amount at the set time. When this happens, the banks may try to salvage their considerable investment by trying to sell the property. But if the property value turns out to be way less than the amount that the bank lent to the borrower, then the bank loses! Lending thousands or millions of dollars comes with this risk, so banks need a way to secure their investment. This is why an appraisal is so important to them. Remember that banks want to make sure their investment is secure, and the appraisal is key to that security.

2. Certified independent appraisers do the appraising NOT the bank.

Because an appraisal essentially protects the bank’s investment; they normally would order the appraisal. However, despite making the order, they cannot execute it. The appraising is done by a third party to ensure appraisal remain objective, neutral, and accurate.

This leads us to the next fact.

3. Appraisals may protect home buyers.

Even though the appraisal is ordered by the bank, the buyer can get a copy of the appraisal and review it. Many contracts have a mortgage contingency or appraisal clause, stating the buyer can get their earnest money back if the home does not appraise for a certain amount. This helps buyers if they offered to pay too much. They can move on or try to renegotiate if the appraisal value is lower than the contract price.

4. An appraiser is not some random Joe.

You cannot just get your uncle to verify the market value of a home just because he is a contractor, a flipper or in the real estate business. In fact, real estate agents, even those who are at the top of their game, cannot take over the appraising process.  Appraisers are highly-trained professionals who are certified or licensed by the state. We have gained a specific set of skills, knowledge and experience that enable us to value a home in a fair and objective manner.  Appraisers are regulated and are required to get continuing education. Misleading and biased reports do not go unnoticed or unpunished. So, trust that most appraisers are doing their best to perform their job because you are not the only one looking after them.

5. You don’t have to conduct your own independent appraisal

Based on our experience, you probably do not need a separate appraisal in most cases.If a buyer has a real estate agent, the agent should be able to educate the buyer regarding sales in the neighborhood.If for some reason, the agent is not able to do this, then yes – it might be a good idea to get an independent appraisal. 

Another scenario where an independent appraisal may be helpful is when the subject property is unique and/or there are very few similar homes that have sold recently. This would take in depth analysis that goes beyond what is typical. In this case, an experienced appraiser may be able to do this for you. It is also important to note that if you wish to have an independent appraisal, this report will not be accepted by the bank. The bank has to order the appraisal by someone on their approved list.  

Final Thoughts:

The appraisal process is not a hurdle for home buyers. Just as it is useful to the bank or lending companies, it is also incredibly beneficial to home buyers.

A home is one of the largest purchases, so it would make sense to determine what a fair market value is.

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 Photo by NY Times

Scarsdale is village in lower Westchester County. The population is approximately 18,000. It was founded in 1788. There is a large variety of homes throughout Scarsdale. Most of the homes are completely custom built in the early 1900s and in the last 15 years. Many of the older homes have been scraped to make way for larger, newer homes.

The average and median sales price is around $2M at the time of writing- 09/2022. The average days on market is well under 60 days with a low number of listings. Appraising in Scarsdales can be challenging because every homes is different and many of them are very large. In addition, they range widely in value depending on the size, site, location, quality, and condition.

The village has its own train station and access to nearby highways to access Manhattan and other nearby towns.

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Photo by Skitterphoto from Pixabay

Bang For The Buck

When appraising homes, I am asked all the time about hypothetical improvements to the home. For instance, “is it worth it for me to add a remodeled kitchen or should I add a bedroom?” Most of the time, I am not there in a consulting roll, so I cannot offer advice on what to do with their home to add the most value. I am there to appraise the home for a different reason. Still, I think they are all great questions. What does add the most value to a home versus the cost to do the project? There have been numerous studies and articles written on the topic. Here is one article that addresses some of the best and worst investments:

Six Best and Worst Home Improvements For Your Money

First off, it depends what market you are in and what the market expects. Adding a fifth bedroom in a market where all the homes are two bedrooms is not a good use of funds. I like to look at it from a typical buyer’s perspective. Most buyers like what they can see – kitchen, paint, baths, curb appeal, landscape, etc. There are other buyers that are focused on the mechanicals, roof, windows, electrical, and foundation at the beginning, but they are the minority. These items are typically addressed in the inspection. A new furnace is nice to have, but does it add more value than a 5 year old furnace that is functioning well and has been taken care of–NO? Most of the time, items like a furnace or a roof need to be in average or better condition and the buyer will consider them the same. They can’t see the cost down the road. It is interesting because these are the things are needs, while things like a remodeled kitchen are wants.

From appraising thousands of homes, I can say that the “wants” are the items that bring the highest ROI. Buyers love new kitchens, newbathrooms, updated flooring, clean landscape, and updated paint if they are done in a neutral style. However, they must be upgraded to the standard of the market. A completely custom kitchen with high end appliances in a 600 sf ranch home has a lower ROI than the same kitchen in a neighborhood of custom homes. In addition, the updates have to be done in an appealing manner. I have walked into homes with brand new kitchens and baths, but they are not appealing to the masses. Most buyers either won’t buy the home because of it or will want to redo the entire kitchen and baths. If you are going to do something that is not common and has a unique color pallet, make sure it can easily be changed or that you are going to enjoy it for a long time. Otherwise, it will have a very low return on investment if any return.

So, focus on the items that are highly visible in the home that will immediately attract the most viewers and buyers. We live in the internet age and if the photos are of a beautiful kitchen and baths, it is going to attract more people and most likely, a higher price. I know I take them into account when appraising homes and the prices reflect the upgrades. I almost never see photos of the brand new furnace or the new roof. They are necessary concerns, but as long as they work and have a reasonable usable life, most buyers care far less about these items.

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Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

Is Basement Square footage Counted During Appraisal?

As an appraiser, I am constantly asked, “is basement square footage counted” or “is part of the total square footage”. When doing a residential appraisal on a single-family home, basements are excluded from GLA or Gross Living Area in most markets. This is the total square footage that is completely above grade on all four sides. However, the basements do add value and are “counted” and adjusted for separately. You just won’t see them in the GLA. There is a separate section. There are several exceptions. Bi-level, raised ranches, and split levels have lower levels that are garden style sometimes. In order for a good comparison, the lower level is typically included in the GLA even though it may not be completely above grade on all four sides.

The major reason for separating the two is that basements and finished basements add far less value than above grade square footage. Above grade square footage has more light and typically has easier access to most parts of the house. People tend to want to spend their time above grade in these areas more than in basement. However, some basements add tremendous value depending on the quality of the finish. In many areas, walk-out basements almost feel like they should be counted in the GLA. There are elaborate wine cellars, spas, game rooms, bars, and bedroom suites.

Most of the time, a buyer is willing to pay more for an extra square foot above grade than in an extra square foot in the basement. The adjustments to each area reflect this. If basements are worth a lot in certain markets, the numbers should and will reflect that. I appraise in New York. The majority of the basements are in older homes with lower ceilings and dated finishes. These do not add near the value that a brand-new finished basement would.

So, in short, they are counted, but differently than one might think.

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