Scarsdale, New York real estate for sale

Scarsdale, New York real estate is in incredibly high demand for at least three reasons. First, this town of just under 7 square miles sits only 24 miles from Manhattan, so it’s ideal for those who commute into New York City. Next, Scarsdale’s school system is among the best in the nation. Finally, for daily quality of life, Scarsdale is picturesque, filled with charm and sophistication. Scarsdale real estate is extremely upscale, ranked among the most expensive places to live in the United States, and its attributes perpetually result in very high demand for homes.

Scarsdale is situated between Greenburgh to the northwest, White Plains to the northeast, Mamaroneck to the southeast, and New Rochelle and Eastchester to the south and southwest.

For generations Scarsdale has been home to the very wealthy and famous. Notable residents have included Liza Minnelli and mom Judy Garland, Beatles' wives Linda McCartney and Yoko Ono, and 19th century author James Fenimore Cooper. CNN Money ranked Scarsdale third in the nation on its list of "top earning towns" in 2011.

Shopping and Dining

Beautiful, Tudor-style brick buildings house the shops in Scarsdale's business district. Small shops are found on East Hartsdale Avenue, with some larger retailers on Central Avenue, including Trader Joe's; mall shopping is available in neighboring White Plains.

A pleasing variety of retailers serve Scarsdale residents, including Mayfair Court Ltd., an upscale women’s boutique, LF Stores for contemporary styles, Bella Flora for swimwear and resortwear, and Petticoat Lane for Handbags, pajamas and gifts. Wilson & Son Jewelers and Sam Lehr Design Jewelry both provide an outstanding selection of fine gems and jewelry. The Children’s Place sells clothing for children and La Dentelliere at Home offers European bedding and bath goods. Grocery and specialty food stores include Fresh’N Natural, Muller’s Deli, Patisserie Lulu and Sweet Tooth. The popular farmers' market is held seasonally on Saturdays at the Hartsdale train station, and Ramsey's Farm Stand has the distinction of being the last surviving farm in Scarsdale. Fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, are available here in the summer.

While many Scarsdale residents work in New York City, there’s no need to stay in the city to enjoy an excellent meal. East Hartsdale Avenue is home to a number of downtown restaurants, including a few with outdoor seating. Among the choices here are Harrys of Hartsdale, a bar and restaurant on the border of Hartsdale and Scarsdale that specializes in steaks and seafood; Vega Mexican Cuisine, a traditional Mexican restaurant; and BosphoRus, serving Turkish and Mediterranean fare. Pas-Tina's Ristorante, another Italian eatery, is just a mile or two into the town of Hartsdale on South Central Avenue. Some other favorites are these:

• Eastchester Fish for fresh seafood
• Tutta Bella Trattoria serves Northern Italian classics
• Tengda Asian Bistro for Japanese and Chinese cuisine
• Taiim Cellar middle eastern wine bar serves Middle Eastern fare
• The 808 Bistro serves Italian fusion fare
• Candlelight Inn dishes up American pub food and is popular for their wings

Parks and Recreation

Scarsdale has a dozen parks, including several ball fields, tennis courts, a tether ball court, sand volleyball court, and an outdoor basketball court. The municipal pool complex has a diving pool with 3 diving boards (12 feet deep), a large main pool with lap lanes (3.5-4.5 feet deep), an intermediate pool (2-3 feet deep) and a baby pool. There are also 3 nature centers, and an off-road section of the 12-mile Colonial Greenway Trail passes through Scarsdale real estate. Library Pond, behind the Scarsdale library, is a lovely place of flowering trees, green lawns and park benches.

Larger open areas in Scarsdale are Saxon Woods County Park, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, and Fenway Golf Club. Boulder Brook Equestrian Center is a fine facility. In addition to its facilities, Scarsdales’ parks department also runs a series of programs for the community, including a six-week summer day-camp program at the elementary schools for children 5 to 12 years old.

In neighboring Greenville, the 33 acres of the Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC) provide trails, a pond and gardens. Over 70,000 visitors come to the GNC each year. It is a significant wildlife habitat refuge, for both indigenous species and for the hundreds of migratory bird species that rest here on their spring and fall journeys.

Westchester County also offers parks near Scarsdale and Greenville. Ridge Road Park is a 236-acre park with walking trails, playgrounds and ball fields, and it includes the Miracle Field for children and adults with disabilities. The latter has a flat, cushioned surface and wheelchair-accessible dugouts.

Living

Scarsdale is Westchester’s most affluent community and Scarsdale real estate ranks among the choicest of New York City’s suburbs. While the immensity of Manhattan is a mere a half hour away by train, the town of Scarsdale maintains its English village ambience, chiefly by prohibiting industrial development. Alongside its ambience and beauty, Scarsdale consistently improves its educational facilities and maintains its amenities.

Scarsdale is renowned for its extremely upscale, exclusive housing which comprises many graceful Colonials and capacious Tudors from the pre-war period. Exquisitely manicured lawns and gardens are the norm. The median listing price as of late 2012 was about $1.5 million in Scarsdale, while the average sales price was around $1.3 million.

Scarsdale’s five neighborhoods each have their own flavor, but quality is the watchword. Fox Meadow and Greenacres have some of the oldest homes because they developed around the rail line in the 1920s. The Heathcote section contains many large estates, including some of the most expensive found among Scarsdale real estate. Edgewood’s homes occupy smaller, 50-by-100-foot lots and the Quaker Ridge area, largely the last to be developed, contains housing stock dating to the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.

Schools, Health, Transportation

Parents of college-bound students are highly attracted to Scarsdale Union Free School District, long considered “the cream of the cream of the crop.” SAT averages run more than 100 points above the national average, 4-year college placement runs about 97%, and Scarsdale’s schools offer their own demanding advanced placement. Called “Advanced Topics,” these classes emphasize critical thinking as well as factual content. The five elementary schools in Scarsdale are named for five of the town’s neighborhoods (Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote and Quaker Ridge), and the district also runs Scarsdale Middle School and Scarsdale High School.

Local or nearby private schools include the Immaculate Heart of Mary School (pre-K to 8), Our Lady of Fatima School (pre-K to 8), Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, a conservative Jewish day school (K-12) with its lower school in White Plains and upper school in Hartsdale; and the Maria Regina High School, a Roman Catholic school for girls.

The nearest hospitals to Scarsdale are White Plains Hospital and New York-Presbyterian/Westchester Hospital, both in White Plains. Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla is just over 7 miles away.

in Valhalla is just over 7 miles away. Westchester County Airport is a mere 8 miles from Scarsdale, while the three other major regional airports, La Guardia, JFK International and Newark Liberty are about 22, 30 and 41 miles away respectively.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at (914) 902-3270 or send us an email to explore your options and to find out when is the best time for you to make a move.