White Plains, New York real estate for sale

White Plains real estate attracts residents to the city’s great blend of urban amenities and suburban neighborhoods. White Plains is an affluent, highly livable area that serves as Westchester County’s seat and the business hub for the county’s nearly 950,000 residents. White Plains is only 25 miles north of Manhattan, and while many commute to New York City, White Plains is a strong office and retail center.

White Plains, with a population of about 56,000, is a midsize city that boasts a full complement of urban amenities plus attractive living options both downtown and in the suburbs. During the day White Plains swells to 250,000 owing to workers, shoppers, and visitors. White Plains has a trio of major malls and a vibrant, renovated downtown with excellent restaurants, boutiques and nightlife.

Downtown White Plains has developed into a hub for high technology firms, large corporations, and three institutions of higher learning, (Pace University, Berkeley College, and Mercy College). The city’s revitalized downtown is highlighted by the more than 3000 residential housing units constructed or now in process.

Shopping and Dining

White Plains real estate offers an array of shopping options – and unlike many midsize and even some large cities where commerce has largely moved away, its best venues are downtown. With 109 stores, the Westchester Mall has stores ranging from Nordstrom to Nike to Victorinox Swiss Army. If you prefer a smaller mall, the Galleria at White Plains is a downtown mall that fits the bill, with “only” 85 stores. The Source at White Plains, completed in 2004, is a sizable, urban-style retail complex, featuring Fortunoff’s upscale jewelry and home goods, Dick's Sporting Goods, Raymour & Flanigan, Whole Foods Market, and The Cheesecake Factory. And, into its 1.1 million-square-foot retail, entertainment and residential complex, The City Center at White Plains easily fits a Target, Barnes & Noble and New York Sports Club with full aquatic and tennis facilities and other businesses.

White Plains’ dining options are excellent and numerous. Some local favorites include Sushi Nanase, but you will definitely need to make a reservation if you want to enjoy the Japanese fare at this eatery voted No. 1 in Westchester/Hudson Valley. Gaucho Grill Argentinean Italian Cuisine offers memorable, artistic flavors and presentations and they have valet parking. Attentive waiters and complimentary tasting plates before your meal begins add to the ambience at Mulino's of Westchester.

Parks and Recreation

White Plains has about 20 parks including the new Bark Park, where resident dogs are welcome to run and play. Baldwin Farm attracts those who want to plant a garden plot and learn to grow their own vegetables. The White Plains Ebersole Ice Rink at Delfino Park attracts skaters during the winter, while Gardella Park with Kittrell pool is a wonderful way to keep cool on summer days; both parks have a basketball court and playgrounds. Gillie Park is a much-loved, multi-use flagship park that offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Liberty Park is popular for picnicking at beautiful Silver Lake. For exercise or to be enveloped by nature’s beauty, Ridgeway Nature Trails provides a wooded walking trail reaching from Gedney Way to Scarsdale, while Saxon Woods (maintained jointly by the Westchester County Department of Parks and Recreation and the City of White Plains) is the city’s first artificial turf soccer/lacrosse field.

Living

White Plains is an economic dynamo itself and the home of many who commute to America’s most famous business center, New York City. As the seat of Westchester County, White Plains has a great story of its own when it comes to jobs. Besides government, it is home to a series of large corporate offices and it has an entrepreneurial spirit (it's also the birthplace of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg). But life goes beyond work, and White Plains residents love the city's new bike paths, enjoy its excellent parks and three golf courses, and take runs on the trails at Silver Lake Preserve, to name a few local highlights. White Plains also stages a number of popular special events like the July 4th Fireworks extravaganza and New Year's Eve Ball Drop. The city is home to some notable cultural organizations and venues, including White Plains Performing Arts Center, White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival, the Music Conservatory of Westchester and ArtsWestchester.

When you consider its easy access to mass transit, major highways, a wide variety of housing options and its excellent schools, White Plains real estate is a compelling choice for families, singles and retirees. As of 2012, the median home price in White Plains was about $472,000, and while White Plains is certainly an upscale market, actual sales prices vary widely based on location and amenities. Homes at a variety of price points are available in each of White Plains’ eight zip codes, and increasingly, with the growth of mixed-use condominium buildings, downtown is a desirable residential district.

Schools, Health, Transportation

White Plains Public Schools administers schools for over 6,000 regular and special education students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district runs nine schools and spends 2.5 times the national average per pupil, and its reputation draws new residents to White Plains real estate.

Five elementary schools serve students in kindergarten through 5th grade; each school has a particular theme or focus. Interestingly, elementary and middle school students attend particular schools based on the Controlled Parents' Choice Program rather than where the child lives. Students in 6th - 8th grade attend one of the two White Plains middle schools. The same core academic curriculum is offered at both schools but they differ in size and structure. Students in 9th - 12th grade attend White Plains High School which offers around 300 courses, including Honors and Advanced placement courses in all academic subjects. The school has a state-of-the-art media center, tennis courts, a pool, and a new artificial turf stadium with an eight-lane track. Students can choose among more than 50 clubs, performing arts groups and numerous athletic teams.

The Community School is available for students in grades 7th - 12th who perform better in a smaller, differently structured environment.

White Plains has two fine hospitals. In July of 2012, White Plains Hospital was named one of New York’s top hospitals by U.S. News. It offers a full range of medical treatments including emergency services. New York-Presbyterian/Westchester Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Many White Plains residents commute to New York City via the Metro North rail line. For bus service, the Bee-Line System provides bus service within Westchester County, the Bronx, Manhattan and Putnam County. Bee-Line has over 60 routes and is the second largest bus system in New York State. For air travel, White Plains is ideally situated. The increasingly popular Westchester County Airport is about 6 miles away, while three other major airports are within easy driving distance: La Guardia (26 miles), with and JFK International (30 miles) Newark Liberty (45 miles).

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.