Scarsdale, NY

Modern Living...Timeless Traditions... Naya...

I'm please to announce that I've been choosen as the sales specialist

for the newest project by CABI Developers! They have brought our market

great product in the pass including The Parc @ Turnberry Isle Aventura,

Turnberry Ocean Colony in Sunny Isles, and Everglades On The Bay

Just to name a few localy as well as most of Mexico City's sky line!

There pleased to announce Naya as there next Boutique Building.

With Spacious floor plans and Large master bedrooms.

Resindeces ranging from 2-5 bedrooms, Swimming pool and Lushly landscaped outdoor deck!

Modern Kitchens with Seperate double sinks and double drawer dishwashers.

Shabbat Elevators,

With walking distance to neighborhood shuls and Kosher restaurants!

We Can't wait to Welcome YOU HOME!!!

Nestled in the coveted location Garth Road , The Scarswold, a new condominium conversion has been open for business for about a month. The Scarswold, along with her sister complex, the Craigswald are two of Garth Road’s most distinctive complexes. Tudor in style, so popular in the pre-war period, each are one- of-a kind. With finishes and details that can not be replicated today. Just the detail in the brick work along truly amazing.

Behind the complex are beautiful gardens and from there, there there is easy access to the Bronx River Parkway Reservation which is 807 acres of linear park that extends from the Bronx to the Kensico Dam in Valhalla. The park runs parallel to both the Bronx River and the Bronx River Parkway. This is fantastic if you have a canine friend to walk. The Bronx River Parkway is also closed to automobile traffic on Sundays during the spring and summer months for biking. So if you are a biker, you have very easy access to this popular weekly event.

For its many years of existence, the Scarswold has stood out as one of Garth Road’s most distinctive rental complexes. How it escaped being converted into coops during the 1980s, I don't know. But today it is being converted over into one of the few pre-war condo complexes in the area. In the first phase, 12 units have been converted over. These are on the market now and the pricing for a condo with Scarsdale P.O. are very competitive. Part of the reason for this is that the complex does not have the “kitchen sink” mentality of more modern condo complexes which come complete with gyms, pools, media rooms, club rooms etc. wich all come a cost . (Did you really think all that was “free”?) But to compensate, the original leaded glass windows remain and some units have fire places. There are a lot of finishes that simply can't be reproduced today. Hardwood floors - a luxury in modern complexes, is the rule in a complex of this vintage. The Kitchens and baths have been renovated, but original touches such as maid’s rooms (they can be used as dens) and Butler's pantries with their wonderful walls of cabinets remain. The spaces are lovely with a lot of attention given to preserving the best pf the past.


Of course the Scarswold offers all the advantages of Garth Road. Less than 0.4 miles from the train, you can leave the car behind because getting into Manhattan is a piece of cake. Equally near to Scarsdale Village and all the shopping and fine dining it has to offer also allows you to forget the car. A short drive to downtown White Plains, means the nightlife is nearby (either by train to NY or by car to White Plains.)

The Cost of Living:

The price range of this current phase runs from $352,000 for an 880 sq.ft. 1 BR unit to $1,180,000 for a 2 BR unit with a large wood paneled library with over 2550 sq.ft. Estimated common charges and taxes are about $730.84 for the 880 sq. ft. unit to $2176.17 for the 2 BR with library unit. This is of course without STAR and before tax deductions. All in all, a very competitive condominium complex for an area like Garth Road. A rough and dirty calculation of the $352,000 unit which includes STAR and tax deductions and assumes a 6% 30 year loan, results in a monthly cost of around $1550 a month which is highly competative with rental units of similar size.

Pet –Friendly Status:

There are no pet restrictions – dogs are welcome!

Scarsdale, NY 10583 had the distinction of earning the number two spot on CNNMoney.com’s top-earning towns survey in 2007 with a median household income of close to $220,000. Living in Scarsdale certainly doesn’t come as cheaply as does in some other municipalities in Westchester However, one certainly doesn’t need over $200k in household income to afford one of the wonderful coops on Garth Rd. A one bedroom coop in Scarsdale can set you back about $200,000 depending on size, condition and complex. My blog on the pet-friendly coop Colchester Hall on Garth Road gives a good overview about the entry level cost of living in Scarsdale.

The coops on Garth road offer peace and quiet with an easy walk to the Scarsdale Station making for a very easy commute to Grand Central Station. From Scarsdale it’s about a 30 minute trip into Manhattan. No need to park the car. No muss, no fuss. The perfect commute. That is one of the primary reasons that Scarsdale in general and Garth Rd in particular is such a popular choice for first time home buyers.

Walking through the village I always get the feeling that if we got rid of the cars we could imagine ourselves back in an English Village in the time of Dickens. Tudor buildings are the order of the day, and if you enjoy that kind of architecture, you are sure to feel right at home in the Village and on Garth Road.

There are several popular spots for fine dining including Sakura. I’ve enjoyed several fine meals there. Their sushi is marvelous as is their tempura. Kirari on Garth Rd also has wonderful Sushi. Moscato Ristorante is another favorite place for fine Mediterranean cuisine on Scarsdale Ave. For major night life, White Plains is just a few minutes away by car where you have everything in the way of shopping and dining at your disposal. It’s less than a 15 minute drive from the Village to the White Plains City Center and the primary malls such as the Westchester and Fortunoff.

Here is the link the town’s website:The Village of Scarsdale.

The Village Shopping "hub" has Tudor architecture that was so popular in the early 20th Century, Note the unique roof line of the complex on right with the chimney pots each one unique.

The above two photos show more of Village near the train station.

A Coop on Garth Rd. Note the new flashings glistening on the roof line.

Entry to a complex on Garth Road...not the Tudor features including all the stone work and strained glass.

Single Family Homes in the Scarsdale School District. Prices have adjusted and based on the days on market and a shorter selling period that sellers are adjusting their prices.

January 1 - February 29, 2008

• 14 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average price was $1,323,429
• Median price was $1,284,500
• Days on Market was 170

January 1 - February 28, 2007

• 19 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average Price was $1,831,884
• Median price was $1,375,000
• Days on Market were 195

January 1 - February 28, 2006

• 25 Houses Sold in the Scarsdale School District
• Average Prices was $1,782,410
• Median price was $1,529,000
• Days on Market were 160

Disclaimer: These statistics were prepared by me using the Westchester MLS. These numbers were not prepared by the Westchester MLS.

Miriam Bernstein, CRS, ABR, GRI, e-Pro, SRES
Associate Broker, Licensed in the State of New York
RE/MAX Prime Properties, Westchester County, New York 10583
www.MiriamBernstein.com
"Content of this blog is solely my opinion"

Garth Road in Scarsdale, NY is famous for its coop units. Many people come to me with a specific request for a unit on Garth Rd. Located right off the Bronx River Parkway and just steps from the Scarsdale Train Station, it is easy to understand why. Garth Rd. is convenient to the Village of Scarsdale and all it has to offer. With high –end shopping and first class dining. Being able to leave the car and walk a block or two to the train also holds an enormous advantage. The city is just steps to the train and a 30 minute ride while the hustle and bustle of downtown White Plains, NY, with the City Center, Westchester Mall, and Ritz Carlton are just about 10 minutes away by car. So any way you look at it, fine dining, high-end shopping, and first class cultural activities are close at hand. It should be noted that although this is a Scarsdale P.O. and located right in the village, the school system is Eastchester.

One of the biggest drawbacks for most of the complexes on Garth Rd. is that they are notorious for not being pet-friendly. Many will allow cats, but only one complex allows dogs.

Colchester Hall is the one complex that allows dogs. It is located just five minutes from the Train Station and the heart of the village and all that it has to offer – so its location on Garth Rd. is just about ideal. Parking is available, but there is a waitlist. Most people on Garth Rd. use street parking. The fee for the parking, if you get it is $75/month. Storage is available in the basement for all residents.

Cost of Living:

Right now there are a couple of units in pending from which I can derive a rough cost of living. Since there hasn’t been a title pass, these are rougher estimates than usual.
The complex requires a 20% downpayment

A 1200 sq.ft. 2 BR/1BA unit was listed for $379,900 and is now under contract. The maintenance fees are roughly $910/month without the STAR savings. Additional fees bring that sum up over $1000/month. Another 1 BR/1 BA unit (750 sq.ft.) was listed for $224,000 with the sale now pending. Maintenance fees plus extra charges amount to roughly $865/month without parking fees and without STAR. Assuming a 30 year fixed loan at 6%, the outlay after tax benefits and STAR is about $1500/month.

Pet-Friendly Status:

This is the only truly pet-friendly complex on Garth Rd. in that it is the only complex that allows dogs. The weight limit is 40 lbs.