What to Consider When Choosing a Neighborhood in New York
Let’s face it. Choosing a home in New York is like choosing a new pair of shoes. They need to fit just right and not cause blisters after two weeks. And the neighborhood? That’s the path you’re walking down every day. Pick the wrong one, and suddenly you’re limping through life.
So how do you choose the right path to walk down the next twenty years of your life?
Cornerstone founder, and veteran real estate attorney, Peter Carrozzo has represented thousands of homebuyers. He shares his wisdom with every first time home buyer he represents, and anyone else he meets at weddings, birthdays and pubs. “When my wife and I were expecting our first child and we began our search for our home, we started by making a list of our musts and wants…for the neighborhood in addition to the house. I recommend this exercise to everyone.”
Your Musts and Wants: A Homebuyer’s Checklist
Do you crave tree-lined streets? …want a school within stroller-pushing distance? …dream of walking to a park or catching a nearby express trains with fellow commuters? Make your “must” and “want” lists.
Your “musts” are those features that you cannot live without. Do you have three children who will kill each other if they share a bedroom? A “must” would be a four bedroom house. Have you always had a garage? Have you always lived in a NYC walkup and want to have a patch of grass to walk barefoot? Then your musts include a garage and a yard.
Your “wants” are those features that you’d really like to have but are negotiable. Have you always wanted to decorate a mantle over a fireplace? Have you dreamed of having a cocktail on your backyard deck overlooking an inground pool? Do you want to be able to walk your kids to school every morning? Then you want a fire place, a deck, a pool, and a school in walking distance. The “wants” will determine your preferences for a new home. While a house that does not have one of your “musts” is a deal breaker, a house without a “want” is negotiable. This ability to compromise on “wants” will give you some financial flexibility.
“Another thing to consider is the power of seeing things with your own eyes” adds Peter. While you’re considering potential homes, don’t just scroll through Zillow. Stalk your future block (without triggering a restraining order). Shop at the local supermarket. Lurk on the town’s Facebook page. Commute at rush hour and loiter by the bagel shop on a Saturday. “Remember, you’re not just buying a house—you’re joining a community.” And in many ways the community is more important. “You can renovate a kitchen, you can remodel a basement, but you can’t renovate or remodel your neighbors.”
Why a Title Company Should Be Part of Your Search
When you’re falling in love with a zip code, Cornerstone Land Abstract can help protect your investment. As a trusted New York title company, our team can check property records, title histories, and even let you know if that quaint corner lot has a century-old right of way for the town’s sewer line. It’s not paranoia. It’s preparedness. And it’s what we do best.
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Written by Peter Carrozzo & Justin McCartney
