Katonah, A Great Choice In Northern Westchester County

 

NestEdge Realty represents buyers and sellers in every corner of Westchester County. Our firm has represented clients in transactions as far south as Pelham & Bronxville and north as Somers. Though my specific focus is on selling homes in Chappaqua, Armonk, and Briarcliff Manor, our agents have in-depth expertise in the highest-ranked Westchester County School districts.

 

We frequently have clients who are shopping for real estate in Bedford, Croton, and Mount Kisco. Another town that has a great deal to offer and a similar, very manageable commute to Manhattan, is Katonah. Katonah sits nestled in between Somers to the north and Bedford Hills to the South.

 

Katonah is easily reachable by car by taking i684 and exiting at the intersection of the Saw Mill River Parkway. White Plains and Interstate 287 are about 20 minutes to the south and a ride all into midtown Manhattan should take no more than 55 minutes. Points north in New England and the lower Hudson Valley are accessible by Interstate 84. Greenwich and Stamford, Connecticut, which are major commerce and commercial centers can be reached in about 20 minutes as well.

 

For new home buyers moving to Westchester County from areas in and around New York City, commute times into Manhattan are often a very major factor when it comes to focusing a search on a specific area. Generally speaking, a dollar invested in Real Estate buys less in a town like Pelham, Bronxville, or Scarsdale where the metro north train ride is significantly shorter when compared to towns north of Interstate 287, at the northern tip of the county, like Katonah, Cross River or Bedford. Home buyers who want significantly more land, or property in better condition often find great value in Katonah and come to realize that the gap in commuting time versus a location further south isn’t as large as they initially thought. Katonah is on the Harlem line of the Metro-North Railroad and express trains to Grand Central Terminal are about 55 minutes. Most trains also stop in Harlem at 125th Street, for easy access to Yankee Stadium.

 

For a top-notch education, the Katonah-Lewisboro School district covers the area. There are 3 elementary schools in the district, along with John Jay Middle School and John Jay High School – which share a campus in Cross River. A private school option in town is the Harvey School. This beautiful school, just minutes off Interstate 684, is a co-educational school serving Grades 6 through 12 which also offers unmatched athletic facilities.

 

Downtown Katonah is small and quaint – one can take a walk and marvel at all of the beautiful architecture that is featured. Get a bite to eat and browse the many shops- the downtown village doesn’t even have a traffic light!

 

For cultural enthusiasts, there are many options. The Katonah Art Center is an art school in town and offers many choices for birthday parties, summer camps, and classes/workshops. The John Jay Homestead is another great asset to take a day to explore. Lastly, the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is also located in town. Come to this live music venue and see a variety of concerts and shows – a great way to spend a summer nite!

 

One thing a home-buyer will quickly notice on a tour of Katonah is the beautiful wooded scenery and rolling hills of the landscape. The word ‘picturesque” doesn’t even do it justice. Multiple hiking trails are available and the winding roads are also very popular with groups of bicycle clubs in the area. Just be sure to wear a helmet…

 

When my family relocated from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Chappaqua four short years ago, we did have one lifestyle fear. As foodies, we were worried about leaving all of our favorite restaurants behind. Alas, our concern was unwarranted. We found many fantastic restaurants that we visit frequently. If you’re a foodie and considering a town like Katonah, have no fear as there are many great options from which to choose. Restaurants in Katonah run the gamut from basic and very affordable fare to high-end, destination establishments.

 

Koku has amazing sushi with some of the freshest fish I have sampled along with some very unique and creative rolls. The Blue Dolphin serves top-notch Italian food in a former diner setting. KR Café is a lunch spot with an endless menu of selections for virtually every pallet under the sun. But save room for Dessert.

 

No trip to Katonah would ever be complete without a trip to King Kone. King Kone is located on Route 100 in Katonah and is best described as a “Road-Side Ice Cream Stand”. Soft-serve ice cream, large sundaes, thick shakes, and tasty smoothies are the house specialties and if you haven’t had dinner yet, the burgers, chicken, and hot dogs are pretty solid as well. Just be prepared to wait in line, as this establishment is popular and well-known.

 

The housing stock in Katonah can best be described as diverse. At present, 73 properties are currently for sale in Katonah. The prices for these properties range from $295,000 for a 1200 square foot 2 bedroom / 1 bathroom home on a ¼ of an acre built in 1920 to a 4 million dollar property on Todd Road that includes 28 “possibly subdividable” acres.

 

The average home in Katonah would likely have been built between 1980 and 2000, would be between 3000 and 3500 square feet in size, and would trade within the range of 600k to 850k. Most properties, except for those very close to and inside of the downtown area include more than one acre of land.

 

Property taxes in Westchester County are high, which is an undeniable downside to living in such a great area. In Katonah, on average, property taxes run about $25,000 per million dollars of value. Generally, about two-thirds of the average property tax bill funds the local district.

 

If you are a home buyer focusing your search on Northern Westchester, Katonah offers a great deal of value compared to much of the surrounding Westchester Real Estate. And NestEdge Realty is a great choice to help guide through this journey; far better in fact than a traditional real estate agent.

 

Why? Because agents at NestEdge Realty share their commissions with their clients via generous Broker Commission Rebates. That’s right, we pay you, the homebuyer, to work with us. Our rebates are tax-free, paid at the closing table, are larger than what is offered by Redfin, and can sometimes even help you avoid the mansion tax or offset a big chunk of your closing costs. We cannot wait to hear from you.