J. Philip's Westchester Real Estate Blog

5 Cool Things About Briarcliff Manor, NY

1. Our fire trucks are white. No, the Dalmatians are not red. 

2. Downtown was in the first episode of Saturday Night Live in one of the videos. You can see the Briarcliff Hardware Store on Pleasantville Road clearly. 

3. Howard Stern's first job out of college was at WRNW-FM, which was in Briarcliff in the 70's. 

4. Trump National Golf Course (of The Apprentice) is here, on the site of the old Briarcliff Country Club.

5. Holly Hill, the 60 acre estate of the late Brooke Astor, is here in Scarborough, and is on the market for $10,500,000. 

Previous posts on Briarcliff Manor

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

This is for single family home activity in the Briarcliff Manor school district for June of 2010. All information is derived from the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 

Compared to June 2009, Briarcliff Manor sales volume is about even. Transactions are down one, but the median price is up almost $200,000. 15 Homes are under contract, which indicates more strong activity, albeit at a lower median price. 

In the Active section, you might notice that high listing of $10,500,000. That may be there for quite a while. That is the last Brooke Astor's estate, Holly Hill, which has been on for a while now because there is not a big market for 60 acre compounds with 10,500 square foot mansions. That might become the new Casa de J Philip if I hit Mega Millions this week. 

There are 51 available home in inventory, which is a healthy selection and just under a year's worth of inventory.

Previous posts on Briarcliff Manor.  

If you'd like to search for a home in Briarcliff, get yourself a free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

In 2007, we moved our family about a mile, one neighborhood over. Even though it was a short move, it took us across the line from the Village of Ossining to the Village of Briarcliff Manor. When you're me, you don't really expect to have many experiences with the police, aside from civic or social events. You don't expect them to be on the job on your property, but once not long after we moved here, they did. 

My home office has a window on the side and rear of my home. If someone jumps my fence, I can see it. A few months after we moved here, I saw a pair of legs walk by the side window. Strange. The fence was locked. Then, another pair. I only saw legs, which had my mind racing. Who was swarming my yard with my kids playing back there? I was outside in a heartbeat, and to my relief, it was not an interloper or kidnapper, it was a pair of police officers. They both had their hands on their hips, looking perplexed, as my 2 oldest children excitedly talked to them (real police officers right in our yard! exclaimed Luke, then 6). 

I was perplexed also. It got put together quickly Evidently, the department had received a call from someone out of state who had called my number by accident. Our 3 year old was screaming at the top of his lungs when the call came in, and somehow the party at the other end heard the screaming and called the police for fear that they had witnessed some sort of abuse over the phone. Since ringing the bell would have only given a criminal or kidnapper warning, they jumped the fence anticipating the worst. The screamer, Gregory, then ambled up to me and put his arms up to be picked up. 

Assured that it was all an innocent thing, they thanked me and left. 

I was struck by their professionalism. I appreciated their approach, because, even in this idyllic suburb, if there was foul play, they wanted to be ready. Three years later, that day sticks with me. They were ready for criminals, and they ended up patting my kids on the head. Briarcliff Manor has great police. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

The Tree Streets is an unofficial nickname of a small neighborhood in the village of Briarcliff Manor that has a number -but not all- of streets named after trees. What sets it apart from much of the rest of the village is the moderate prices and predominant amount of pre war homes. The Tree Steets are also conveniently located...REALLY conveniently located. Todd Elementary School (Briarcliff Manor School district) is walking distance, and the neighborhood borders the 9A highway and the Taconic State Parkway. The village park, pool, downtown, tennis courts, library and Pace University's Briarcliff campus are also very close. 

Because of price and location, the tree streets are very popular as starter homes. It is not at all uncommon to see people walking, jogging, and pushing strollers up and down the tree streets. The young and upwardly mobile are attracted to good commuting points, village amenities in walking distance, and the sense of community you feel when you spend any time in the neighborhood. Think of Wisteria Lane without the drama. 

While many of the homes predate the 2nd World War, there are a number of baby-boom era houses here as well. The mixture of the architecture and styles give the flavor of variety that is the antithesis of cookie cutter subdivisions. Moreover, the tree streets are a very mature neighborhood, with plenty of tall trees offering shade and charm. The nickname is very fitting. 

The average Tree Streets home is roughly 2100 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, and the median sales price for the past 12 months is $610,000. The lots are typically about a quarter acre. What doesn't show up in the data is the charm, the curb appeal, and that warm fuzzy you get when you walk down one of those nice tree streets. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

When I was a kid I had a Murray 5-speed bike with a banana seat and high handlebars, and I would ride between my neighborhood, Ossining's Indian Village, and Chilmark, across Pleasantville Road on the other side of Ossining Resevoir. Homes in Chilmark were bigger and nicer than my own. While I rode through those streets I dreamed that someday I'd live there. When I was in high school and ran after wrestling practice at night, I'd run through Chilmark because the hills weren't too rough and there were never any cars to avoid. It's funny how a place can be good for you for different reasons at different ages. 

Chilmark was built in the early 60's, and is now a very mature community of tree lined streets with beautiful colonials, capes and ranches on spacious lots. It is the sort of place you'd want to trick or treat on Halloween. While it is in the village of Briarcliff Manor and benefits from village services, the close proximity to Ossining puts it in the Ossining School District. On the west Side of the neighborhood is Chilmark Park, an 8.3 acre facility on the grounds of a former country club. The park has a huge jungle gym, fields, tennis and basketball courts, and lots of open space. 

Given the bucolic character of the community, the street names have a similar theme: Orchard, Apple, Farm, Magnolia and Meadow, for example. One notable exception is the "main" street through Chilmark, Macy Road, because the it is a homage to the Macy Estate that used to be here. Macy Mansion is still up the hill, although not technically in the neighborhood. 

Compared to other baby boom housing, Chilmark is relatively upscale for the era. The homes and yards are spacious, and pride of ownership is evident wherever you look. 

As of July, 2007, there is one addition to Chilmark: me. My family moved into a home I used to jog past in high school and ride by on my bike in the 70's. We love it here, and yes, our children do trick or treat here every Halloween. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

Briarcliff Manor, about 30 miles north of New York City on the Metro North Hudson line (Scarborough stop if you are keeping score) is a village of stately, bucolic neighborhoods. It boasts one of the most charming main streets you'll see on Pleasantville Road, and if you wander a bit you'll find Pace University on the old Briarcliff College campus, Trump National Golf Course, and Holly Hill, the late Brooke Astor's estate (on sale now for $10.5 million). It has an award winning school district, wonderful amenities, and a quality of life that is top shelf. Ann and I moved our family here in 2007 from the next neighborhood over in Ossining, and we love it here. I consider it one of the most underrated places in Westchester County.

Howard Stern got his start here at a small radio station (WRNW) which, as I recall, was operating out of a small house in the 70's. My office on North State Road is walking distance from that place. 

46 single family homes were sold in the village in 2009, and the median price was just over $654,000. 

At the peak of the market in 2005, the median price was 865,000. That puts the correction at just under 25%, which basically wipes out the inflated spike from 2004-2005.  

There are 38 homes for sale currently, ranging in price from $419,000 to $4.65 million, excluding the Astor Estate. This means that there is just under a year's worth of available inventory. 13 homes are priced below $700,000, and there is no telling how many more will be listed for sale in the coming weeks as the holidays get small in  the rear view mirror. If you do come to Briarcliff, park downtown on Pleasantville road and do a little window shopping. You'll like what you see, and you'll understand why we who live here love it. 

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

When I walked outside this morning, I was greeted by an old friend: warmth. Warm weather isn't new this year, but the norm lately has been brisk mornings, warm days and cool evenings. A warm morning, for me, is a first in 2009.  Briarcliff Manor is beautiful in the Spring, and I took some photos of my favorite place in the Village: my yard. 

That tree just got those white blossoms. You can see the forsythia behind the fence. 

This is a better view of the forsythia. 

My lawn is not a putting green. I prefer to consider it "vegitatively diverse." Those legs belong to a certain camera hog who loves dandelions more than her dad. 

One of Spring's other calling cards: no more need for firewood.

One more nice one:

The back yard cherry blossoms will be next week. They aren't quite there yet. Here's sneak preview from last year:

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You can search the MLS like an agent at http://jphilip.listingbook.com.

J. Philip Faranda ranks among New York's premier short sale REALTORS specializing in short sales in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam & Dutchess Counties. www.NYShortSaleTeam.com. Read Phil's short sale blog at http://NewYorkShortSaleBlog.wordpress.com.

J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton on Hudson, Pleasantville, Sleepy Hollow, White Plains, Yonkers, Peekskill, Cortlandt, Tarrytown, Yorktown, Montrose, Hawthorne, Thornwood, Valhalla, Hartsdale & all of Westchester County, New York.

• We Are Westchester County, NY Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.
• J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. 2010 Vice President, Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. 
• I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS. 
• J. Philip Serves Briarcliff Manor, Ossining, Croton, the River Towns, Westchester County, and the bedroom counties of New York City.
• Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent. 
• I am hiring agents. 

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission