Putnam County real estate and real estate in surrounding counties of Westchester and Dutchess have been desirable for a long time because of their close proximity to New York City.

Westchester County homes are quite varied and range from densely populated areas of southern Westchester, beautiful waterfront homes along Long Island Sound to sprawling country estates in areas of Bedford and North Salem. Homes in Southern Westchester County can be as close as 30 minutes to Manhattan by train. Growing up in the Larchmont-Mamaroneck area I remember watching all the men in suits wearing hats walking to the train station in the morning to head into NYC. Waterfront homes in Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Rye can be quite expensive, but offer a unique lifestyle. New construction in Westchester County is in demand, but frequently out of the price range of many. North Salem equestrian properties as well as horse properties in the Bedford area are always in demand.  They all contribute to the varied Westchester real estate market.
 

Putnam County homes are prized for not only their easy access to Manhattan, but for the ability to get a larger home on more property then would be available in Westchester for the same price. Real estate in Putnam County is also in demand because Putnam County typically has among the lowest crime rates and unemployment rates in the country.  It also has the highest median income in New York State and was last ranked as number nine in the US.Although small in size, Putnam County has thousands of acres of park land and as it is home to many New York City reservoirs and streams, there are water views in abundance.  Putnam County real estate that enjoys water views commands a premium as water view property does elsewhere.  There are both public and private golf courses in Brewster, Carmel, Mahopac and Garrison as well as a local ski area located in Patterson. Putnam County is bordered on the west by the Hudson River and on the east by Connecticut. As with other areas around the world, waterfront properties in Putnam County also command a premium and lakefront property is always in demand.  New Construction in Putnam is still available. For those that commute via Metro North, homes in the Brewster area offer access to two train stations with over 1,700 parking spaces.

Dutchess County real estate is varied and includes a host of options in new construction, weekend properties, large farms and estates as well as some downtown city living. Currently, new construction in Dutchess County runs from $249k to $3,650,000. Dutchess County horse properties and farms are available and one currently sold by my office had over 1,000 acres. Dutchess County is frequently the next stop up for those who would like to buy further south, but can't find the home they are looking for in a certain price range. Commuters to Manhattan are less likely to be found in Dutchess as they would be in Westchester or Putnam. A major employer in the area is the Hudson Valley Technology Center in Fishkill.