Housing Options in Irvington Range from Luxurious Estates to Affordable Rentals

Like other communities in Westchester, property taxes are an issue for Irvington residents, yet home sales in the village have increased significantly over the past year.

According to Bernice Gottlieb, Principal Broker at Hudson Shores Real Estate, Irvington home sales shot up 18 to 20 percent during the second quarter of 2010, compared to the same period last year.

Though Gottlieb explained that people are drawn to Irvington for "the beautiful parks on the river, beautiful homes, and older estates," buying a home in the village, or even a small parcel of land, isn't a realistic option for everyone.

Noting that because most of Irvington's land has already been built upon, Gottlieb said a one acre lot in the village runs at about $1 million.

Homes in the village are currently on the market for an average cost of $700,000, said Gottlieb, but the come with a minimal amount of land.

For $700,000, one can purchase a 2,000 square foot house with three bedrooms, two baths, and about 5,000 square feet of land. An acre is about 43,000 square feet. Property taxes on the average Irvington home are about $20,000.

It's unlikely that potential buyers will find brand new homes for sale. According to the Village of Irvington Building Department, there were three permits issued in 2007, two in 2008, and four in 2009.

Gottlieb noted that numerous older estates have flooded the Irvington market lately, but property taxes alone on those multi-million dollar properties can top $50,000 a year.

Take this estate that overlooks the Hudson River, for instance. It's priced at $11.75 million and situated on 4.78 acres with 10 bedrooms, a carriage house, and 14,000 square feet. Property taxes on this mansion are listed at $75,677.

For those who wouldn't be able to afford an historic Irvington mansion to call home, the village does offer two affordable housing options, the South Astor Building and the Burnham Building, both of which are situated in the center of town.

While some other predominantly wealthy communities in Westchester have shunned the idea of incorporating fair housing into their communities at the mandate of a judgment against Westchester County by a federal court, the Village of Irvington works with the buildings' landlords to accept affordable housing applications.

Village Administrator Lawrence S. Schopfer explained that since 2000, the Burnham Building, which also houses the Irvington Public Library, has offered 22 affordable housing units.

Currently, Schopfer said that there are 69 people on the waiting list for both buildings, although "that's a little deceiving because some people aren't looking anymore."

Schopfer also said that the waiting periods for prospective tenants depends on their family size and the number of bedrooms they're looking for in a rental.

At the Burnham Building, tenants' can make up to 60 percent of the county's median income rate. Schopfer said that as of April 2009, it was set at $105,300 for a family of four. Thus, a family of four applying to live at the Burnham Building would have had to have a total income of $63,180 to qualify.

Income limits at South Astor are slightly higher at 80 percent of the county median income. Two years ago, four units were set to be rented below market value. Two of the units currently rent for $986 per month, with the other two going for $1,180 monthly.