Rye Brook is home to the splendid William E. Ward House, a landmark of the National Register of Historic Places. "Ward's Castle," as locals refer to it, not only looks pretty impressive, but is also the first building made entirely from reinforced concrete in the United States.
Rye Brook is just one of those places everybody wants to live in, featuring beautiful mature trees, stately colonial homes, access to the Sound Shore for boating in the summer, friendly neighbors and plenty of historical sites. It's no wonder Rye Brook features some of the most sought-after homes in New York. On top of everything, Rye Brook is relatively close to Manhattan, both by car or train, allowing you to enjoy the simple country life coupled with access to the Big Apple. Finding an apartment to buy or rent is not simple in Rye Brook, but this guide should give you some pointers to make the process much easier.
Moving to Rye Brook
Choosing A Home
While Rye Brook has many different types of stately homes, ranging from contemporary masterpieces to large colonials, there are not many cheaper options available. While there are a handful of condos for rent in Rye Brook, there are no apartment complexes, meaning that new arrivals will likely have to rent a home if they can't snag a condo. There are some multi-family homes and a few cheaper rental houses in the south of the town. Despite the difficulties of finding available housing in Rye Brook, a qualified and reputable broker should be able to help narrow your search.
Useful Tips For Your House Search
Many of the homes in Rye Brook were built before 1970, which means you should check the property to make sure it's in good condition, especially if you're thinking about purchasing a home. You should give yourself enough time to start looking for a satisfactory new home by starting your search at least eight weeks prior to arrival. There is also a hotel in the village, the Hilton Rye Town, if you need a base while you look for the perfect home. You might even run into some Star Wars fans. The New York Science Fiction Society has their annual convention at the hotel every year.
What To Expect
Since rental prices are usually high in Rye Brook, renters should be aware that there aren't too many deals available in the area. Despite Rye Brook's reputation, there are sometimes good offers in the southern part of town for single-family homes. Many condos also have a "no pet" policy, but you should have better luck with pet policies for single-family homes. After all, your cat or dog would be very mad at you if they didn't get a chance to experience Rye Brook for themselves.
Finalizing Your Contract
All property rentals or houses include heat and hot water per New York State law while electric, gas and other utilities are all your responsibility. You will almost certainly be subjected to a credit check and need to provide proof of income. Landlords will also require a security deposit. A bit of a hassle, but in the end Rye Brook will be worth it.
Rye Brook Neighborhoods
While Rye Brook may be a bit pricey, there are a numerous reasons why people want to live there. Due to the close connection residents have, many say living in Rye Brook feels like living with an extended family. Although Rye Brook does not have its own downtown area, residents are often happy to have the peace and quiet that comes without having a noisy business district. While the village has a small population of 9,347 and is not much larger than 3.5 square miles, it is still connected to the town of Rye. The two neighborhoods that make up Rye Brook offer different housing options but the same excellent atmosphere.
Village Center: The priciest area of Rye Brook, this neighborhood features beautiful old homes on large plots of land. From here, you'll have quick access to Rye Brook's many parks and recreational activities.
Ellendale Avenue/South Ridge Street: This neighborhood is very small, but features some of the more affordable homes available in the village. While this area offers some bargains, the homes are still beautiful with plenty of nature close by.
Living in Rye Brook
Rye Brook has a walk score of 23, meaning that you'll need a car to perform most errands. Since Rye Brook is not directly hooked up to any public transportation networks, owning a car becomes especially vital for getting around. However, don't be afraid to bike through this beautiful community either; you won't regret it. Commuters can also take a train from nearby Port Chester and be at Grand Central Station in 45 minutes.
While Rye Brook does not have a formal downtown, the village is only 10 minutes away from Greenwich, Connecticut, and very close to Rye's downtown, featuring fine restaurants and shopping. That's not to say that Rye Brook doesn't have its fair share of places to dine and meet neighbors. Illy Cafe is a great place to catch a hot cup of joe with a friend while Westchester Burger Company offers good old-fashioned American food to sate your appetite.
Perhaps one of the best features of Rye Brook, is it dedication to keeping the village green. The Arbor Day Foundation has selected Rye Brook as a Tree City of New York for over 14 years. Rye Brook also has many parks, such as Pine Ridge Park, where you can play some tennis, watch the trees turn colors in the autumn or get in on some Little League action. These are just a few of the simple pleasures of living in Rye Brook.
Rye Brook also provides quick access to New York City by car, but if you have a boat it's even better. On the Sound Shore, boaters have a good view of the Manhattan skyline. Nothing is better than a quick boat ride into the city and coming back home to Rye Brook in time for dinner. Ultimately, Rye Brook is just one of those places that has residents staying there generation after generation.
