Real Estate: Sales and Grievances

According to the Village Assessor, 732 property owners have taken their grievance appeals for their tax assessments to the next step – the Supreme Court of Westchester County who is empowered with ruling on assessments after they are reviewed by Scarsdale's Board of Assessment Review (BAR). This summer Scarsdale's BAR considered about 950 appeals and granted reductions to approximately 15% or 142 property owners. It appears that almost all of those who were turned down by the BAR took their grievance to the court. If the court grants reductions to many of those, the balance of taxpayers will see their tax bills rise to compensate for their neighbor's reductions.

Here are the grievance counts from Village Assessor Nanette Albanese:

586 SCAR Petitions: (Supreme Court, small claims residential properties only)
146 CERT Petitions: Supreme Court Certiorari residential and commercial properties
732 Total Appeals

New York law provides two mechanisms to go to court to challenge an assessment. Here is an explanation of the two types of challenges:

A certiorari ("CERT") proceeding is in the regular Supreme Court. Anyone who wants to challenge an assessment can go there, including apartment buildings, farms and commercial buildings. The normal Supreme Court procedures basically apply. Non-lawyers are advised not to try to bring a case in Supreme Court.

A small claims assessment reviews ("SCAR") proceeding is a simplified small claims type proceeding, specifically for assessment review of 1, 2, and 3 unit residences. No other types of properties. The format is designed to make it relatively easy to bring a case without a lawyer.

Sales:

3 Oak Way: (Pictured at top) Grand and well proportioned Arts and Crafts gem. Built in 1910, renovated and expanded in 2012 with superior quality updates faithful to the home's original character. Special details include 9 uniquely designed fireplaces, copper roof, stained and leaded glass windows throughout, bas relief frieze in living room, porches off select bedrooms. Additions feature new 2 car garage connects to new mudroom leading to stunning eat in kitchen complete with Thermador, Subzero, Miele, Viking appliances, 2 sinks. Enlarged family room with French doors to new deck, expanded master bedroom suite, luxurious new upstairs bath with steam shower and towel warmer. Surround sound, new fence around perimeter of backyard. Six bedrooms, 4.2 baths, on .59 acre.

Sale Price: $2,660,000
Real Estate Taxes: $49,375

20 Lenox Place: 5,000 square foot custom home in Heathcote. Quality craftsmanship. This distinctive 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home has a great open layout with a 2 -car garage, mudroom, and laundry on 2nd floor. The walk-out lower level has a spacious playroom, au pair suite w/bath.

Sale Price: $2,100,000
Real Estate Taxes: TBD

1 Carstensen Road: Superbly built Collet Georgian brick colonial is set on .47 acres in one of Scarsdale's treasured neighborhoods within walking distance to RR, high school and Village. This 6 Bedroom, 4.1 Bath home boasts a grand entrance hall and staircase with extensive molding, trim and walls of wainscoting. Gracious living room with fireplace and door to stone patio, elegant formal dining room, family room with bay window/door to patio, newly renovated state-of-the-art kitchen (2011) with island/Viking double oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Viking professional wine refrigerator holds 150 bottles, Viking range, Bosch dishwasher; spacious master bedroom suite with renovated luxury master bath Oak hardwood floors throughout, new roof, new powder room, new windows and new electrical panel. The lower level offers an additional 700 square feet of space with recreation room with stone fireplace and magnificent wall of stone.

Sale Price: $1,800,000
Real Estate Taxes: $35,788

57 Carthage Road: Five bedroom home on .14 acres landscaped level property in Heathcote. Top-of-the line custom finishes throughout. Move right in to this absolutely pristine home. You will adore the meticulous attention to detail and the care taken to maintain this home.

Sale Price: $1,660,000
Real Estate Taxes: $35,475

157 Brewster Road: Home has been approved for demolition by the Committee for Historic Preservation and plans for a new home have been submitted to the Village.
Three bedroom, three bath home is sited on a flat .25 acres that have been lovingly landscaped and boasts well-proportioned bedrooms and entertaining spaces. Oversized living room with fireplace, family room, formal dining room. Entire inside of home has been freshly painted. Dining room wood floors have just been refinished.

Sale Price: $1,235,000
Real Estate Taxes: 23,756

361 Heathcote Road: Charming 3 bedroom, 3 full bath Split level home located in desirable Quaker Ridge neighborhood. Situated on quiet picturesque, flat, .29 acres. Meticulously maintained offering spacious living room, eat-in-kitchen, dining room, family room, all first floor living. Second floor master bedroom with full bath, additional two generous bedrooms and full hall bathroom. Additional space with full bath on lower level. Large unfinished basement.

Sale Price: $999,000
Real Estate Taxes: $21,329

Edgemont

17 Highridge Road: Classic home, updated to provide quality, space, and flow. Center hall layout with views to rear gardens and golf course. Spacious living room with fireplace and bookshelves.. Bright home office. Cook's kitchen with room for large table, as well as counter eating, mudroom, powder room, and private office/bath setup can be used as fifth Bedroom. Appealing finished basement. Very private yet convenient location. New roof and furnace.

Sale Price: $1,660,000
Real Estate Taxes: $38,008

128 Glendale Road: Renovated Edgemont home with refinished hardwood floors, warm colors and serene lighting surround each and every room. The brand new eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops and glass tile backsplash opens to an over-sized wood deck overlooking private professionally landscaped park-like property. This immaculate home offers two additional rooms with a full bath in the finished walk-out lower level which is ideal for an au-pair suite, office or playroom.

Sale Price: $782,500
Real Estate Taxes: $17,647

Featured Listings:

12 Hampton Road, Scarsdale: Striking young stone and clapboard home in the heart of Fox Meadow on .46 acres within close proximity to schools, library, parks, train and village. Offering exquisite perfection with outstanding proportions throughout including a fabulous gourmet kitchen and adjoining family room both with access to the yards. With hardwood floors, ornamental and fluted moldings and six en suite bedrooms, this comfortable luxury and completely perfect Fox Meadow home is waiting for the next distinctive buyer. Learn more here:

List Price: $3,295,000

45 Birchall Drive, Scarsdale: This jewel is one of the most exquisitely designed, constructed and appointed homes in Murray Hill. Sited on a beautifully landscaped acre, this home rests on one of the best streets in Scarsdale. Breathtaking primary spaces include a soaring center hall, an outstanding living room with a custom fireplace, formal dining room and great room with fireplace and family room with doors that lead to the patio and heated pool. Comfortable private quarters feature a master bedroom, dressing room, marble bath and study. The sensible floor plan is suited for entertaining and everyday living. Learn more here:

List Price: $4,500,000