According to the 2010 Census, New York’s population was 19,378,102.  This makes it the 3rd most populous in the United States.  Because of its large immigrant population, it is one of the great cultural melting pots in the world.  People from different parts of the world come to New York.  Many settled in this great state during the early 1900’s in the hope of achieving their dreams.

Known by many as “The Big Apple”, it is in fact nicknamed the Empire State.  “The Big Apple” name was first popularized in the early 1920’s by John J. Fitzgerald who used it in his horse racing column of the New York Morning Telegraph.

New York State has something to offer everyone.  A drive upstate brings you to many resorts, spas, horse farms, the Catskills and the Adirondacks.  Nature lovers will enjoy the numerous lakes and springs scattered throughout the state. For city dwellers, there is of course New York City (NYC).  This great city of the U.S. is home to many well-known eating establishments on Restaurant Row.  Those seeking quiet will love the museums and parks available in the State.

The property market offers a variety of choices for all types of buyers. Buying a home within your budget is a very important criteria to assure affordability.  Home ownership is part of the “American dream”.  Probably the biggest investment most will ever make, it is a decision not to be rushed into without some forethought and preparation.  When buying a home, determine what property will fit your needs.

New York real estate prices reflect it’s lofty nickname.  In New York City, land is a premium and so are the prices.  New York real estate prices are entirely dependent upon the location.  This explains why many commute by train from nearby suburbs and even from the neighboring state of New Jersey to work in NYC. For those seeking more affordable housing, there are options within New York as we’ll offer in brief below as well as throughout this website.

The second largest city in New York, Buffalo is a known for getting massive amounts of snow in the winter.  Buffalo homes have beautiful art-deco architecture and historic Victorian homes dating back to the Industrial revolution. It offers reasonably priced real estate in NY.

Rochester, another sprawling city, is corporate headquarters to such household names such as Eastman Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, and Western Union.  Here, qualified job seekers don’t need to travel to the “big city” to land a job.

Brooklyn is a city people like investing in with its increasing population.  Queens, NY is also considered a popular city because of demand for residential housing driven by its ethnically diverse population.

To establish what is a reasonable price to pay for a house, an appraisal is great to have in hand.  Obtaining a certified appraisal is a good yardstick for home buyers to determine whether the price set by sellers is reasonable.  In New York State, sellers can request their home values be researched by a licensed appraiser who has easy access to a number of resources. The best thing about these appraisers is that they are an independent source for home valuations. Using data uncovered in their research and calculating based on a State-approved formula helps them arrive at an independent appraisal value of a home.

Make sure you obtain accurate information from the NY county clerk for it is the only true reliable source of information for assessing the value of your New York home through real estate comps by yourself.

Depending on whether you plan to live in Manhattan, Buffalo, Rochester, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, or Long Island, be sure to deal with a broker who specializes in that city so you have the best information on the area you intend to target.