Westchester County, New York

SUBURBIA RICH IN HISTORY

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK

BY PAIGE AIGRET

Westchester County, New York, the greater area served by Corcoran Legends Realty, is a community embedded in the history of New York City industry moguls and elites. But for Corcoran Legends Realty broker and owner Marcene Hedayati — and for many community members alike — it’s just home and an ideal place to live or to raise a family.

“I grew up in Westchester … I have a large family who still resides here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” said Hedayati.

With close proximity to New York City — just an hour or less drive, even in today’s bustling commute — the area became popular for the city’s elites of the past, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Goulds. Now, many of these famed family estates have become historic sites, serving the community as places to tour and explore the grounds with lush gardens or scenic views.

Hedayati said that being near the city has always been a selling point in the area, but today, buyers are most interested in the school districts. With a number of private schools, Hackley being the most prominent, and an impressive public school system, the county has proved itself worthy as a family-friendly community.

Also high on the checklist for luxury buyers in the area are amenities. Of course, for many that means having at their fingertips access to pools, tennis courts, golf courses and spas. All of this is made easy with a membership to one of the many area clubs available to the community, including Westchester Country Club, Tamarack Country Club and Lake Isle Country Club, among others.

Westchester County and its surrounding areas have a lot to offer to today’s luxury buyers, but the pandemic has created an even greater desire for comforts within the home. Hedayati said that she’s seen a growing demand in the area for move-in-ready, upgraded homes. “I think they really want to hit the ground running and enjoy their new lifestyle rather than spending time fixing things up,” she said, adding that design trends are leaning to “sleeker, simpler designs.”

She said, too, that the increase in remote workers has created a demand for home-office spaces, but larger spaces, in general, aren’t necessarily important. “I feel they almost want smaller but smarter and wisely designed to accommodate their lifestyle.” And the same goes for their backyard desires — smaller acreages with well-designed outdoor living spaces, including pools, patios and outdoor kitchens, are key.

Bringing a client to a place they can call home is important to Hedayati, who recognizes that “for the consumer … residential real estate is an emotional purchase and one of the most important transactions a person makes

in their life. How they feel about who they are working with and the overall ethos of the company representing them can make all the difference in the world.”

She believes that the Corcoran Group offers that peace of mind to the client, and that the broadening network “has gone beyond the borders of single, independent offices and has assembled a network of like-minded agents, creating a culture that empowers and enriches each of its participants.”

Corcoran agents can appreciate the connections amid what Hedayati referred to as the “new phenomenon” of New York City as a feeder for real estate across the country. “It has to do with the shift in the way we work, more remotely, allowing for what were secondary markets now to become primary markets.”

This shift has opened up markets all over the country, something that the extensive Corcoran network is prepared for. “It means that we can provide excellent hyperlocal service wherever a buyer or seller wants to move to or from,” she said.

For Hedayati, the personal affiliate-to-affiliate connections serve as “a testament to the culture that promotes personal relationships above all,” relationships that enable Corcoran agents to easily and seamlessly refer clients across brokerages, from New York City to Nashville, Houston to Northwest Florida and beyond. 