In the words of Susanna Cronin, who manages Houlihan Lawrence’s Rye brokerage, “this is the year of waves of activity in residential home sales. The first one came after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the next after the February break, and we’re expecting a really big wave the first week of April, right after Easter.”
The buyers, who have been circling, not quite to the extent of sharks, are closing in. Contracts on a charming Tudor on Oakland Beach Avenue were signed four days after the home was listed.
The good news for buyers is that more homes, in all price points, are coming to market.
The positively good news for first-time buyers and older residents wanting to downsize in Rye and nearby is that many of the recent single-family listings are within their price range — under $2,000,000. Among them is an English Cottage-style home priced at $995,000, and a short walk to Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach. This 4-bedroom, 2-bath house was built in 1926 and boasts many original details and a versatile floor plan. The listing agent is Marianna Glennon of Houlihan Lawrence.
Of similar size — 1,600 square feet — is a 3-bedroom, 3-bath Colonial on Laurel Street, close to town and train. The house was built in 1935 but the kitchen was renovated in 2021. Off the deck is a small but private and level backyard. Over the garage is an additional 136-square-foot loft. The asking price is $1,100,000.
Another walk-to-town possi-bility is a 1926 Colonial on Wappanocca Avenue. This 3-bed-room home has been customized for optimal living — from the mudroom to the oversized family/living room. The listing agent is Kendra Moran of Houlihan Lawrence. As she and Susanna Cronin both noted: “15 Wappanocca offers the top four items on every Ryebuyer’s wish list: an updated and move-in ready interior; a large, fenced, and private yard; walkable to town & train; and room to grow.”
For home seekers on the fence, there is a centrally located condo at 181 Purchase Street for rent. The 2-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath unit can be yours for under $5,000 a month.
A February market update, courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence, showed that the median home sale price in Rye City was $1,900,000, a 4.1 percent increase compared to last year at this time. In Harrison, the median sale price was $1,800,000 (a decrease of 7.7 percent), and in Rye Neck it was $1,072,700 (a decrease of 20.7 percent).
Most of the homes currently on the market in Rye City are priced at well over $2,000,000. The most expensive is a nearly 8,200-square-foot home on Island Drive. The asking price is just below $14,000,000.
New to the market is a wonderful 1916 Colonial on Dogwood Lane that is the perfect mix of classic and contemporary. The façade is brick and stone, and the interior is sleek and designed for today’s living.
The 5-bedroom, 5.1-bath beauty sits on three-quarters of an acre and includes a spa pool and one of the most spacious and private patios around. The asking price is $5,450,000.
Asked what she liked best about the home, the listing agent, Ellen Stern of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s, said: “Everything! It’s timeless, treasured, and walking distance to town.” She added, “90 Dogwood is an entertainer’s dream which offers a rare combination of classic charm and modern sophistication.”