Pelham Apartment Renter's Guide
Pelham Apartment Renter's Guide
Overview
The plot of land where Pelham is located was purchased by Thomas Pell in 1654!
Pelham is a village in Westchester County with a population of 6,910
The plot of land where Pelham is located was purchased by Thomas Pell in 1654!
Pelham is a village in Westchester County with a population of 6,910. It is located in the larger town also named Pelham, and the distinction between the two is often blurred. It's a super tiny village, covering less than 1 square mile on the map. It's also the oldest town in Westchester County. Located in the south of the county, it is bordered by New York City, Mt. Vernon, and New Rochelle, as well as the Long Island Sound. It's ideal location makes it a popular place for both country folk and people who commute to New York City for work. Grand Central Station is only 20 minutes away by train, so it is a commuter's dream. Some people who live in downtown Manhattan have a longer commute to work! It's an elegant, stately town with a rich history and many beautiful old buildings.
Moving to Pelham
If you're thinking of finding a rental apartment in Pelham, there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is that there are plenty of rentals here -- about one-third of properties are renter-occupied as opposed to owner-occupied, and there are an above-average number of vacancies here. However, the bad news is that the cost of real estate here is about five times the national average! But, you certainly get what you pay for. This kind of convenient access to Manhattan and the chance to live in a gorgeous, historic home come with a price tag. But as long as you're prepared for the cost, this is certainly a village worth exploring. Before you start planning your move, make sure you give yourself at least two months to search for a home here. It's a fairly competitive market, so you might find yourself in line with others who want to live here. It's best to search in the summer months when a lot of people are moving about for different reasons and more properties become available.
What you'll need: Renting here should be easy if you have all the right documents, a solid income and a good rental history. When you go to meet with prospective landlords, just be sure to bring all the right paperwork -- a copy of your ID, your bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, etc. They basically just need to verify that you have a good credit history and make enough money to pay rent every month, otherwise they are putting their apartment complexes in jeopardy. Once you have all of this together, you will be ready to apply for a lease as soon as you find a place you like. Remember that many of the homes here are going to be on the older side, so don't hesitate to ask questions about the state the building is in and if it needs any repairs or has any flaws. You don't want to move in and find out that it's going to require a huge chunk of change to repair it!
Neighborhoods
Pelham only covers less than a square mile on the map, so it's a stretch to say that it has any neighborhoods. But still, here is a little info about the different sides of town.
North Pelham: This is definitely the quieter side of town. It is home to the beautiful Chester Park, along with the Pelham Plaza Gourmet and B&B's 5th Avenue Pub. It has a number of small streets with a few apartment complexes and many big, single-family homes.
South Pelham: South Pelham is sandwiched between Beechwood Cemetery on one side and the Hutchinson River on the other. It is a beautiful place to live that is located just steps away from the Pelham Metro North Stop, and also has the famous Villagio Ristorante and Pizzeria right nearby.
Living in Pelham
Besides being sandwiched up against New York City and boasting a mere 20 minute commute into Grand Central, the village of Pelham has even more to offer! It's one of the most gorgeous NYC suburbs, filled with Tudor and Gothic-revival houses and it really has the feel of an old European village. House prices here sure are expensive, but you can always manage to score a rental property that is a little below the average cost. The community Art Center provides outdoor concerts, theater programs, and other events that bring the community of Pelham together. The commercial district offers a lot of small-town mom and pop shops and restaurants like Caffe Regatta and Saccone's Pizzeria. There's also the beautiful Willson's Woods Park on the east side of town, just over the Hutchinson River Parkway. For anyone looking for a beautiful village that is close to but still outside of New York City and its lifestyle, with a wonderfully high quality of life, Pelham is a dream come true.