As a realtor in Western New York, Donna Littlefield helps people find homes in nice areas where there are good schools, closeby amenities, and lush, verdant yards that are the envy of people in the dry Southwest.
More and more people are discovering that Western New York has a lot of good stuff going for it, making it an attractive place to live.
First, Western New York has history and some grit. Western New York has a nice mix of old and new neighborhoods that seem “genuine.” Indeed, people remark that there’s a real “sense of place” in Western New York. It’s not all cookie-cutter. People in WNY have roots. They’re generally known to be “good neighbors,” especially when there’s a snowstorm and you need help digging your car out.
One of the reasons WNY gets a lot of snow is because of “Lake Effect.” When Lake Erie doesn’t freeze over, water from the lake gets picked up in the cold air and turned into snow. In general, the snowiest parts of Western New York are not in the Northtowns (like Wheatfield, Amherst, Pendleton), but, rather, in the Southtowns, south of Buffalo. That’s where the ski resorts are, so if you like to ski, they’re just an hour drive away from the metro area.
Speaking of Lake Erie, WNY is blessed with abundant fresh water, which is good for boating, fishing, swimming and more. Besides Lake Erie, there’s Lake Ontario, the Niagara River, the Erie Canal, and plenty of other lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. And unlike Florida, there are no alligators in them. Also, unlike the ocean, there are no sharks in them– bonus!
If you like attending live theater, Western New York has more theaters per capita than most places, so you can see plenty of shows. There are also over 65 art galleries in the region, including the renowned Albright Knox Art Gallery. Perhaps best of all is the abundance of free concerts and festivals in the summertime around Western New York.
Education is very important to Western New Yorkers, and there are plenty of great school systems, like Starpoint and Williamsville, educating young minds. There are also plenty of area colleges and universities, as well as libraries.
You can’t mention Buffalo without mentioning “The Bills.” The Buffalo Bills are like a religion around Western New York. Even if you’re not a fan, you kind of have to be a fan, since “The Bills” really do unite people each Fall and Winter. Plus, The Buffalo Sabres hockey team is beloved by Western New York fans.
Finally, one of the reasons Western New York is a great place to live is affordability. Compared to other places around the USA, the Buffalo area is a bargain. What might cost you $350,000 elsewhere could be $100,000 here.
Want to find a great place to live in Western New York? Give realtor Donna Littlefield a call today at 716-578-1788.
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