Meet John Buoninfante: Westchester County Realtor

John Buoninfante is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Real Broker NY LLC who helps buyers and sellers move in and out of Westchester County.

He works with people already living in Westchester as well as buyers relocating from New York City and other parts of the country.

John works throughout Westchester County, including Scarsdale, White Plains, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow, Ardsley, Pleasantville, Valhalla and surrounding communities.

But working throughout Westchester isn't simply about knowing a list of towns.

Housing, prices, property taxes, transportation, municipal structure, downtown access and other property and location characteristics can vary from one part of the county to another.

John's role is to help buyers understand those differences using objective information and the priorities they identify for their own search.

The buyer decides which properties and communities to pursue.

A Real Westchester Relocation: From California to Hawthorne

One recent client came to John knowing very little about Westchester County.

He had grown up in upstate New York before moving to California, where he bought a home and built his career as a healthcare professional. When a new position brought him back to New York to work with a hospital serving both New York City and Westchester County, he needed to determine where to focus his home search.

John and the client first met during the last week of October 2025.

His budget was around $1.5 million, and commute distance was one of the criteria he identified for the search.

The search eventually included Rye, Rye Brook, Ardsley, Irvington, Scarsdale, Edgemont, Briarcliff Manor, Hastings-on-Hudson, Thornwood and Hawthorne.

Looking across those areas allowed the client to compare the homes available around his budget along with the locations and commute considerations that mattered to him.

The client lost multiple bidding wars during the search, including one in which he offered more than $100,000 above the asking price and did not get the property.

Then, in early March, he found the home he wanted to pursue in Hawthorne.

For his budget, that property offered more of the home characteristics he was looking for than some of the other properties he had considered.

He made an offer above the asking price and waived certain contingencies, including the appraisal contingency, while keeping his inspection contingency.

Before moving forward, John discussed an important financial risk with him.

Based on the recent comparable sales John reviewed for a property of that size, condition and location, the home might not appraise at the agreed purchase price. Without an appraisal contingency, a lower appraisal could affect the amount of cash the buyer needed to complete the purchase, depending on his financing.

The client understood the risk and chose to proceed.

The appraisal eventually came in at $1.4 million, approximately $100,000 above the home's original asking price but below the accepted offer.

There were also four offers above $1.5 million on the property.

Those were two different pieces of information about the same transaction: the appraised value and the amounts several buyers were willing to offer for that particular property.

The client's search lasted roughly seven months, from the first consultation in October 2025 through closing in May 2026.

He didn't begin the process focused on Hawthorne. He reached that decision after comparing properties, locations, commute considerations and prices across multiple parts of Westchester.

The decision was his. John's role was to give him the property and market information he needed to evaluate the options and understand the transaction risks.

John's Own Move From New York City to Westchester

John's understanding of relocation is personal, too.

He grew up in a New York City borough and spent his twenties living in Manhattan.

When John and his wife started thinking about raising a family, they made their own decision to move to Westchester County. They wanted more space while still maintaining access to Manhattan.

That experience is part of John's own story. It doesn't determine whether Westchester, or any particular Westchester community, is the right choice for someone else.

For a buyer considering the move, John's role is to explain the real-estate and location information that can be compared. The buyer decides what matters and where to focus the search.

How John Helps Buyers Compare Westchester Options

Much of the work can happen before a buyer makes an offer.

If commute time matters, John can review current Metro-North schedules at mta.info for the stations relevant to the properties or locations the buyer is considering rather than relying on a generic commute estimate.

If property taxes are a concern, John contacts the appropriate municipal assessor's office when appropriate to help verify available property tax and assessment information rather than relying solely on an online estimate. Questions requiring tax, legal or financial advice should be addressed with the appropriate qualified professional.

John also uses OneKey MLS information to evaluate local housing and market conditions relevant to the buyer's search.

Depending on what the buyer identifies as important, the comparison can include:

• budget and available housing;
• property characteristics;
• current listings and recent sales;
• property taxes and assessment information;
• location;
• Metro-North and other transportation considerations;
• downtown access;
• walkability where relevant to a specific property or location;
• proximity to specific destinations the buyer identifies as important.

John's job isn't to decide which Westchester community is best for the buyer.

It's to provide useful real-estate and location information so the buyer can compare the options and make that decision.

Helping Westchester Homeowners Sell

John also works with homeowners selling property throughout Westchester County.

For the market side of the process, he uses OneKey MLS information relevant to the property rather than relying only on a broad countywide statement about the market.

That can include reviewing relevant comparable sales, current competing listings and other property-specific market information when developing a pricing and listing strategy.

John's marketing work can include professional property presentation, digital marketing, video, social media and search-driven content.

The specific strategy depends on the property and the sale.

Westchester Real Estate Information Before You Make a Move

John also publishes videos and local real estate content for people researching a future purchase, sale or relocation.

His content covers Westchester communities, housing, commuting, property taxes, local market information and practical questions involved in moving in or out of the county.

Someone comparing Scarsdale and White Plains, for example, can examine objective differences such as available housing, prices, property taxes, municipal structure, transportation and location without needing someone else to declare one community better.

The same principle applies throughout Westchester.

The purpose of the information is to help consumers understand the differences and make their own decisions.

Considering a Move In or Out of Westchester County?

You don't need to have a particular town or property figured out before starting a real estate conversation.

If you're considering buying in Westchester, the conversation can begin with the practical criteria that affect your search: budget, housing, location, transportation, property taxes and the types of properties you're considering.

If you're thinking about selling, it can begin with your property, relevant OneKey MLS information, timing and what the selling process would involve.

John Buoninfante is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Real Broker NY LLC.

His approach comes back to the same simple idea that has become part of his business:

"I move people in and out of Westchester."

Frequently Asked Questions About John Buoninfante and Westchester Real Estate

Who is John Buoninfante?

John Buoninfante is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with Real Broker NY LLC who works with buyers and sellers throughout Westchester County, New York. He helps clients buy, sell and relocate in and out of Westchester and creates local real estate content about housing, commuting, property taxes, market conditions and Westchester communities.

What areas of Westchester County does John Buoninfante serve?

John works throughout Westchester County, including Scarsdale, White Plains, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow, Ardsley, Pleasantville, Valhalla and surrounding communities. His work is not limited to those locations.

Does John help buyers relocating from New York City or other parts of the country?

Yes. John works with buyers relocating to Westchester from New York City and other parts of the country. He can help them compare properties and locations using criteria they identify, such as budget, housing, commute, transportation, property taxes and location, while the buyer decides where to focus the search.

How does John help buyers compare Westchester communities?

John helps buyers compare objective real-estate and location information rather than telling them which community is best. Depending on the buyer's stated criteria, that can include housing, budget, current listings and recent sales, property taxes, Metro-North access, location, downtown access and proximity to specific destinations important to the buyer.

How does John research Westchester property taxes and market information?

When appropriate, John contacts the relevant municipal assessor's office to help verify available property tax and assessment information rather than relying solely on online estimates. For Westchester housing and market information, he uses OneKey MLS data relevant to the property or area being analyzed. Tax, legal and financial questions requiring professional advice should be addressed with the appropriate qualified professional.

How can I start a conversation with John about buying, selling or relocating in Westchester?

You can start before you have every detail figured out. For a purchase or relocation, the conversation can begin with your budget, housing requirements, location, transportation and other objective criteria you want to compare. For a sale, it can begin with the property, timing and relevant market information.

John can be reached by email at John@JohnWestchesterRealtor.com or through JohnWestchesterRealtor.com.

John Buoninfante
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
Real Broker NY LLC
477 Madison Ave., 6th Floor, Suite 648
New York, NY 10022
John@JohnWestchesterRealtor.com
JohnWestchesterRealtor.com