Moving to New York

Start with schools. Manhattan private school admissions run a year ahead, with applications in the autumn for the following September.

Then decide between the city and the suburbs, and only then look at buildings, because co-op boards add weeks to every purchase.

New York State taxes income at up to 10.9%, and New York City residents pay up to about 3.9% more. Connecticut tops out at 6.99% with no city tax, which is much of Greenwich's appeal.

New York audits departures and arrivals closely. Keep a day count from your first day.

International movers usually arrive on an L-1, H-1B, O-1 or E-2, or through an EB-5 investment. Finance employers sponsor routinely.

Most Manhattan apartments are co-ops, whose boards approve buyers, limit financing and often ask for liquid reserves after closing. Condominiums carry no board approval but cost more.

A mansion tax applies to purchases of $1M or more, on top of transfer taxes.

Manhattan's independent schools, including Spence, Chapin, Brearley, Collegiate, Trinity and Dalton, are oversubscribed. Admission, not supply, is the constraint.

Scarsdale, Bronxville and Rye are among the strongest public districts in the commuter belt.

NewYork-Presbyterian, NYU Langone and Mount Sinai anchor care. Coverage is private and usually employer-provided.

Every major bank is here and accounts open easily with a New York address. International movers should bring credit history documents, because a US credit score starts from zero.