New to Practical Finger Lakes? This page points you to the right guides depending on where you are: still exploring, getting close to buying, or already owning a place.
Start with these guides
- STAR, Assessments, and Grievance Day: A Property Tax Primer for Finger Lakes Homeowners
- Septic Systems in the Finger Lakes: State Rules, Local Rules, and Help Paying for Replacement
If you’re getting serious about buying
Read the septic basics guide to understand how state and local rules fit together, then go to the lake site for the property you’re considering. Register for STAR as soon as the home becomes your primary residence.
Browse every topic
- Buying & Property Types
- Older Homes
- Septic & Wells
- Winter Living & Access
- Heating & Utility Costs
- Shoreline Rules & Permits
- Insurance
- Property Taxes
- Year-Round Living
The Finger Lakes network
This site is part of a small network of practical, source-linked guides to living in the Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier:
- Living on Keuka: year-round life on Keuka Lake
- Living on Seneca: year-round life around Seneca Lake
- Living on Canandaigua: year-round life on Canandaigua Lake
- Hornell Living: year-round life in Hornell and the Southern Tier