Buffalo Listings & Lattes: The Neighborhood Guide for People Moving to Buffalo

HostAs the City of Good Neighbors, it’s only fitting to have a welcoming committee for new neighbors moving into town. Joining me now from Buffalo Listings & Lattes are Brittany and Catie. Hi, ladies — thanks for joining me.

BrittanyThanks for having us.

HostSo tell us more about Buffalo Listings & Lattes. What is it?

BrittanyIt’s an Instagram page that Catie and I created as a creative outlet to share all things Buffalo — housing tips and tricks, new listings — and really highlight our community.

HostWhen and how did this all get started?

CatieWe both became real estate agents a couple of years ago, and we wanted to combine forces and do marketing together. We’re both self-proclaimed coffee snobs, so that’s where the lattes come in — we love finding the best coffee shops in the neighborhood. We were going to do our new listings and buyer tips and mix in some local coffee shops, and now it’s grown to highlighting businesses, neighborhoods, local events, community things.

HostSo the mission is really about highlighting what there is to offer in these neighborhoods.

BrittanyYes. A lot of home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, want to know about different areas — where are the best restaurants, parks if they have children, events that are going on — and we really like to highlight all of that.

CatieWe want to be the resource and the expert, because when you’re buying a home it’s a lot more than just the house. It’s the neighborhood. We want to be able to tell you where to get coffee, where to go for dinner, things like that.

HostSo you’re able to support these local businesses and organizations. Tell us about the relationships you’ve made and how you’ve made a difference in supporting them.

BrittanyWe have people reaching out to us now saying, we love what you’re doing, we’d love to collaborate with you on certain things. If it speaks to our brand, we’re willing to do so, because Buffalo has so much to offer and so much to highlight.

CatieAnd all of it is very organic. These businesses are not paying us to highlight them. It’s places we actually go to and enjoy. We also highlight nonprofits in the area, especially ones that help buyers and sellers. We visited the library, which is a nonprofit organization, last winter — we didn’t know much about it until we visited, and now we think it’s a great place. We’re working with the Junior League of Buffalo as well on their showhouse coming next year.

HostTalk to us more about how this is also benefiting your real estate clients who are buying or selling with you.

BrittanyAgain, we’re a resource to learn about our community and different neighborhoods. Sometimes we work with buyers who are new to the area, so our page can show you things like the best places to work remotely, or the upcoming fall events.

CatieAnd even if you’re not looking to buy or sell, locals have started turning to us as a guide — what to do this weekend, where to watch the Bills game. We’ve even had people reach out from different cities. Somebody from Toronto asked where to watch the Bills game in Toronto. We’re very focused on Western New York, but it’s cool to see.

HostWhat do you think makes Buffalo such a sought-after place to buy and to live?

BrittanyI’d say affordability, really.

CatieAnd I think it’s a little underrated. People who aren’t from here think, they get so much snow, why would anybody want to live there? But it really has such a tight-knit feel while still having a little bit of that big-city energy. It’s a great balance of both. And we have a lot of different cultures, different restaurants — it’s a bit of a melting pot.

HostNow, you did say — your words, not mine — that you’re coffee snobs. What are some of your favorites in Buffalo or Western New York?

BrittanyWe could talk about this all afternoon. I’m a fan of Overwinter Coffee. I love Café Bewilderment — it’s such a great vibe in there. We love to get our work done there; it’s very motivating.

CatieI’m from the Southtowns, so my favorite spots are typically closer to there. Sevens Cafe in the Ward — if you’ve never been, you need to go, like, today. Undergrounds Coffee is super good. Dog Ears in South Buffalo is really good.

HostIt’s really exciting, if you’re new to the area, to get a sense of what Buffalo has to offer. We are so much more than the Bills, so much more than chicken wings, so much more than the snow. But sometimes you think, okay, where do I go? And you’ve really created that place. That’s such a draw if someone wants to move into the community.

BrittanyAbsolutely. I’m a North Buffalo girl myself, and what I love is that it’s the best of both worlds. You get a little city life on Hertel Avenue, but it also feels residential and homey, with kids playing in their yards.

HostOr maybe you want a more suburban, spread-out life. You’re able to help people envision what their lifestyle would be like.

CatieAbsolutely. That’s our goal.

HostIf people would like to connect with you and see more of what you have to offer, how can they do so?

BrittanyOur Instagram page — you can message us at Buffalo Listings & Lattes. We also have an email address: buffalolistingsandlattes@gmail.com.

HostThank you both so much for coming in and sharing more. For more updates on everything happening in Western New York for new homeowners, connect with Catie and Brittany at Buffalo Listings & Lattes on social media, and contact the Enas Latif Team to help take the stress out of buying and selling a home.

Transcript lightly edited for clarity.