I recently moved to the Buffalo NY area and I am really not familiar with the type of climate and plants that do well here. If anyone can help me out I would really appreciate it! I have tried just going to a local homestore, but it seems like they just try to sell you the most expensive plants and flowers. Thanks for your time!

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colorful plants for NY can include the following:

herbaceous plants- Petunia, pansy, impatience, geranium sp., geranium (pelargonium), sunflower, bee-balm/ monarda, delphinium, clemitis (a vine)

bulbs- tulips, iris

shrubs- rose, azalea, rhododendron

trees- eastern red-bud/ cercis canadensis, trees with fall color- maples/deciduous trees

Sure!
I believe you're in the same Ag Zone as me (Zone 5) so I'll list some of my favorites. I'm assuming you are referring to perennials.
Garden phlox, monarda (bee balm), Shasta daisy (leucanthemum), bellamcanda (blackberry lily), bearded iris, scabiosa (pincushion flower), gaillardia (blanket flower), oenethra (evening primrose), daylily and Asiatic lily are all long-lived perennials that thrive in sun to part shade, and are EASY to grow! Most are available in various colors, too.
If you have shady areas, some good ones are the old standby hosta, as well as Japanese toadlily, astilbe, pulmonaria (lungwort), columbine, dicentra (bleeding heart), and various types of ferns.
Hon please purchase your plants at a reputable local nursery rather than Home Depot or WalMart. Nursery employees are far more likely to be able to make recommendations, and you'll also be getting a better plant.
Any questions, just email me, I'll be happy to help.