Reaper said:
Grace Under Pressure said:
So we just moved to New York from Arizona. Currently staying on Eastern LI, in the Stony Brook area. Wife grew up here, it's nice, but it's too far from the city for our taste. Daughter is almost 4, she's in a private school that we like so far, but nothing that we're definitely tied to. My wife works in Melville, I work from home. We make around $200K annually and have around $100K to put down on a house. Any suggestions from New Yorkers on where to live LI/Queens/Brooklyn on that type of budget? Some of the RE prices in this thread are a bit daunting.
What would your preferences be out here? With your wife in Melville then you can be a good number of places that would be no more than 30 min for her to commute but still have access to the City. Would you prefer a little more land or larger house, or "nicer" more expensive neighborhood? Assuming you are looking in the 500k range for a home, there are definitely some options, but you will have to sacrifice something. So, you can get a nice, small house with character in a nice neighborhood thats convenient with good schools, but if you prefer more land or more house then you will need to adjust expectations for location, schools etc.
Do you prefer that your daughter go to private school, as there are a lot of very good public options that would obviously cost you less.
Would likely be a number of options on the south shore, though I'm much more familiar with the North Shore. Some options in the Town of Huntington would be convenient for her work wise, and there is a good train line to NYC (though 50-60 min in, but it's direct and may have express options). School taxes are going to be a big issue as well hood to hood.
500K sounds about right. We're looking for a mix of house size, land, property taxes and school district. We'd keep our daughter in private school if we decide to sacrifice school district on that list for lower property taxes. Right now we're thinking:school district
backyard for dog
house size
We like the north shore as well. Huntington would be really convenient. I would like to make a push for Queens. Lower property taxes, good schools, closer to Manhattan, although there are compromises there as well. She'd have the reverse commute going East to Melville.
I'll search on Juniper Valley Park. Had never heard of it from family folks, searches, etc. and that's why FBG is so valuable. Thank you for the responses, we're open at this point.
I grew up on the North Shore and now live on the south shore...
Probably find some better value / lower taxes on the south shore and I can bike to the beach (8 miles)...
We're a 45 minute train ride to NYC (Merrick) and probably 20 minutes to Melville.... Towns like Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford and Massapequa would stretch the Train ride a litte more / closer to Melville... Mostly great School districts as well...
My favorite south shore town with an express train (55 min) is Babylon......
There are some real good areas in Dix Hills but, you have to watch out.... and then Commack is another good school district with better land...
There's no reason not to be in a good School district on LI - They say, that's why we pay these taxes....
Good stuff here. I agree that all things being equal, you will find a bit more value on the South Shore... some will come down to preference, however (i.e. North Shore is hills, more foliage and rocky LI Sound Beaches, South Shore has more interaction between towns it seems, more flat but you have great access to some absolutely great Ocean beaches).
The Babylon express train is big, because it allows you to get a bit further from NYC but still have a decent commute.
As far as the North Shore, Huntington has some good options - some issues near Huntington Station with crime, though the perception is much worse than reality, and if you end up in the right school district, you have a number of options in the Town that may work.
I happen to live up in Glen Cove, which as good elementary schools but after that there are issues. However, if you want to send your daughter to private school, you get 10% and sometimes 20% more home for the same price because of the schools. I grew up in Sea Cliff, where I'd love to buy a home (renting now), but its small lots, small houses, high prices... im fine with that mix but not sure my wife is. Better schools than Glen Cove, though.
