Avoid Long Island If You Can (New York, Hempstead: loft, crime, big house)

[Rachael84]

My boyfriend and I will be making $150k together by the time I'm 27 and him 30...do you think we'll be able to afford LI still?

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by TristansMommy

Again.. you are still so new to LI. Wait.. watch how your taxes are going to rise and rise and rise. Read a later post by another person on this board who's watched her property taxes rise at an average rate of $400 /year.. but her salary at a 75 cent raise! Also.. LIPA gets more and more expensive and so on and so forth. And apparently Florida has a cost of living problem that isn't quite up to the same as LI, and a lot of people NOT happy in Florida. LI has a lot of wonderful thigns to offer.. and maybe you'll be fine, but wait till your kids grow up.. if it continues this way they won't be able to raise their families here.. and as the cost of livign keeps increasing at the rate that it is..you will see your savings dwindle.. both for your kids college and your retirement. You're off to a good start.. but give it some time.. you'll soon see what us born and raised here LI'rs are speaking of.

You lived someplace else before coming to LI. You lived someplace that allowed you to afford to save, because it didn't cost as much to live there as it does here. So.. good for you. I've been here my entire life and can never get ahead because everythign is so expensive. I certainl don't live beyond my means.. and I don't expect to. I just expect to be able to not have to worry that I'm a hiccup away from being out on my butt. You'll soon see that IF you ever fall behind on LI.. it's going to be tough. Great that you can liev without TV.. but sad that you'd have to give up stuff like that in order to live here.. wait till your kids are older and want the things all kids want.. then what will you do?

1) Taxes go up everywhere. My taxes should drop this year after I grieve them, as the townships appraisal of my property is well above what it sold for. Still, I understand that they go up, and fortunately, I'm in a job position with a fixed annual increase.

2) As time goes on, because my mortgage is fixed, my mortgage payment with annually shrink vis a vis my income. By the time my son is older and competitive, we will be able to afford iPods and the rest. Besides, my wife will also be back to work by that time, effectively increasing household income by bout 40%.

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by NYC2RDU

People challenge your Pollyanna rhetoric (yes, it is Pollyanna-ish) with hard questions and you deflect. In my opinion you've done a classically poor job of answering any questions directed at you by tossing out irrelevant or unsubstantiated information.

For example, you can't say you're sensitive to people's problems when you fail to acknowledge they exist. Based on the sum total of your posts the problem isn't the escalating cost of living on Long Island but rather peoples general air of entitlement. That's dismissive and rude, particularly to those who have sacrificed and are still struggling.

You accuse me of having seemingly little knowledge of East Northport without explaining why you'd think that. There are million dollar homes throughout East Northport with a particular concentration of same right behind Elwood Shopping Center. Check with Tom Moser, he'll more then happily verify their existence. I lived in the area for a dozen years; have you lived their for much more then a dozen weeks? And you still haven't shared with anyone which area of the neighborhood you're re-gentrifying.

Lastly on the financial front I'm curious about your numbers. You must have qualified for a mortgage rate at least a half-point lower then anything being offered anywhere I looked in the Spring. Because in order to acquire a mortgage of over $300k with property taxes around $6k, homeowners insurance for an estimated $1k and still have a monthly payment of $2400 the rate would've needed to be below 6.00%. Considering closing costs of only $3k (did that include your attorney?) I'm assuming you didn't buy points either. I want to be clear, I'm not accusing you of lying. I just can't make the numbers work based on your claims and what the rates were back in the Spring when I shopped for mortgages.

I don't really know your finances much like you don't know mine or anyone else's who you've insulted along the way when you make a statement like "because people today are convinced they deserve everything". However the decisions you so proudly boast of in your post reek of someone supporting a tight budget. I understand not having cable television or cell phone service as life choices. But I have a difficult time understanding a weekly grocery budget of $85 for a family of three. That seems more weird then frugal. And if that number or anything close to it is required in order to make ends meet then you're simply living on borrowed time.

1) I think that a general sense of entitlement is something that many Americans suffer from. So, I guess I'm being rude to a large number of people. I go without a lot, and I never feel like I'm not living with this "dignity" that others claim I deserve. Do I know the particulars of other's life situations? No. Do I think my claim applies to all here? No. Why would you think I intended it to be so unless you were looking to box me into a corner.

2) Regarding your knowlede of East Northport, I really don't care what you know. I do know that the area that i'm presently in has small modest houses, and that these are scattered throughout. I'm I going to tell you precisely where I live? No. That is none of your business.

3) Regarding my mortgage, you missed that I had a substantial down payment -- 20%. That alters your math. You are right that I didn't finance at below 6%. My attorney was $1000. I paid for other attorneys as well, but the "points" I didn't pay for. I deferred escrow, and save for myself.

To sum, I don't think just anyone can move to this island. A person would have to have a job, have to live very frugally, and need to either find a rental unit or move out east. That still doesn't mean that person can't live here. So, chill your tenor a touch and give me the benefit of thr doubt.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by NYNewbie

1) Taxes go up everywhere. My taxes should drop this year after I grieve them, as the townships appraisal of my property is well above what it sold for. Still, I understand that they go up, and fortunately, I'm in a job position with a fixed annual increase.

2) As time goes on, because my mortgage is fixed, my mortgage payment with annually shrink vis a vis my income. By the time my son is older and competitive, we will be able to afford iPods and the rest. Besides, my wife will also be back to work by that time, effectively increasing household income by bout 40%.

That's great.. good for you.. you started with an advantage becuase you didn't grow up and have to pay the cost of living here from the time you were born.
But.. your children.. they won't be able to afford to live here.. that's the point. You lived someplace that allowed you to afford to save.. because yoru cost of living was a lot less.
Yes.. taxes go up everywhere, BUT not at the rate that LI does. WE are the 2nd highest taxed place in the country and by over $6,000 above the national average and climbing.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by NYNewbie

1) Taxes go up everywhere. My taxes should drop this year after I grieve them, as the townships appraisal of my property is well above what it sold for. Still, I understand that they go up, and fortunately, I'm in a job position with a fixed annual increase.

2) As time goes on, because my mortgage is fixed, my mortgage payment with annually shrink vis a vis my income. By the time my son is older and competitive, we will be able to afford iPods and the rest. Besides, my wife will also be back to work by that time, effectively increasing household income by bout 40%.

That's great.. good for you.. you started with an advantage becuase you didn't grow up and have to pay the cost of living here from the time you were born.
But.. your children.. they won't be able to afford to live here.. that's the point. You lived someplace that allowed you to afford to save.. because yoru cost of living was a lot less.
Yes.. taxes go up everywhere, BUT not at the rate that LI does. WE are the 2nd highest taxed place in the country and by over $6,000 above the national average and climbing.

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by dogcrazy

it is not about "slacking'We pay out the ass and what are we getting?

If you don't know what you are getting move to one of those places that don't have taxes. You don't get services. Let me tell you about Florida.

1) The schools are horrendous. The teachers are among the worst paid. They aren't allowed to collectively bargain, which saves corporations and the state big money. An anti-tax governor dissolved the civil workers union because he was through with people thinking that public service entitled them to a decent lifestyle.

2) There is terrible governance. The state is run by corporate toadies who give the developers everything they want. Take for example Deltona, Florida. Deltona is built on lumpy land. The lowlands are seasonal pools. Because Florida went through a dry-spell, the land appeared dry. Developers were granted the rights to build there. Once regular rains began again, homes flooded. The developers were "long gone" (a county over), so the city paid those people for their homes and made retention areas out of the houses. The city knew those places would flood because they were warned. The state is also allowing the state to be over built. The state is provided water by an elaborate system of aquifers that can only sustain so much growth. These aquifers also provide Florida with some of the natural wonders that make the place amazing (e.g., hot springs that attract manatee). If the population growth continues unabated, so much water will be used that the system will begin to leach seawater. This will destroy the ecosystem. Brought this up to my state house rep. in a public debate, and he didn't care.

There's more, but my wife and I want to do something.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by NYNewbie

If you don't know what you are getting move to one of those places that don't have taxes. You don't get services. Let me tell you about Florida.

1) The schools are horrendous. The teachers are among the worst paid. They aren't allowed to collectively bargain, which saves corporations and the state big money. An anti-tax governor dissolved the civil workers union because he was through with people thinking that public service entitled them to a decent lifestyle.

2) There is terrible governance. The state is run by corporate toadies who give the developers everything they want. Take for example Deltona, Florida. Deltona is built on lumpy land. The lowlands are seasonal pools. Because Florida went through a dry-spell, the land appeared dry. Developers were granted the rights to build there. Once regular rains began again, homes flooded. The developers were "long gone" (a county over), so the city paid those people for their homes and made retention areas out of the houses. The city knew those places would flood because they were warned. The state is also allowing the state to be over built. The state is provided water by an elaborate system of aquifers that can only sustain so much growth. These aquifers also provide Florida with some of the natural wonders that make the place amazing (e.g., hot springs that attract manatee). If the population growth continues unabated, so much water will be used that the system will begin to leach seawater. This will destroy the ecosystem. Brought this up to my state house rep. in a public debate, and he didn't care.

There's more, but my wife and I want to do something.

Well.. Florida is only one of the states in this country.. as is New York.. I, for one, will NOT chose to move to Florida.. LOL.. It sounds like you felt the only two places within the country are Florida or NY.

How about Lancaster County PA.. Beautiful, not too far from DC, Phili and NYC (about 5 hours I think)... much lower taxes - but you get ALOT more house for your money.. Awesome schools (I've been doing my research)..yup.. there are some not so great areas..but I will avoid those. And . ... a lot of NY'rs considering that area as well. Much better quality of life.. Friendly neighbors with that small town feel but not too rural... there's also so many other places..
Will I have ALL the services my extremely bloated taxes pay for.. no .. but guess what.. I WILL have financial security, less financial stress and I will be able to enjoy my surroundings rather than having me or my husband work all the damned time to get nowhere and treat water.

[Redd Jedd]

Originally Posted by NY62

Tristansmommy , Hang in there kid. You are not alone in your struggles. Most people will not open up , but they feel the same as you. The thing is though most people and you are included can "afford" to live hear. But you will give up to much just to get by. and you will never save a dime. This has been the case for a long long time here on the island. people didnt really save , they sold there homes and used the equity to retire somewhere cheeper. The problem now is with the low interest rates most people refied . quick easy cheap money everyone thought, well the tide has turned and the houses stopped going way up, I am not saying they are going down that much,they just stopped climbing. Now there are alot of people that should be sitting pretty but they are not
, instead of 100k mortgages they have 300k mortgages or better. Who here honestly thinks they will pay off that 300 to 400k mortgage? heck I bet half of us dont even live that long. So you go tristansmommy and do what you feel is best for your family because you are correct LI is a great place but very expensive across the board , but like anything else, remember you get what you pay for. Good luck to you.

Yeah, well it was a nice post until you threw in "you get what you pay for". Are you saying that no other place measures up to LI? The attitude that you seem to be conveying here is that LI is superior to the rest of the country because it cost so much to live there, hence you are getting a superior product.

High utility rates, school/property/state taxes and home costs are the major components of LI’s high cost of living. That is what you are paying for. All of these things are available at lower costs elsewhere. There are places that are doing it better and for less money elsewhere.

Yes you lose the uniqueness of living near NYC, but trade off is you gain the uniqueness of living where you end up. Life is about trade offs for most people. But it seems that some (not all) are willing to sacrifice even more of the things that have become basic parts of our lives (cell phones and other “new basics” - maybe not cable TV – one can still get over the air stations and be happy), just to live on LI. But is that really living? Isn’t each generation supposed to progress a little more than the preceding one? I guess these are the people who say that they have not done better than their parents.

If these people don’t think they’ll ever pay off a $300K or $400K mortgage, what happens to it? Sounds like a Ponzi scheme. I guess they dump it on their kids, who have to sell the house to pay off the note. Hopefully for them prices and equity are up at the time and they don’t loose money.

Sorry to ramble, but the “you get what you pay for” argument is very condescending to the rest of the country.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by Redd Jedd

Yeah, well it was a nice post until you threw in "you get what you pay for". Are you saying that no other place measures up to LI? The attitude that you seem to be conveying here is that LI is superior to the rest of the country because it cost so much to live there, hence you are getting a superior product.

High utility rates, school/property/state taxes and home costs are the major components of LI’s high cost of living. That is what you are paying for. All of these things are available at lower costs elsewhere. There are places that are doing it better and for less money elsewhere.

Yes you lose the uniqueness of living near NYC, but trade off is you gain the uniqueness of living where you end up. Life is about trade offs for most people. But it seems that some (not all) are willing to sacrifice even more of the things that have become basic parts of our lives (cell phones and other “new basics” - maybe not cable TV – one can still get over the air stations and be happy), just to live on LI. But is that really living? Isn’t each generation supposed to progress a little more than the preceding one? I guess these are the people who say that they have not done better than their parents.

If these people don’t think they’ll ever pay off a $300K or $400K mortgage, what happens to it? Sounds like a Ponzi scheme. I guess they dump it on their kids, who have to sell the house to pay off the note. Hopefully for them prices and equity are up at the time and they don’t loose money.

Sorry to ramble, but the “you get what you pay for” argument is very condescending to the rest of the country.

Well put RedJedd.. thank you. I couldn't have said it better myself

[Redd Jedd]

Originally Posted by NYNewbie

If you don't know what you are getting move to one of those places that don't have taxes. You don't get services. Let me tell you about Florida.

1) The schools are horrendous. The teachers are among the worst paid. They aren't allowed to collectively bargain, which saves corporations and the state big money. An anti-tax governor dissolved the civil workers union because he was through with people thinking that public service entitled them to a decent lifestyle.

2) There is terrible governance. The state is run by corporate toadies who give the developers everything they want. Take for example Deltona, Florida. Deltona is built on lumpy land. The lowlands are seasonal pools. Because Florida went through a dry-spell, the land appeared dry. Developers were granted the rights to build there. Once regular rains began again, homes flooded. The developers were "long gone" (a county over), so the city paid those people for their homes and made retention areas out of the houses. The city knew those places would flood because they were warned. The state is also allowing the state to be over built. The state is provided water by an elaborate system of aquifers that can only sustain so much growth. These aquifers also provide Florida with some of the natural wonders that make the place amazing (e.g., hot springs that attract manatee). If the population growth continues unabated, so much water will be used that the system will begin to leach seawater. This will destroy the ecosystem. Brought this up to my state house rep. in a public debate, and he didn't care.

There's more, but my wife and I want to do something.

While the schools maybe better in NY, the flip side is that while teachers make a living wage, each district duplicates the same exact services from top to bottom as the ones that surround it. Tremendous overhead, especially in facility services and administration, where the really out of hand costs are. You will see that school taxes on average go up 5% to 10% a year depending on the district. It may not seem like a lot, but I adds up.