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I've known quite a few unwarys from Queens, Brooklyn, etc., who assume "all school districts on LI are good" and end up being sold houses in undesirable places that in the daytime look like "nice suburban neighborhoods" by brokers (who are thanking their lucky stars there's an outsider who is buying a house that's hard to unload). Unloading a house that is unsellable to someone with knowledge of the area on a person from the outside can be a broker's bread and butter. And an unwary buyer's worst nightmare -- finding out your neighborhood is not all that, after you've moved in.
That would be me. That's how I ended up in Copiague trying to get out now before my kids become school age.
That's why I am actively trying to get as much info as I can before making another mistake.
That would be me. That's how I ended up in Copiague trying to get out now before my kids become school age.
That's why I am actively trying to get as much info as I can before making another mistake.
Drive around the neighborhoods and shop amongst the locals..get a feel for the area. My wife and I also mapped out a boatload of listings off MLSLI, just got their locations and drove around block by block looking at all of them...learned a lot about the feel of the area(s) just by driving through, also was able to pick up on other intangibles such as blocks/areas that had a LOT of homes for sale (flag)...do your research this time. I'm in Bethpage/North Massapequa and used to commute to East New York via SSP/Belt. It's not a terrible commute. Taxes in the smaller districts might be a bit higher but it keeps the rif raf out (my opinion) and I like the small town community sense in a smaller SD, especially coming from Queens myself.
Taxes are a killer but with school age kids, in the right SD, worth it.
South Merrick certainly has a keeping up with the Jones's mentality. I understand how you are not finding much value in the area between Sunrise and Merrick Rd. My vote would be for Massapequa schools which are very good, but have less of the snobbery. However, that's going to be a long commute in bad weather. To the poster who suggested taking the LIRR, the wife works in Sheapshead Bay. A good part of that area is not accessible by subway. It would be LIRR-subway and/or bus-walk and the wife might have to drive to the LIRR station too. Driving is more feasible than taking the train to that part of Brooklyn.
Personal preference, Merrick is too close to Roosevelt and Freeport, there have been spikes in residential crime there. Bellmore, to me, I see a lot of smaller lots there, a lot of illegal conversions (my personal observation). Think the further east you get, the better it gets, until you hit Carman's Road.
I agree with your preference. As for Bellmore, I can't say as I haven't been through there in a long while.
The OP has two kids, wants good schools in a neighborhood that's nice, but not too snobbish, priced $400-475, convenient to Southern State Parkway since his wife commutes to Brooklyn via Belt Parkway.
Here's a suggestion. Look in Massapequa/North Massapequa, on the western border: starting at (to the south) Sunrise Highway, between Tackapausha Preserve and Rt. 107 (becomes North Massapequa) going north to the Southern State Parkway and on the eastern border: Massapequa, starting at (to the south) Sunrise Highway, to the east (Massapequa Preserve) going north to the Southern State Highway (becomes North Massapequa).
Schools are good, nice traditional neighborhoods, approximately 50 houses to choose from on mlsli.com in the price range, not too snobby, convenient to Southern State Parkway. Tip: real estate taxes seem to be a little more reasonable on the homes within Massapequa SD than on those within Farmingdale or Plainedge.
I don't get how posters are recommending against Merrick because of it's proximity to Roosevelt- that would be like me saying to avoid Massapequa because of it's proximity to Amityville. Both statements are ridiculous. It's not like Merrick is overrun with crime, it's a very safe neighborhood. As far as merrick south of Merrick Rd. (or even south of Sunrise) there was a bit too much snobbery for us so we passed. We ended up in North Merrick schools but we still have the Merrick address, and the people are so muchmore down to earth here and nice. Neighborhoods are beautiful, such as the Briarcliffor Wenshaw areas, and you could buy a great house in this neighborhood on your budget. The schools are excellent, there are many clubs and extracurriculars starting even at the elementary school level.
I would say you should focus your search on Massapequa, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, or North Merrick. Can't really go wrong in any of those areas.
I don't get how posters are recommending against Merrick because of it's proximity to Roosevelt- that would be like me saying to avoid Massapequa because of it's proximity to Amityville. .
Amityville isn't great, I'll give you that. But comparing Amityville to Roosevelt?
To that end, the spike in crime (or just the fact that there is more of it) in East Massapequa is relative to its bordering Amityville, hence, East Massapequa is off the list. In my opinion, Merrick is too close to Roosevelt, and points west of Roosevelt aren't getting better. The riff raff generally migrates east, so, I would be weary of Merrick as a long term investment.
I don't get how posters are recommending against Merrick because of it's proximity to Roosevelt- that would be like me saying to avoid Massapequa because of it's proximity to Amityville. Both statements are ridiculous. It's not like Merrick is overrun with crime, it's a very safe neighborhood. As far as merrick south of Merrick Rd. (or even south of Sunrise) there was a bit too much snobbery for us so we passed. We ended up in North Merrick schools but we still have the Merrick address, and the people are so muchmore down to earth here and nice. Neighborhoods are beautiful, such as the Briarcliffor Wenshaw areas, and you could buy a great house in this neighborhood on your budget. The schools are excellent, there are many clubs and extracurriculars starting even at the elementary school level.
I would say you should focus your search on Massapequa, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, North Bellmore, Merrick, or North Merrick. Can't really go wrong in any of those areas.
Last I checked, Amityville had a very nice area by the water, a lovely downtown, and it's schools didn't need to be taken over by the state. Amityville has a few sketchy areas, but unlike Roosevelt, the entire area isn't an armpit.
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