Goodbye Long Island...Good Riddance! (Huntington, Valley Stream: rent, car insurance, crime)

[nancy thereader]

Since my LI is long gone I found a place that reminds me at least a little of the place my parents raised me.

It's sort of like being hijacked .

[fopt65]

Originally Posted by PhilG

Oh I plan to!! The problem for me is I'm a teacher - a relatively new one - and my salary will not allow me to live on LI unless it's in a dumpy apartment somewhere. I have a nine month old daughter, and it's very important to my wife and me that my wife stay home and raise her and (God-willing) the rest of our kids. I'm 28 and at the beginning of the pay scale. On LI, I would likely see a $10k increase in pay which would still be a far cray from what is necessary to maintain our very working-middle-class standard of living. I thought about changing careers, but I don't know what else I can do. I can definitely get something that will lead to much higher pay, but I can't start out at entry-level again now that I have a daughter and stay-at-home wife. The staying home part is non-negotiable, so I'm not sure what to do. I have other skills, of course, and I'm a type-A entrepreneurial sort of guy. Any suggestions would be helpful! In fact, I have enough real estate investments that would pay out several hundred thousand dollars, so I would easily be able to afford a nice downpayment. The problem is I would still have a $300k mortgage and $10k-$12k in taxes! Anyone have a job for me that starts at $125k per year?

Don't give up teaching. Your pension will be worth big bucks later on (especially on LI). You'll just have to do what everyone does to start:struggle. Get a second job, work summers, teach extracurricular activities. Do whatever it takes if this is what you want.
Downscale the home/area you are looking at. Look for foreclosures. Talk to the realtors on this forum. They are very knowledgable. Let the wife work at night or at home if need be.
But, re reading your post, I became confused. You stated you have enough real estate investments that "would pay out several hundred thousand dollars", so what is the problem? Lower your standards a notch, and you'll be fine. Every house can't be in Better Homes and Gardens.

[ClarkStreetKid]

It's sort of like being hijacked .

Nancy,
Don't get me wrong, I was ticked off to leave but now realize that Long Island's evolution was inevitable. LI hit a tipping point somewhere in the 70's (IMO) that locked in the course it's been on ever since. Without efficient ways to move the items manufactured on the Island off of the Island that sector was doomed and so was a way of life. And between the preservationist of a LI that was already obsolete and NIMBY, improvements to infrastructure and housing could never get done. To me it's insane to talk about high density housing when the roads are 20 years past being congested. After that it's been a slow erosion of what made LI a great place to live.

At this point I don't think much of returning to the Island and feel mostly relief at getting away during the late 80's diaspora. I still miss my LI and love to reminisce about it and talk about the place, but I'm under no illusions that it'll ever be what it was again. Like the Eagles said in the song "The Last Resort", "call something paradise, kiss it goodbye".

[okaydorothy]

Any teacher I know (and I know a few) have two jobs. If the wife stays at home with the children, he defiantely has two jobs. Otherwise both parents work.

I know most parents in my childrens school work.

d

[PhilG]

Originally Posted by fopt65

Don't give up teaching. Your pension will be worth big bucks later on (especially on LI). You'll just have to do what everyone does to start:struggle. Get a second job, work summers, teach extracurricular activities. Do whatever it takes if this is what you want.
Downscale the home/area you are looking at. Look for foreclosures. Talk to the realtors on this forum. They are very knowledgable. Let the wife work at night or at home if need be.
But, re reading your post, I became confused. You stated you have enough real estate investments that "would pay out several hundred thousand dollars", so what is the problem? Lower your standards a notch, and you'll be fine. Every house can't be in Better Homes and Gardens.

Actually, I have three jobs and a bunch of rental properties. I work at a local public high school, teach a class at one of the local community colleges, do per diem work for a beverage distributor (once in a while), and own five two-family homes that produce - in total - an additional $7k per year after expenses. My wife does not work, and with all these streams of income we have no debt and enjoy a very middle-of-the road middle class lifestyle. We drive old cars, do not have cable TV, go out to eat only once per month, live in a two-family home (that we own), and save very little for retirement beyond investing in real estate (which is all leveraged money, anyway). Also, I always work through the summer.

Two-hundred thousand dollars is enough for the downpayment, closing costs, and moving expenses associated with buying a decent family home in eastern Nassau/western Suffolk County. I understand that the remainder of the $200k after closing costs and moving expenses would leave us with a sizable downpayment, but I would still have to carry a $250k-$300k mortgage along with a likely $1k per month escrow payment. There are going to be some major changes in the near future. Teachers can't all work 3 jobs just to make ends meet. School will suffer; students will suffer. Scores will drop, and the reputation that LI schools now enjoy will change for the worse. People cannot be teachers or other middle-of-the-road paying professions (though profound in their need and affect) because they cannot live on the salaries. I do not think teachers should be paid more. I think the market has to change -that's all. There are enclaves of wealth in our society, but I don't think it can last that an entire region (LI) cannot be an enclave of wealth.

I've thought about it a lot; if I made the move I would either change careers or finish my doctoral degree here in Albany and take an adminitrative position in a LI school district. Taking a regular teaching job in a typical Nassau County school district would pay me in the low to mid $50s unless the school advanced me in steps. I'm a step 3 (rookie). I could also teach at a local community college (next to impossible to get into NCC without a doctorate or without knowing someone) or at a local vocational school. I could also get some other non-education related job. That would boost my income to the mid $60s. If I stick with education and get into school or district administration, I would be looking at a salary anywhere from just over $100k to close to $200k in some districts.

Like I said before, though, my band might still make it!!!!

[NYtoGAmom]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

LI just has NOTHING to offer, that's why the prices are so high and no one can afford to live here. Yes, I want to live in the boonies, goodbye LI. I am sure it's nice there in the boonies....

Be careful where you land up here in the "boonies". Some of these small towns are so bizarre!!!!
We moved to my home town Schroon Lake from Rockland County, where we LOVED the schools and hated the idea of buying a house that would bury us, until we decided where we want to be. The people are so unfriendly, there is NOTHING here for the children, and the winters last FOREVER!!!!!!! We are going to Georgia!!

[PhilG]

Originally Posted by NYtoGAmom

Be careful where you land up here in the "boonies". Some of these small towns are so bizarre!!!!
We moved to my home town Schroon Lake from Rockland County, where we LOVED the schools and hated the idea of buying a house that would bury us, until we decided where we want to be. The people are so unfriendly, there is NOTHING here for the children, and the winters last FOREVER!!!!!!! We are going to Georgia!!

Schroon Lake is defintely the boonies. Why not move to one of the Albany suburbs? You can still get a beautiful family home in Clifton Park or Scotia for much less than $300k. Niskayuna has higher taxes, but you can still buy a very nice home at a reasonable price and be in one of the best school districts in the state. I live in downtown Albany; I work in a small school in the rural part of Schenectady County. One thing is for sure - the winters can be very long!

[Valea]

I grew up in Long island and worked in city . Moved to Miami due to work months ago .
Long Island isnt cheap and congested compared to years ago but EVERY single thing all of you dislike about Long Island (but the cold) are way worse in Miami.
You want real congestion - high prices many cases HIGHER than NY -high crime -unfriendly folks than come to Miami .
Bloomberg and Spitzer while sleeping get more done than the bunch running things here get done in years. NY/Long Island is a great place .

You guys want to trade lol ?

[Valea]

Originally Posted by topflite

I just moved to LI from the Baltimore suburbs. It ain't so bad here. Stop whining about the expenses and get a better job! There is a place to work on every block.

Good Riddance! Have fun in NC with the bugs and the oppresive heat. Have fun finding a baseball team to root for. Oh yeah, you won't have one. Have fun pretending the Tax's won't increase in wherever you are going. Just look around and see all the new folks moving to NC. The local politicians know you have money and they need to boost social services in the coming years... Just look at South Florida 10 years ago. Used to be a bargain.

Funny you say that because my neighbors here are moving to NC .
I am in Miami and per square foot a house cost as much and soon more than in Long Island. Ofcourse in LI you have some very nice areas but as a whole.
Its ironic that an orange in Miami cost more than in Long Islands Waldbaums thats what S.Florida has become . Gosh I miss Waldbaums lol .
I am new to Miami only few months but it does seem many here going to NC .

[Tulley]

I don't know why anyone would move to long island. It's way too expensive. Young people have no means to survive here. I'm currently looking in Brooklyn, to me at least you pay for what you get. I've lived in Elmont all my life and I hate it. This town is changing for the worst. The few towns I would move to on long island go for a million or more, taxes are insane as well. Renting on long island is just as expensive. I pay lots for a crappy basement apt. I'm in my twentys and don't suggest long island for young people. It's sure as hell not what it used to be.