Moving back to Long Island from NC (New York, Hicksville: affordable houses, purchase)

[NYC2RDU]

Originally Posted by ClarkStreetKid

What's wrong with North Babylon?

I've never lived in North Babylon but I've visited many times. I have a friend that lives there just off Rte. 231. When he purchased a dozen years ago he figured he'd stay a few years until he built up equity and his business and would cash out and buy bigger elsewhere. Fast forward six years and he found himself extremely successful and able to afford just about anyplace he desired. He and his wife decided that while they could find a bigger house and more property elsewhere they'd never find a neighborhood they enjoyed as much, and so they stayed.

Plus for anyone who's a sucker for Christmas/Holiday decorations I dare you to find a neighborhood that puts themselves out there like North Babylon.

[nbres]

North Babylon is a great place to raise a family. It is often overlooked and thus undervalued. Having lived here for seven years I can say that the place has an almost small town feel. What does North Babylon have to offer:
1. Affordable homes in some very nice neighborhoods - check out Sunset City and Phelps Lane area. Splits and Colonials for under $500,000.
2. Shopping galore nearby: DP AVE, Sunrise Hwy, rte. 110, etc..
3. North Babylon Fire Department Haloween Haunted House and Christmas in North Babylon: lights and NBFD Santa.
4. Belmont Lake State Park and Phelps Lane Pool and Park
5. Sports for the Kids - soccer, t-ball, football, etc...
6. very strong community spirit - many longtime residents.
7. despite what others say the schools are fine. Woods Elementary is the best, but all have very strong parental involvement.
8. North Babylon doesn't have snob attitudes - your kids won't feel left out.
9. You can afford a nice home without two incomes - many stay-at-home moms here - which means more involvement with kids.
10. Clean and safe.

[ClarkStreetKid]

That's a lot of the things that made growing up in NB so good back in the 60's and 70's.

[jj_nycguy]

Originally Posted by momix5

Really what is wrong with North Babylon?

Hmmmm, let me clarify. There are plenty of nice places but not where I would raise my family. For many North Babylon, Bay Shore, Deer Park, Brentwood, Lindenhurst are just the right place. That is what makes us different. For me, these places are not as desirable for me because they lack some, or all, what I was looking for. I have family in all of the places, I stated, so I know them very well. If I insulted anyone,I apologize, that was not my intention.

Desirable area for me were Bayside, Whitestone, North Syosset, Jericho, East Norwich, Cold Spring Harbor, Centerport, Northport, Huntington Bay, North Smithtown & Stonybrook. There are others, but this is what comes to mind.

Again, my criteria for a nice place to raise a family was crime (check out the Beat section of Newsday), types of neighbors, community spirit, kids playing in the street, traffic flow, property appreciation (dollars), etc... the list goes on and on. I'm a strong believer in buying in the very best desirable area even if it means buying the smallest house. Turning over a small house is easy which puts you in position to own a much larger home. I more than doubled my money in five years, with my first home. The home I have now is worth about $800k, which I bought in 2002 for just over $400k.

[Smartperson4565]

Miss LI are you nuts lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LI sucks the only great thing about it is malls!!!!

[bunster]

Originally Posted by rperreta

Let me tell you something - We moved from Queens to Hicksville LI and we have been living here now for about 14 years and my wife and I to this day still feel like an outcast. Why? Well, lets start with the stuck up mothers in the schools that think there sh*t don't stink because there driving a Benz or BMW... Everyone is so superficial, they pretend to be friendly and the minute you turn around the gossip starts... I had my fair share of the bull and I can't wait to the day I say goodbye to LI!

Hello, I have lived in different parts of the country and I can tell you, it's definitely not just long island. Everywhere you go there's going to be insecure people who can only feel better by trying to make you feel worse. Don't move because of ignorant people, surround yourself with intelligent, decent people (they're in every town also and ignore the rest of them, how small they are that they need to gossip and put down others to feel better about themselves.

I left LI about 17 years ago and I've been trying to get back ever since. I may just make it back within 2 years, that's my goal. I found that if you join groups, volunteer, etc. in your community, you will soon be accepted and you'll have an "ownership" in your community.

[bunster]

Originally Posted by Smartperson4565

Miss LI are you nuts lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LI sucks the only great thing about it is malls!!!!

Not the LI I know and I HATE malls. I love the ocean, the bay, the sound, the farmstands, etc. I lived in Montauk, Amagansett and Southampton and I loved it. I miss the smell of salt air, sunsets over Shinnecock Bay. There's a little place called the Montauket in Montauk where the locals go and the sunsets are so magnificent the entire clientel get up and give it a standing ovation If you go down to the docks at the right time in Montauk you can buy fish fresh off the boats pulling in and sometimes they'll just give you fish for free. There are places in Stony Brook and Hampton Bays where we'd hang out at night with flashlights and nets and coax crab up and take them home for dinner. There's places where you can walk out in the water up to your knees and "feel" the mussels and clams under the sand with your toes and dig them up and have a nice fresh dinner. In Southampton on wednesday nights they had free concerts in the park, we'd bring the kids, blankets and chairs and a picnic dinner in the summer and have wonderful free entertainment and everyone watched out for each other's children. Taking a ferry over to Shelter Island is so relaxing and just driving and going into the little shops there, then having a bowl of chowder with fresh bread.....I could go on and on but I just get more homesick. I know there's places on LI I don't like but the east end of the north and south forks is great albeit expensive but if you don't spend your money in the malls you can enjoy life out there too

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by bunster

Not the LI I know and I HATE malls. I love the ocean, the bay, the sound, the farmstands, etc. I lived in Montauk, Amagansett and Southampton and I loved it. I miss the smell of salt air, sunsets over Shinnecock Bay. There's a little place called the Montauket in Montauk where the locals go and the sunsets are so magnificent the entire clientel get up and give it a standing ovation If you go down to the docks at the right time in Montauk you can buy fish fresh off the boats pulling in and sometimes they'll just give you fish for free. There are places in Stony Brook and Hampton Bays where we'd hang out at night with flashlights and nets and coax crab up and take them home for dinner. There's places where you can walk out in the water up to your knees and "feel" the mussels and clams under the sand with your toes and dig them up and have a nice fresh dinner. In Southampton on wednesday nights they had free concerts in the park, we'd bring the kids, blankets and chairs and a picnic dinner in the summer and have wonderful free entertainment and everyone watched out for each other's children. Taking a ferry over to Shelter Island is so relaxing and just driving and going into the little shops there, then having a bowl of chowder with fresh bread.....I could go on and on but I just get more homesick. I know there's places on LI I don't like but the east end of the north and south forks is great albeit expensive but if you don't spend your money in the malls you can enjoy life out there too

Thank you for that reply...I could feel a the warmth of a summer sunset, the golden hues and gentle breeze off the water...........

[yeaitsme]

Originally Posted by NickL28

As long as you have money & love to shop (life on Long Island is just about shopping, spending money & laughing about maxing out as many credit cards as possible -- aside from working & commuting) then you will love living on Long Island. Make sure that you have money (plenty of it) and don't think that you can survive on less than $250,000 a year (more if you have kids).. And be prepared to spend over $500 a month on a car or SUV lease and another few hundred for gas every month..

Home prices coming down is a myth.. You still can't touch an average $500,000 starter home if you earn in the five figures.

You better buy now because lower mortgage rates & gas prices are leading to a re acceleration of home sales & prices not to mention that surging rents in the 5 boros of NYC & in Nassau county is making home ownership much more attractive than wasting $30,000 a year on rent.

Please what planet are ou on? This is so over exaggerating that it is false. First of all Long Island is not at all about shopping and maxing out credit cards. Those who love it know it is about the Island itself. The fact we have NYC, mountains, amazing beaches, easy access to travel, good schools, diversity, job opportunities....I could go on and on. yes it is expensive but there are homes under $500K in great neighborhoods. Those starting off can do it as long as they buy a STARTER home. People seem to forget that hard work will still get you far on Long Island. Making $250k a year is not a nessessity at all.

[yeaitsme]

Originally Posted by Samantha33

I too miss Long Island so much. We moved to the Syracuse area in July. We bought our 1st house which we were unable to do on the island, however I am really unhappy. The weather is so dreary and i feel so alone & isolated. We don't know anyone in the area , we came up because of the affordability and my husband wanted to stay in NY. My kids are 5 & 3 and I just found out I am pregnant again with twins. This news sort of seals the deal on not being able to move back. I don't know how anyone can afford to live on LI with 4 kids. It is funny because the things I complained about on LI I miss. i miss the congestion, obnoxius people. At least they have some flavor. I miss my family who are all still there and I miss just knowing the island from Brooklyn to Riverhead. i think we took for granted all the things we had access to. I miss being able to jump on a train and be in Manhattan in 40 min. Can you tell I am really homesick. I wish I could go back, I am jealous. Does anyone have any suggestions?

(((samantha)))) Could you buy a 3br COOP? I know shirley mastic area gets a bad rap but maybe buy a starter there. There are some decent areas and it would get you back here. Another thing I could suggest is buying really small in another area but having to cram. There are some small homes scattered throughout the island that are affordable!