Port Jeff Station vs. Port Jeff vs. Rocky Point (Hempstead: short sale, power lines)

[iluvmycuties]

OB, I love your posts!

[rockypointny]

Originally Posted by TheLI5

HYSTERICAL - All this talk about PJS is really frustrating at best! My husband and I both grew up in Shoreham-Wading River and in 2003 we bought a house in Sound Beach (beautiful 2 year old home). After living there for less than a year we sold the home and moved due to our neighbors and the overall area being so sketchy. There were fights on the school bus every day (these were K and 1st graders) and lots of moms actually drove their kids to school so they didn't have to take the bus. My neighbors had 12 people living in a 2 bedroom house and the cops were there all the time ( there were houses like that on every block). We are blue collar working class but Rocky Point was over the top for us. I couldn't really get over the amount of section 8 and poverty in the town. My girlfriend and her husband moved out of their Rocky Point house because their neighbor sold coke and had his motorcycle crew sitting in lawn chairs all hours day and night partying! Rocky Point/Sound Beach is very hilly and isolated so if you get a few sketchy neighbors you will suffer unfortunately. We were looking for the American dream and we actually did find it in Port Jefferson Station. Our neighborhood is flat with sidewalks and tons of fabulous neighbors who do not have 7 cars parked on their front lawns - yay! We LOVE the Comsewogue school district and all that it has to offer. My children are getting a wonderful education and their are a million opportunities to get involved in the schools. There are a few streets where illegals tend to rent but you can easily avoid those areas. We chose PJS because it was affordable and the school district offered a lot of extras that we felt were important. Mount Sinai was too expensive for us and we really weren't looking to be in an "over the top" neighborhood. We do not drive an Escalade or have granite countertops, nor will we ever. Miller Place is 50% rich and 50% not so rich (Sound Beach) so once again they do have some issues due to the MAJOR differences in income in the school district (make sure if you are buying in SB just to get in the MP district that you understand the demographics of the district) you may not be doing your children a favor. Don't misunderstand me I know Comsewogue is not perfect but as far as a middle class school district and neighborhood with a mixture of professional and blue collar workers who take pride in their surroundings PJS can't be beat. Of course Port Jeff is fabulous but once again you are talking about UPPER CLASS people that can drop $600k + on a house and send their kids to Laurel Hill and ski at Stratton every weekend. Different world!

It all depends on the neighborhood. What street in Rocky Point or Sound Beach was this? I'm curious. If you're down around the broadway area there are a ton of rentals and some undesirables. Selling coke? this is not the norm in RP, but it could also happen anywhere. The poverty rate in RP is not as high as you think, it's actually equal to Port Jefferson Station, according to the 2000 census. All of my neighbors are great and most have excellent careers. It's difficult to judge a community by the experiences of one person. If you would have looked around you could have found a great house in RP. I also love how you make Mount Sinai, Miller Place, and Port Jefferson seem like these unattainable paradises, most residents in RP live here because they choose to live a more affordable and laid back lifestyle. For instance, my next door neighbors are currently putting 100k, yes 100k, into landscaping and adding a pool to their backyard, I think if they can afford this, they could certainly afford to move to one of your supposedly elite areas. I know that my parents had the opportunity to move to Setauket a few years back but decided against it because they loved our neighbors and wanted to stay in Rocky Point.

P.S. We have granite counters and ski frequently. Can you believe we surround ourselves with such trash in Rocky Point?

[TheLI5]

I have lived in the area for over 30 years and have seen the progression in each of these towns. I have lived in Shoreham for most of my life, lived in Rocky Point and Sound Beach off and on as a young adult and also as a married mom, and last but not least settled in Port Jefferson Station. My experiences may not be close to yours, but they occurred and caused me to make decisions based on them. As far as Rocky Point goes if you were born and raised there you know that it has come a long way since the 80s and 90s. Although you can still get nostalgic (among other things) at the SBI (Shennanigans). The quality of education in the schools has improved as has the condition of the houses in the area. Of course the Oak Hills neighborhood brought up the property values and put a new face on RP. The Tides and Noah's Path neighborhoods are very nice too but the taxes are $9,000k + for a 3 bedroom ranch! We bought a house in the neighborhood behind Westchester Dr off Huntington. It was very hilly, and especially isolated and awful in the winter (our road wasn't plowed for two days during one storm). I guess that would not bother some people but for me it was claustrophobic to say the least. I have to admit before we moved there we had a lot of long conversations on whether or not we could live with the hills and the sketchy rental houses all over. I seriously thought "well other people seem to love Rocky Point, so I'll be fine". I was sadly mistaken. I hated dealing with the rentals and cars parked ALL OVER the lawns, transients and absentee landlords - it was all hell! The neighborhood my friend lived in was behind McCarricks Dairy. Our friends had more problems then we did (house and cars broken into) and moved out too. Yes people sell drugs in every town but for some reason it is much more prevalent in RP. When you are paying a mortgage (no matter what the amount) the last thing you want is a bunch of neighbors that are pulling a 7-11 next door all cracked out. We still have friends that live there and they continue to have problems (houses being vandalized, druggies sleeping in their cars in front of their houses, three forclosures on one block) I honestly haven't had any of these issues that's really all I can say. As for your neighbors putting $100k into their yard, great for them! There are always those people who want to be the big fish in the little pond. If they bought a house in Island Estates in Mount Sinai I'm sure they wouldn't be able to pay someone to mow their lawn - it's all relative my friend. The same goes for skiing and granite countertops for the elite in MS, SWR and PJ it's not even a drop in the bucket. Anyone that can afford $15k - $20k in taxes is upper middle class according to my standards.

[TheLI5]

OBH -
We chose not to live in SWR for three reasons
1. The school system is very liberal and after graduating from there we wanted a more strict academic environment for our children.
2. We grew up there and a large amount of our friends and classmates now live there making it too close for comfort.
3. We would have had to buy a much smaller house than we currently live in due to the high price of homes in SWR.

Yup they sell cocaine all over I guess, but I have no idea where in my neighborhood and I love it that way. I am not against people for entrepreneurship as long as it's not in my backyard (or front yard or anywhere near my house).

I am very confused about all this talk of "illegals" in PJS. We have some that reside up by the railroad tracks, but there really isn't a neighborhood near there that it would effect anyones daily living.
We do have a number of spanish families that live in PJS but they are FAMILIES here legally raising their children, attending church, going to work, paying taxes like everybody else. We do not mind the diversity at all.

In my opinion everyone CAN NOT drive an Escalade unless you have a tremendous amount of disposable income. The payments on the $60k + truck are upwards of $800.00 a month (leasing or not), not to mention the gas. Most people are not able to pay a mortgage, taxes, LIPA, home heating oil, food, kids activities and still have another $1000k a month left over to drive around a big fancy truck for the love of God!

As for Harbor Hills PJ the average prices of houses there on MLS right now are over $500k, which is out of a lot of peoples price ranges to say the least. Laurel Hill is their summer camp.

By no means do I put stock in the fact that money = class however I do believe that education does equal class.

We do like where we live however if I won the lottery I'd be in Huntington Beach, CA in a heartbeat!

[iluvmycuties]

Originally Posted by TheLI5

OBH -
We chose not to live in SWR for three reasons
1. The school system is very liberal and after graduating from there we wanted a more strict academic environment for our children.
2. We grew up there and a large amount of our friends and classmates now live there making it too close for comfort.
3. We would have had to buy a much smaller house than we currently live in due to the high price of homes in SWR.

Yup they sell cocaine all over I guess, but I have no idea where in my neighborhood and I love it that way. I am not against people for entrepreneurship as long as it's not in my backyard (or front yard or anywhere near my house).

I am very confused about all this talk of "illegals" in PJS. We have some that reside up by the railroad tracks, but there really isn't a neighborhood near there that it would effect anyones daily living.
We do have a number of spanish families that live in PJS but they are FAMILIES here legally raising their children, attending church, going to work, paying taxes like everybody else. We do not mind the diversity at all.

In my opinion everyone CAN NOT drive an Escalade unless you have a tremendous amount of disposable income. The payments on the $60k + truck are upwards of $800.00 a month (leasing or not), not to mention the gas. Most people are not able to pay a mortgage, taxes, LIPA, home heating oil, food, kids activities and still have another $1000k a month left over to drive around a big fancy truck for the love of God!

As for Harbor Hills PJ the average prices of houses there on MLS right now are over $500k, which is out of a lot of peoples price ranges to say the least. Laurel Hill is their summer camp.

By no means do I put stock in the fact that money = class however I do believe that education does equal class.

We do like where we live however if I won the lottery I'd be in Huntington Beach, CA in a heartbeat!

What are you talking about? I live in PJ Harbor Hills and got my home for $415K this past November ($425 on paper but a $10K concession at closing=$415K). The house down the block from me is listed at $439K and is in diamond condition. There's a colonial not too far that is $485K (HUGE property). A colonial on a cul-de-sac in Harbor Hills, right through the gates of Belle Terre, just sold for under 5. A 3/2 behind my home just went for $352K...these homes were/are in Harbor Hills. I LOVE driving my Hyundai, and my hubby loves his Hyundai as well. And I DO NOT send my children to Laurel Hill. Some people move here for the schools, not to flaunt an affluent lifestyle, especially when they are like me and do not have an affluent lifestyle. Just today I met up with 8 of the moms from my child's class...we were discussing how we could try to afford to do something recreational for the children in terms of camp. Know what we're doing? We're enrolling them in the Town of Brookhaven summer program. Yeah, I'm really rich.

[TheLI5]

I am backing up my AVERAGE price of homes in the Harbor Hills PJ neighborhood with the statistics of the houses listed on MLS at this time. Yes you can buy a house for less on Old Post Rd. but the only listing I see below $500k that's not on a busy road is the one on Meroke for $485k. You most certainly got a deal on your house. I am not attacking Harbor Hills - I think it is a wonderful area with great schools. We probably could have squeezed in there but we would always be playing the Jones' game. We would rather not have the external pressures that living in an affluent area would put on ourselves and our children. But that is just how WE FEEL and I'm not saying anything about anyone elses personal decisions. To give you an example the average price houses in my neighborhood are going for $350k which is a big difference from even $450k. We are down Port at least twice a week at the park, watching the boats, shopping, eating ice cream, ect. We love PJS and wouldn't live anywhere else!

[iluvmycuties]

Originally Posted by TheLI5

I am backing up my AVERAGE price of homes in the Harbor Hills PJ neighborhood with the statistics of the houses listed on MLS at this time. Yes you can buy a house for less on Old Post Rd. but the only listing I see below $500k that's not on a busy road is the one on Meroke for $485k. You most certainly got a deal on your house. I am not attacking Harbor Hills - I think it is a wonderful area with great schools. We probably could have squeezed in there but we would always be playing the Jones' game. We would rather not have the external pressures that living in an affluent area would put on ourselves and our children. But that is just how WE FEEL and I'm not saying anything about anyone elses personal decisions. To give you an example the average price houses in my neighborhood are going for $350k which is a big difference from even $450k. We are down Port at least twice a week at the park, watching the boats, shopping, eating ice cream, ect. We love PJS and wouldn't live anywhere else!

I don't feel attacked, but I feel as judged by living in PJ village as you feel living in PJS! LOL I will never be able to keep up with the Jones', and I could care less if I can. Sure, you have your social climbers who need to exhibit their wealth. But my day is so packed with raising three children that I don't have the time to worry about whether or not someone thinks I'm "wealthy" enough for them. My husband was with the NYPD, and I'm a teacher. We got a great deal, and we jumped. Yes, my children are being invited to $1,000 birthday parties, but I don't feel obliged to give that to my children. I believe I did them a service by stretching things to give them a small school district with some pretty nice surroundings. And you would be surprised at how many families living here are making it week to week, are single parents, worried about LIPA, gas costs, etc (although we treat the kids to that great ice cream in the village too!) The rich live in Belle Terre...and that is an entirely different world!

[rockypointny]

Originally Posted by TheLI5

I have lived in the area for over 30 years and have seen the progression in each of these towns. I have lived in Shoreham for most of my life, lived in Rocky Point and Sound Beach off and on as a young adult and also as a married mom, and last but not least settled in Port Jefferson Station. My experiences may not be close to yours, but they occurred and caused me to make decisions based on them. As far as Rocky Point goes if you were born and raised there you know that it has come a long way since the 80s and 90s. Although you can still get nostalgic (among other things) at the SBI (Shennanigans). The quality of education in the schools has improved as has the condition of the houses in the area. Of course the Oak Hills neighborhood brought up the property values and put a new face on RP. The Tides and Noah's Path neighborhoods are very nice too but the taxes are $9,000k + for a 3 bedroom ranch! We bought a house in the neighborhood behind Westchester Dr off Huntington. It was very hilly, and especially isolated and awful in the winter (our road wasn't plowed for two days during one storm). I guess that would not bother some people but for me it was claustrophobic to say the least. I have to admit before we moved there we had a lot of long conversations on whether or not we could live with the hills and the sketchy rental houses all over. I seriously thought "well other people seem to love Rocky Point, so I'll be fine". I was sadly mistaken. I hated dealing with the rentals and cars parked ALL OVER the lawns, transients and absentee landlords - it was all hell! The neighborhood my friend lived in was behind McCarricks Dairy. Our friends had more problems then we did (house and cars broken into) and moved out too. Yes people sell drugs in every town but for some reason it is much more prevalent in RP. When you are paying a mortgage (no matter what the amount) the last thing you want is a bunch of neighbors that are pulling a 7-11 next door all cracked out. We still have friends that live there and they continue to have problems (houses being vandalized, druggies sleeping in their cars in front of their houses, three forclosures on one block) I honestly haven't had any of these issues that's really all I can say. As for your neighbors putting $100k into their yard, great for them! There are always those people who want to be the big fish in the little pond. If they bought a house in Island Estates in Mount Sinai I'm sure they wouldn't be able to pay someone to mow their lawn - it's all relative my friend. The same goes for skiing and granite countertops for the elite in MS, SWR and PJ it's not even a drop in the bucket. Anyone that can afford $15k - $20k in taxes is upper middle class according to my standards.

Honestly, I am not going to disagree about there being a large amount of rental houses in old Rocky Point and Sound Beach. However, the drug problems and vandalism is something we have never experienced in twenty years living here (in old Rocky Point). We hardly even lock our doors and we have NEVER experienced any property damage. I can personally say that I have NEVER seen drugs being dealt, or people cracked out in my neighborhood. The experiences that you describe make the area sound like Wyandanch and it shocks me that your friends could have experienced so many problems.The only thing I can think of is that they were simply unlucky and in an unusually bad spot. The areas around Prince, King, etc. can be a little sketchy, but nothing like what you describe. Like I said, I have never seen ANY of what you described and that's all that I can say. This Rocky Point that you describe is completely foreign to me and it saddens me that you have such a bad impression of the community. All I can say is that I hope you take a better look at statistics and don't judge the whole community by one family's unfortunate experiences. It really is a great place.

[nitroae23]

Originally Posted by iluvmycuties

I don't feel attacked, but I feel as judged by living in PJ village as you feel living in PJS! LOL I will never be able to keep up with the Jones', and I could care less if I can. Sure, you have your social climbers who need to exhibit their wealth. But my day is so packed with raising three children that I don't have the time to worry about whether or not someone thinks I'm "wealthy" enough for them. My husband was with the NYPD, and I'm a teacher. We got a great deal, and we jumped. Yes, my children are being invited to $1,000 birthday parties, but I don't feel obliged to give that to my children. I believe I did them a service by stretching things to give them a small school district with some pretty nice surroundings. And you would be surprised at how many families living here are making it week to week, are single parents, worried about LIPA, gas costs, etc (although we treat the kids to that great ice cream in the village too!) The rich live in Belle Terre...and that is an entirely different world!

You sound like my late parents reincarnated,NYPD included,Laurel Drive was the end of the world back then(1964),nothing past it til Cedar beach,lotta posers in Harbor Hills/Belle Terre,but trust me,most are using borrowed money for their lifestyles,you made the right move.PJ is the bomb!Not that I would ever give up where I am now,but a lot of happy memories!Rep points 4 U !

[iluvmycuties]

Thanks Nitro!

Did your parents lived on Laurel?