I don't understand (Deer Park, Sayville, Nesconset: car insurance, homes, buyers)

[Kbinspections]

Commute from Pt. Jeff will not ne easy......anything on the North shore will be tough.

A couple of thoughts: get the right RE agent 1st. Bad ones tend to be reallly bad. I could give you a bunch of names (since I'm an inspector for 11 years, i know alot and would only recommend a handful).

Another option for you would be to rent for a year. Any of the places Glad2bhere, are great and even if you don't love it, you can stick it out a year while you get the lay of the land. That may take some of the stress off you during a stressful time. My feeling is that the market will not bounce back by then, even if it did, prices will be low for a while. If the market goes down, then you will have more buying power.

Its sounds like you took a deep breath, good, i was worried about you.

[slynn41072]

Originally Posted by alliswell

I don't understand how and why the taxes are so high in LI. How did that happen and why do residents continue to allow it? I keep hearing the schools are great and all that, but where I'm from we vote on school levies as well as other local spending issues. Sometimes, levies just do not pass and the local governments are forced to be creative and fiscal responsibility and proper stewardship is expected and forced. Seems common sense, responsibility and intergrity are grossly lacking in the local LI governments. I'm sure I don't have the whole story, but EVERYBODY complains about the same thing. Taxes and high cost of living.

How come no one is DOING anything about it? I truly am curious why LIers accept and pay the ridiculous housing prices for dilaptated homes that really should be torn down instead of labled as "fixers" and the incredibly high taxes that go with the slum neighborhoods.

Shopping for a home on LI is truly the most depressing thing I have ever done. Easily, it's the ugliest place I have ever seen. What people in LI consider acceptable housing conditions should be condemned and razed. I have seen enough mold, old, and ugly to last a lifetime.

The "nice places" on LI were a joke. "Starter Home" means really old, really ugly, and in really bad shape. Need at least $700K for something decent and don't expect any kind of architecturally pleasing design or plumbed for natural gas or sewers! The $800K+ neighborhoods with two styles of homes just in different colors was the last straw.

Truly don't aim to offend. Just being honest about being totally and completely dumbfounded at how and why people allow and choose to live in overvalued squalor then strangely justify it with comments like "well, it's New York". I'm sorry to sound negative and judgemental, really I am, but I honest to goodness just do not get it.

Sadly to say, that is one of the reasons we moved off LI. We were looking to trade up (lived in LI all my life). Before we moved we did the same as you, looked around the same areas(Commack, Smithtown, Dix Hills) and found the same things. I didn't want another fixer again. New home prices were very high, but the taxes were out of control. Housing will be very different here than the midwest. You will get alot less "HOUSE" for the money. If I were you I would probably rent for a year in this market. If anything its trending down. See if you favor one area over another, see if you can actually be happy "downsizing". LI has alot to offer. Housing imo isn't LI's strong point. Good luck.

[alexei27]

Originally Posted by alliswell

Don't care if it's a postage stamp as long as an ~2500 s.f. house fits on it - just point me to something decent to live in. A little grass for a swingset and the dog would be nice too. A square of dirt for a tulip or two and bush would be grand. Willing to make compromises. I know on LI I can never replace what I have now in the midwest. I've gotten past that. Stictly focusing on how and where I can make this work.

Thank you all for your responses.

In my opinion you have already set yourself up to be let down by saying that LI will "never" replace what you had in the midwest. If you can afford a 600K home on Long Island on your household salary...you will not have a problem finding a home, especially if you are looking in central or eastern Suffolk. Yes...stay away from the Hamptons, but there are dozens of towns with options. It is a totally different planet here. I have lived in the midwest (small town in rural central Illinois, as well as a Chicago suburb). The vibrancy and opportunity are unmatched here. The willingness to be adaptable is really what you need. You will pay more for taxes and for utilities...guaranteed....but as with any high cost of living area in the country, you get many things in return. However...we found that food is cheaper and our auto insurance is half of what it was.

Our price range was ~300K and we found about 4 homes worth that price on the North Shore west of Port Jefferson. We ended up a little further east in Sound Beach....which might be a little too much commute for you to NYC.

You may also want to look into another realtor. You do seem to know what you want...and there are lots of homes available here. It sounds like you need the right person to find them. Best wishes!

[nancy thereader]

Gosh, there are loads of very pretty homes in nice areas for $600 K. I can not imagine why you have not seen any of them.

[jeffisok]

Do what we did. Move to Texas and find a fabulous home for 1/5th the price there and make as much or more money as you make there. We moved to the Houston area 2 months ago and don't miss LI one bit. My Partner lived on LI his entire life (42 years) and doesn't miss it one bit and in fact wishes he had left 20 years ago (Like his ENTIRE family did). He was the only one left in NY of his entire family (Mom, Dad, 5 brothers and sisters). NY is a nice place to visit but I would never want to live there (again). Good luck to you.

[rprprprp]

We are looking in the 350k range and I just keep saying I wish i had another 50k to spend..................................with 600k I imagine I could find something in 10 minutes...

[Jrprofess]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

Here are some links to get to know the area.

About Smithtown: (great link)
Smithtown, New York - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Smithtown is also well known for many parks/preserves, etc
New York State Parks :: Nissequogue River State Park

Another park/preserve in Smithtown:
New York State Parks :: Caleb Smith State Park Preserve

Canoe rentals for the Nissequogue River.
Nissequogue River Canoe & Kayak Rentals

About Nissequogue River
Nissequogue River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hoyt Farm
Welcome to the Town of Smithtown

Also want to add, Smithtown is very pet/animal friendly. Many people own horses, you have horse rights in Smithtown. Also, there are numerous dog parks that you can bring your dog to if that sort of thing interests you.

For your beloved pooch
Blydenburgh Dog Park - Smithtown, NY

Another link...parks. Smithtown has many parks to enjoy.
Blydenburgh County Park

Park activities:
Suffolk County Government (broken link)



Town of Smithtown also has beautiful beaches (only for residents of TOS) that people love.
Beaches:
Short Beach, Long Beach, Callahan's Beach

It really has everything you could possibly want. I hope you feel better about moving to LI, b/c you have a nice budget to work with (that can help you achieve a wonderful life with your family here).

I second everything Glad just posted. Also bear in mind, long island is very long and includes hundreds of towns. Some folks who rant are 35 miles away from a town you might be living in. Investigate further and with your budget, you should be able to find a wonderful home. Smithtown is a very nice area. Go by Uncle Guiseppe's market on the weekend and somebody should be singing live Sinatra...I love that everyone in Nassau county thinks it is too far from the city. I am okay with it being a great town that stays under the long island radar.

[alliswell]

DH is there, on LI, today. I've sent him a ton of emails and he's been driving around all day. Said Nesconset is absolutely lovely. Nothing but positives about St. James. Liked Smithtown. If it wasn't for the info here, he never could have filled up a day searching and sight seeing. THANK YOU!

Haven't gotten into any houses yet in our price range, that will be where the rubber meets the road as they say.

rpr, I know exactly what you mean. We started with a budget of $350 max! $600K is the absolute max we can go and then I'm not comfortable. Would be much happier at something less than that.

There was just no way I saw our original range working out for us. We are lucky that we are able to rework an investment or two -- not something I really want to do! But, that range of $350-$400 was just more than I could deal with. Here's hoping the market will continue to be in favor of buyers and we'll both end up with great finds. {{hugs}}

Can not imagine having to buy a home on LI a year ago. I still think there is a fair amount of insanity relative to the LI housing and tax situation. Looks like we can at least find what I consider good/great housing, just don't know if I'll ever see the value of living on LI and reconcile that's it's worth the hefty price tags.

[Jennifer06]

Originally Posted by Glad2BHere

MLSLI.com - Find a Home

Ok now a great house, a great area. But...are the taxes insane for you? Keep in mind, in LI you will pay way more in taxes for new construction.

The person who renovated this house, per the MLS description, did the room we added to ours. If you're interested in the house, feel free to write to me and I'll tell you about his workmanship.

[Glad2BHere]

Originally Posted by alliswell

DH is there, on LI, today. I've sent him a ton of emails and he's been driving around all day. Said Nesconset is absolutely lovely. Nothing but positives about St. James. Liked Smithtown. If it wasn't for the info here, he never could have filled up a day searching and sight seeing. THANK YOU!

Great!!! I am sure you will love it....very gorgeous areas, very family oriented, many newer homes or renovated older homes. Any questions fire away! Glad to hear DH accomplished a lot today. Where did you have him drive?