why is Suffolk co. so crappy? (Rochester, Smithtown: mortgage, credit, relocating)

[diamondplayer]

Originally Posted by OhBeeHave

*yawn*

You are just another bitter former LIer who resents the fact that he was uprooted from his community by a changing demographic (you did write about how new residents were unable to speak English) and your inability to afford to buy up on LI. As the LI board has seen in the past, those who resent having to move away are the most vociferous LI bashers. It's something you're all compelled to do in a misguided effort to assuage your anger that the rest of us are doing well here but you couldn't.

You can keep the Carolinas as I have no interest in your little backwater burbs. Not all of us had to tuck our tails between our legs, eat crow and leave Brentwood. What you did was no different than someone leaving the slums for the suburbs. You fled.

Your home values might have increased in NC, but the way the economy is going, ya'll are going to be feeling the pinch soon.

Given the amount of sniping and whining you do on the NC board about crime, it doesn't sound like sunshine and lollipops down there.

Glad that you have taken the time to read my post. Let me clue you in on a few things. I hardly resent leaving LI, it has been in my plans for a while. and we were certainly able to buy up and stay in LI. But to do that we would have needed to take on a 200-250K mortgage AND double our property taxes. For what? The beautiful beaches, no thanks. We and many other LI'ers and people from the entire NE are doing what we did. We have moved into a new larger homes that are NOT on a 1/4 acre and NOT paying 10-15K taxes. you would be glad to know that the backwater burbs you speak of is the LI of the 1950's, very rural, winding country roads and horse farms. not the strip mall haven you encounter daily. Yes i do complain on the NC board about those who refuse to see the problems and stick their heads in the sand. up until recently a handful of long time Charlotte posters who defend the area at all cost refused to acknowledge a crime problem in Charlotte, which is not where i live. finally a few weeks ago the stealth chief acknowledged 36 'hot spots' for crime. now they are silent. BTW your reply was quintessential LI, full of snobbery and elitism. love the way you stupidly imply that because someone has left LI is because the could not afford it, snob. I believe that you are the one wearing the tail. dont forget to vote yes on your school vote this month and keep pinching yourself.

[Kansasfornow]

Originally Posted by diamondplayer

You are right, I did leave a mediocre area, LI, for a much nicer area whose home prices continue to rise unlike the rest of the US and specifically LI.

I am moving back to Long Island from Wichita KS so my young son and I can be near family, more diversity, better schools, beach, New York City, and real food. For the past ten years I have lived in Houston, New Mexico, and now Wichita KS. I've come to the conclusion that everyplace has its charms and positive aspects. I have to say, however, after having lived in alot of places that overall the quality of public education is not as good as in the part of Long Island we are going back to * Three Village School District. There are lower standards in places like Kansas and Texas which produce high school graduates ( overall, I am talking in generalities) who cannot write and have little critical thinking abilties and no understanding of diversity. If you look at who is enrolled in the computer science and engineering programs in many universities in these other states, it not American students. It is hard working students from international areas. The reasons for this are complicated, no doubt, but the lack of funding for high qualitiy public education in many states places a large role. I am willing to pay more property taxes so my son can get access to a better public education. It is disheartening to read the Long Island board and it makes me feel less excited about moving home.

[mommytochris]

Originally Posted by Kansasfornow

I am moving back to Long Island from Wichita KS so my young son and I can be near family, more diversity, better schools, beach, New York City, and real food. For the past ten years I have lived in Houston, New Mexico, and now Wichita KS. I've come to the conclusion that everyplace has its charms and positive aspects. I have to say, however, after having lived in alot of places that overall the quality of public education is not as good as in the part of Long Island we are going back to * Three Village School District. There are lower standards in places like Kansas and Texas which produce high school graduates ( overall, I am talking in generalities) who cannot write and have little critical thinking abilties and no understanding of diversity. If you look at who is enrolled in the computer science and engineering programs in many universities in these other states, it not American students. It is hard working students from international areas. The reasons for this are complicated, no doubt, but the lack of funding for high qualitiy public education in many states places a large role. I am willing to pay more property taxes so my son can get access to a better public education. It is disheartening to read the Long Island board and it makes me feel less excited about moving home.

Don't be discouraged. Diamondplayer seems to exaggerate. Of course the taxes are not all in the 10K-15k range and even in Three Village you can find taxes well below that. It is an excellent school district and you do get what you pay for on Long Island. It seems like a lot of people who take for granted what LI has to offer go on to bash it undeservedly. Of course it is expensive compared to other places but again factor in everything LI offers and it is worth the price IMO.

[mommytochris]

Originally Posted by diamondplayer

Glad that you have taken the time to read my post. Let me clue you in on a few things. I hardly resent leaving LI, it has been in my plans for a while. and we were certainly able to buy up and stay in LI. But to do that we would have needed to take on a 200-250K mortgage AND double our property taxes. For what? The beautiful beaches, no thanks. We and many other LI'ers and people from the entire NE are doing what we did. We have moved into a new larger homes that are NOT on a 1/4 acre and NOT paying 10-15K taxes. you would be glad to know that the backwater burbs you speak of is the LI of the 1950's, very rural, winding country roads and horse farms. not the strip mall haven you encounter daily. Yes i do complain on the NC board about those who refuse to see the problems and stick their heads in the sand. up until recently a handful of long time Charlotte posters who defend the area at all cost refused to acknowledge a crime problem in Charlotte, which is not where i live. finally a few weeks ago the stealth chief acknowledged 36 'hot spots' for crime. now they are silent. BTW your reply was quintessential LI, full of snobbery and elitism. love the way you stupidly imply that because someone has left LI is because the could not afford it, snob. I believe that you are the one wearing the tail. dont forget to vote yes on your school vote this month and keep pinching yourself.

She disagrees with you and is now a snob good grief.

[I'minformed2]

Originally Posted by diamondplayer

Glad that you have taken the time to read my post. Let me clue you in on a few things. I hardly resent leaving LI, it has been in my plans for a while. and we were certainly able to buy up and stay in LI. But to do that we would have needed to take on a 200-250K mortgage AND double our property taxes. For what? The beautiful beaches, no thanks. We and many other LI'ers and people from the entire NE are doing what we did. We have moved into a new larger homes that are NOT on a 1/4 acre and NOT paying 10-15K taxes. you would be glad to know that the backwater burbs you speak of is the LI of the 1950's, very rural, winding country roads and horse farms. not the strip mall haven you encounter daily. Yes i do complain on the NC board about those who refuse to see the problems and stick their heads in the sand. up until recently a handful of long time Charlotte posters who defend the area at all cost refused to acknowledge a crime problem in Charlotte, which is not where i live. finally a few weeks ago the stealth chief acknowledged 36 'hot spots' for crime. now they are silent. BTW your reply was quintessential LI, full of snobbery and elitism. love the way you stupidly imply that because someone has left LI is because the could not afford it, snob. I believe that you are the one wearing the tail. dont forget to vote yes on your school vote this month and keep pinching yourself.

Well you CERTAINLY don't have the chareceristics of that rude close minded Long Islander stereotype at all! BTW I lived in NC for 13 years...Long Islanders moving there in droves for cheaper lareger homes and lower taxes have beenruining the metro areas (esp. Charlotte and RDU) for years now and it's REALLY been escalating over the past few years. Before you know it all of the things you like to complain about LI for will be on your doorstep. It's like sheep on a field. Enjoy being able to laugh at all of the ignorant northerners who didn't escape to paradise like you did....it won't last long.

[alliswell]

We and many other LI'ers and people from the entire NE are doing what we did.

It's called out-migration. LI has driven out its youth and others due to the cost of its aging housing stock. LI simply does not offer a quality standard of living unless one has a significant income. The long term ramifications are sad and deep. Generations lost, a culture diluted, and a lack of socioeconomic diversity leads to a population of either "haves" or "have nots". The result will be eroding schools, neighborhoods, workforce, and economy.

Any community, whether LI or otherwise, that does not take proactive steps to ensure a balanced and divergent citzen base, shots itself in the foot. LI isn't even hopping on one foot at this point. What does the population of LI look like right now? How many 55 and older, how many 20-35, how many "new to this country", how many middle class middle aged with 2.1 children are left, where do people work and how much to they get paid? Those current and forecasted numbers should be of grave concern to anyone who cares about LI.

Housing values are forecasted to drop another 12.7% for the remainder of 2008 and in 2009 an additional 8% drop is expected to occur. The best thing that happened to LI was the RE housing correction.

It has a chance.

Accountable funding and logical structure for schools coupled with fair and reasonable taxation would help LI fully turn the corner back towards equalibrium. LI's local governments and citizens have an opportunity and it will be interesting to see if heads will be buried in all that lovely sand or if leaders will emerge and lead a change for the better.

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by diamondplayer

Glad that you have taken the time to read my post. Let me clue you in on a few things. I hardly resent leaving LI, it has been in my plans for a while. and we were certainly able to buy up and stay in LI. But to do that we would have needed to take on a 200-250K mortgage AND double our property taxes. For what? The beautiful beaches, no thanks. We and many other LI'ers and people from the entire NE are doing what we did. We have moved into a new larger homes that are NOT on a 1/4 acre and NOT paying 10-15K taxes. you would be glad to know that the backwater burbs you speak of is the LI of the 1950's, very rural, winding country roads and horse farms. not the strip mall haven you encounter daily. Yes i do complain on the NC board about those who refuse to see the problems and stick their heads in the sand. up until recently a handful of long time Charlotte posters who defend the area at all cost refused to acknowledge a crime problem in Charlotte, which is not where i live. finally a few weeks ago the stealth chief acknowledged 36 'hot spots' for crime. now they are silent. BTW your reply was quintessential LI, full of snobbery and elitism. love the way you stupidly imply that because someone has left LI is because the could not afford it, snob. I believe that you are the one wearing the tail. dont forget to vote yes on your school vote this month and keep pinching yourself.

I'm a snob? Look at what you've written -- that's the pot calling the kettle black.

If your backwater burbs are the LI of the 50's, I guess you're one of the people who'll be held accountable for destroying it's very nature as more and more of your type flock there lemming-like and eventually turn it into that which you repudiate here.

Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Will you run again as your taxes go up, (if you have) your children start dating people who are unlike you (those people unlike you is why you left Brentwood -- remember writing that?) and your area becomes overbuilt and the infrastructure eventually ages.

Look at Florida; not so long ago people were running there. Then taxes went up, property became more expensive, so people turned to the Carolinas. What do you think is going to happen?

You turned tail and ran. The tail is all yours. Bless your heart.

Those of us who remain here do so for many reasons: some can afford it, some have successful businesses here, some have family here, some love the Island and what it has to offer in terms of beaches, proximity to NYC.

And for the record: my taxes on 3/4 acre are under 6K. The secret: buy an older home. Too many people out there want new, new, new -- it's the Bic lighter mentality which has gotten many people in hot water by buying over their heads -- all across the USA not just LI or NC.

A $250K mortgage is very manageable provided you make a decent salary. A 30 year at 5.75% on $250K is a shade under $1,500/month. No one says you have to buy a home with $14,000 taxes; there are plenty of homes in nice areas with taxes under $10K -- all one has to do is look for them.

So you planned on moving off LI all along; that's good for you. Now do all of us here a favor -- remember that many of us are happy here and we are happy for our neighbors who are happy elsewhere. Come here and tell us how great this is, and that you've made the right move and we are happy for you. Come here all negative and bashing LI and we tend to dismiss you as unhappy with what you've opted to do.

Tell me: are you happy with your choice (yes or no answer only)? If you are, we'll be happy for you.
If you're happy with your choice, we respect that. Now please respect that we are happy here and don't appreciate your lambasting our decision to live here.

[iluvmycuties]

You'll find that there a quite a few native born from NC who aren't too pleased with the development of the area in order to Cater to the LIer's dream of attaining 1950's L.I.

The way some people think Long Island has changed from 1950's is very similar to the way born and raised NC residents feel in regards to the mass exxodus into their state.

[AlexisT]

Yeah, Long Islanders move to get away from the taxes, then discover that most of their taxes were actually paying for services they liked and used. They move to low-tax areas and watch the taxes skyrocket to pay for services for all the newcomers.

Yes, there are efficiencies and savings to be made, and housing for people in my generation (I'm 30) is an issue. I sigh every time a development is shot down, because LI needs it. (And by the way, the people who move into those condos and apartments will be paying taxes to support the schools, so quit with the "overloading the schools" argument.) But the main reason we pay high taxes is because we have better services and higher pay. If you want a tax cut, you need to be prepared to turn to cops and teachers and tell them they're getting less money.

[iluvmycuties]

I just read that in 2004, Long Island sent $8.1 billion to Albany in taxes and fees yet only received $5.2B in aid. The state is absorbing quite a bit from us and redistributing it to the northern part of the state. Robinhood? I don't think so.