Starter Houses on Long Island? (Nassau, Florida: loans, how much, buy)

[NYSinger]

I totally agree with you, GypsySoul22. If I didn't have to be so close to NYC, I would move to NH or another nice state in a heart beat.

[GypsySoul22]

Originally Posted by mmdj43

That's true but you'd be surprised how many people are alienated because they can't keep up with the 'Joneses'.

I am not suprised! I'm one of the alienated ones...that's why I am moving. Any time I have made gestures of friendship to people in the last 6 years we've been back from the UK, they have been rebuffed.

We only have one car so our socializing is limited. We did have a friend(and his mom) from my son's playgroup around many times (I think we went to his house 2 times if that!). They moved last year to a BETTER neighborhood from her old one and a new house (we've never been invited). I refuse to let my son play with that kid anymore (we were always the LAST resort and it was ALWAYS at my house). He wants me to call them up but I am tired of being used.

People find it INSANE we only have one car but we live on a very limited income (saving every dime to move). I hope sacrificing now will help our future. I DO plan on working once we move.

[mmdj43]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

I am not suprised! I'm one of the alienated ones...that's why I am moving. Any time I have made gestures of friendship to people in the last 6 years we've been back from the UK, they have been rebuffed.

We only have one car so our socializing is limited. We did have a friend(and his mom) from my son's playgroup around many times (I think we went to his house 2 times if that!). They moved last year to a BETTER neighborhood from her old one and a new house (we've never been invited). I refuse to let my son play with that kid anymore (we were always the LAST resort and it was ALWAYS at my house). He wants me to call them up but I am tired of being used.

People find it INSANE we only have one car but we live on a very limited income (saving every dime to move). I hope sacrificing now will help our future. I DO plan on working once we move.

That's too bad because people don't realize how nice others really are. My next door neighbor keeps the exterior of their house very messy and with lots of junk in the front and back (who knows what the inside looks like). However, despite their lack of cleanliness, they are VERY nice people. I have another neighbor across the street who told me that he and his wife have never been invited to our other neighbor's house. Now, this particular family has a daugher with depression and the husband can be very sarcastic at times, but overall, they are very nice people. So who cares whether someone is driving a BMW or a Hyundai, as long as they are nice people, it really shouldn't matter. Just my opinion of course.

[antipode12]

Yeah, I have to chime in here.

LIers seem to be.. er, um.. developmentally challenged socially. They (we) live in tight little cocoons and keep everyone except our oldest friends at bay. Generalizations, of course, but certainly the rule not the exception.

I'm certain when I leave, it ultimately will be because of that.

On another topic (you know -- the one we started with), did anyone read Newsday's feature on 20 somethings who are buying into the housing market? Really interesting, and ultimately hopeful.

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzremain0721,0,6954730.story?coll=ny-business-promo (broken link)

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by antipode12

On another topic (you know -- the one we started with), did anyone read Newsday's feature on 20 somethings who are buying into the housing market? Really interesting, and ultimately hopeful.

http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzremain0721,0,6954730.story?coll=ny-business-promo (broken link)

And where do they get the money to buy at todays prices?? I always wondered just what do these people do that they can afford to buy a $400,000 or $600,000 starter home just after graduation.

Not only that but afford everything else like the BMW, the designer clothes every week from Roosevelt Field & the Americana Shopping Center, eating out every night, going to clubs & the beach when ever they feel like it. Isn't 100% financing risky & even dangerous with home prices supposedly plateauing and if you don't have much work experience???

How is this hopeful?? Seem incredibly stupid and even a receipe for disaster.

Salaries on Long Island are pathetic considering housing prices, taxes & cost of living. Many professional positions pay between $40,000 - $70,000 a year where in Manhattan you can make between $80,000- $120,000.

You cannot buy a house at todays prices with less than a $150,000 a year annual income. You can't even afford to rent or even qualify for an apartment at $40,000 or $60,000 annual income where landlords require that you earn 50 times the monthly rental payment.

The thing is that the media especially the NY Times, Newsday & NY Magazine thinks everyone is a white collar professional making in the six figures and affordability never even is a question

[marie]

There are some starter homes on Long Island still. I just put my home on the market for 299,900 and my taxes are for a 2 family at 4900.00. This weekend I had a couple from Brooklyn and a couple from Queens come by. They are out there ,you just have to find them Your best bet is to look in Sundays Newsday. You can find your price range and then google that area.

[william]

I'm gonna sum up LI's housing situation very simply. I went to take my kids camping this summer at what used to be one of my favorite campgrouds, in suffolk, when I was a kid. When we arrived this summer the guy says no room available for quite some time. He didn't say anything further, so I inquired- Why's that? He says that even the trailer parks are too expensive on LI so people rent out the campsites as long as possible--TO LIVE THERE!!! Hey it's only $6 per night. Scotty beam me up.

[NickL28]

Originally Posted by marie

There are some starter homes on Long Island still. I just put my home on the market for 299,900 and my taxes are for a 2 family at 4900.00. This weekend I had a couple from Brooklyn and a couple from Queens come by. They are out there ,you just have to find them Your best bet is to look in Sundays Newsday. You can find your price range and then google that area.

Sorry, but for $299,000 you are either living right outside of Riverhead or in the worst parts of Roosevelt or Freeport. Even a tiny P.O.S. cape that needs thousands in updates will cost close to $500,000 easy plus another obscene amount for property taxes.

The most amazing thing is that according to most realtors, most people are still putting down at least 20% and sellers won't take less. Just how are people making $200,000 or more able to save $100,000 in cash + closing costs + prepaids for a tiny 1500 square foot house??

And I would hardly trust the articles in the Real Estate section of Newsday, the NY Times or NY Magazine which thinks that everyone makes in the mid six figures.

You also have to ask youself what is the point of putting yourself thru financial hell in order to afford a home with the attendant confiscatory taxes & super rude people when you can have a better quality of life in many other places in the country.

[I_Love_LI_but]

William:

A couple of years ago, I read in Newsday that the campgrounds on LI had to institute a policy of campers not being able to stay any more than 3-4 weeks because of this. People who fall on hard times during the summer were (and I guess still are as per your experience) traveling from campground to campground on LI to save money for 1st months' rent, security deposit and realtor fees so they may get an apartment before the winter.

Nick:

>>>You also have to ask youself what is the point of putting yourself thru financial hell in order to afford a home with the attendant confiscatory taxes & super rude people when you can have a better quality of life in many other places in the country.<<<

So what's your vote for another place to go? I am not inclined to follow the herd to NC, SC and FL, but I am not an idiot either and staying on LI is seeming more and more foolish everyday.

[GypsySoul22]

The thing is--even if you can get these 'dream houses' at $300,000 (still far to much for most people) what about the taxes?
Ten years ago or so we bought a home in an okay area of Long Island. It was less than $100,000 for a four bedroom place. It was the best we could afford at the time. Okay, so we were young and glad to get it, both of us made modest salaries.
Well, in the three odd years we had the place, they taxed us to death! First we got some tax 'adjusted' because we had a 'summer porch/florida room' or some other nonsense...then another tax hike the following year, and so forth.

Not only are houses too expensive here, you have to consider the WHOPPING taxes that come with them. Think about that BEFORE you relocate to this area.

Sadly 'the powers that be' do not care. They refuse to build affordable mulifamily apartments in GOOD areas. They have stupid housing lotteries for bad houses in poor neighborhood (Sorry-- a dump off Main St. Bay Shore or in Brentwood is not a 'bargain'). Allowing a few people to win a few houses hardly solves the problem.

Every day I hate it here a little more...