Starter Houses on Long Island? (Brentwood, Freeport: rental, new house, neighborhood)

[NYSinger]

Originally Posted by Eva

NYSinger...is it THAT bad? I live in Brooklyn now and wanted a house closer to the beach, more land, quiet, etc. How do you know it's bad? I mean...how did you find that out? What resources?

My sister lived there about 8 years ago (she now lives in PA). I liked it there...seemed really nice.

This is what I got from [removed - not valid]:

Violent crime risk index: 2.0
County: 2.0
National: 3.0

Property crime risk index: 5.0
County: 3.7
National: 3.2

I have heard from DH that has lived on Long Island all his life, that it is NOT a good place to be (drugs, alcohol, etc.). You might want to look at Rocky Point. The residents have beach rights as well.

NYSinger

[mmdj43]

Originally Posted by NYSinger

This is what I got from [removed]:

Violent crime risk index: 2.0
County: 2.0
National: 3.0

Property crime risk index: 5.0
County: 3.7
National: 3.2

I have heard from DH that has lived on Long Island all his life, that it is NOT a good place to be (drugs, alcohol, etc.). You might want to look at Rocky Point. The residents have beach rights as well.

NYSinger

Also try looking at Mount Sinai, Miller Place, and Middle Island. Those border around the Sound Beach, Rocky Point area.

[policar4]

I've read all these posts & feel I should add some input - moved into L.I. over 20 years ago. Yes, houses were cheaper then. But we got a tiny, dilapidated place our friends made fun of - bought before we had kids, worked 2 jobs apiece to afford materials to add onto house ourselves (minimally hiring contractors.) I also stayed home when the kids were little (with people telling me I was nuts) Bottom line? It's much harder to start out now, but it is still possible. The people that made fun of our tiny house 20 years ago? Some are still in their nice apartments, complaining about the rent. We paid off our mortgage years ago. And - if we'd waited until after we had kids we wouldn't have been able to get a tiny (cheap) place and build up. It takes planning, willingness to get something that won't impress your friends - and today - it takes luck (economy being what it is.) My advice is to set your sights lower and start small. And I agree, even that isn't possible for everyone today. By the way, we're getting out of L.I. and moving upstate. Not because of money, but because of the "hummer/bmw" attitude and the recent crowding. We're also sick of people in huge houses with tons of expensive stuff - running down everyone else - with incredible debt. Don't give up, but consider going elsewhere.

[jackie1014]

Originally Posted by mrradio

on Long Island is the ever-increasing property taxes. My last house, nice but not great, had taxes of over $11,000. I left the Island after fifty plus years.

We live in S. Bellmore, and our taxes are over $16,000 right now for a 60x100 piece of property!!! My homeowers is over $1,800. We finally bought our dreamhouse, and in a matter of a few years, our taxes jumped through the rough.
Our house is up for sale now, and we are headed south to NC. Can't wait

[policar4]

Good point - always check the taxes in the surrounding houses - I'm in North Bellmore (Bellmore is pretty small, we might be a few blocks away!) and my taxes are $8,000. for a comparable size property. But - I know people who move to South Bellmore because it has a fancier reputation. What's really funny is that even though there are some beautiful houses there I know some people in teeny places also paying huge tax bills. Ya gotta do your homework, things certainly aren't fair on L.I.

[jackie1014]

Originally Posted by policar4

I've read all these posts & feel I should add some input - moved into L.I. over 20 years ago. Yes, houses were cheaper then. But we got a tiny, dilapidated place our friends made fun of - bought before we had kids, worked 2 jobs apiece to afford materials to add onto house ourselves (minimally hiring contractors.) I also stayed home when the kids were little (with people telling me I was nuts) Bottom line? It's much harder to start out now, but it is still possible. The people that made fun of our tiny house 20 years ago? Some are still in their nice apartments, complaining about the rent. We paid off our mortgage years ago. And - if we'd waited until after we had kids we wouldn't have been able to get a tiny (cheap) place and build up. It takes planning, willingness to get something that won't impress your friends - and today - it takes luck (economy being what it is.) My advice is to set your sights lower and start small. And I agree, even that isn't possible for everyone today. By the way, we're getting out of L.I. and moving upstate. Not because of money, but because of the "hummer/bmw" attitude and the recent crowding. We're also sick of people in huge houses with tons of expensive stuff - running down everyone else - with incredible debt. Don't give up, but consider going elsewhere.

what does people with large houses and expensive stuff have to do with running down everyone else?

[jackie1014]

what I meant was in the previous post, was not that I don't agree with you about taxes and stuff, but the people around me with their large houses and expensive cars aren't the ones driving us out, it's the BIG BILLS!!!

[GypsySoul22]

Jackie's right. There are 2 issues here. Everyone is in control of his or her financial situation. You can either join in with your neighbors who live above their means (a big thing here--hey I got a pool, well I got a bigger pool). Or you just say forget that game and live YOUR life the way you want. You can't blame the guy down the road with the hummer for your bills, just like he can't blame you for his credit card debt.

The problem is, Long Island is a very (on the whole) consumer/vacuous area. What started out as a nice haven for people from NYC/Brooklyn/Queens has turned into some badly run nightmare. I have no idea why this happened. All I know is people have to make their own choices. If you are a simple person, opt out of all the 'I can top you' nonsense and live within your means.
If that means moving away, then you have to do it.

Seek out a more simple life. You'd be surprised how little you could actually live on if you opt out of all the 'owning' things cycle. I feel this way, if people are going to like you, they will like you for you not your possessions.

[policar4]

I think we can all agree with the previous post! Well said.

[mmdj43]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

Seek out a more simple life. You'd be surprised how little you could actually live on if you opt out of all the 'owning' things cycle. I feel this way, if people are going to like you, they will like you for you not your possessions.

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