RVC Oceanside School Concerns (Hempstead, Rockville Centre: real estate, crime, houses)

[lesscrappy]

After a long search I am thinking on settling for a house in RVC with oceanside schools. The house needs a lot of work and I will have to put substantial amounts of money into it. Im concerned that in 5 years I'm going to have a hard time finding someone willing to buy in RVC because of the Oceanside school district. Not that there's anything wrong with Oside schools however I feel like people that buy in RVC look for RVC schools and people that buy in Oside look for Oside schools. Am I being paranoid?

[Kbinspections]

Yes you are. I understand why you would think that but the RVC/Oceanside school is not an issue. If it woere you would see a drastic price difference between the RVC homes that were RVC and the ones that were in Oceanside.

Good luck!

[Smash255]

It shouldn't be an issue. RVC probably has slightly better schools, and rates a little higher when looking at graduation rates, and test scores, but the difference isn't big or anything and both districts are very strong districts. One thing which cancels out the district quality somewhat for another buyer is that oceanside School district taxes are actually a little lower than Rockville Centre. The difference isn't much, and it could change within 5 years, but that could help cancel out the quality of the district difference somewhat.

Regardless, it shouldn't be an issue, both are strong districts, if it was between one good district and a bad district then you might have some worries, but this isn't the case regarding RVC & Oceanside.

[jasonsdaddy]

Not looking to be controversial, but I disagree that is not an issue. I bought a house in RVC earlier this year after passing on some houses that were frankly better or bigger or nicer than the home I eventually purchased, but they had Oceanside schools. It got to a point that I didn't even go see the houses in Oceanside school district; I just felt that if I were to be in RVC, I wanted the RVC school district too. There are perceptions that simply get in a buyer's head, and no matter what one does, they don't go away. There's nothing at all wrong with Oceanside schools, but as long as perceptions at least are there, it *may* impact buyers willingness and/or offering prices. It did for us, and I felt the same house (if such a thing existed) within the two districts *would* have a price difference. Not dramatic, but it was there. Every time a listing came on the market at price that made us say "This is worht looking at", we'd nearly always look further and notice it fell into Oceanside schools.

So I'm not saying "don't do it" - I think Oceanside is a fine town and a fine district, but your question was does it potentially impact buyer behavior, and my first-hand experience (rightly or wrongly) suggests it could. Even my real estate agent who lived in such a situation suggested if she had to do it over again, she'd look harder because of the impact on her children. Maybe a ploy for us to buy higher, but the feedback we got nonetheless. Good luck.

[LI/Queens]

My husband and I were actually looking in Lynbrook but there was not much available. Lynbrook/Westwood has for the most part small houses and those that were out there wanted $600k. Nothing was available on the South side of Lynbrook so we just bought a house in RVC (RVC utilities) with Oceanside schools. After looking at the RVC houses that were listed in our budget (550k range)needed a ton of work ... I mean complete gut job. Those that needed minor repairs were out of our league (well over $600k). There is a significant price difference on a house with RVC schools. The taxes are higher as well. RVC schools did not score that much higher either. As an FYI, RVC schools have a higher diversity rate than Oceanside if it matters to anyone. If someone wants a house in RVC with the utilties and a good school district they may have to buy one with Oceanside schools simply because of $$$$. Those that have the coin ... well more power to them. Besides, there are quite a few towns on LI that have intermixing schools.

[SamTheCatRocks]

Oceanside is a great school district. I agree with KB that it isn't an issue (I went to Oside schools and grew up in Oside and now own a house in RVC with O'side schools). If you're from the area, you know it's not an issue at all. I'm sure there are real estate agents who will advise otherwise....

[BugBoy911]

After growing up in Oside my whole life and going threw the oceanside school district I must say Oceanside schools are really good if not one of the top public school districts in the country. I achieved All-State for music in 1996 and maintained a decent average between 75-82. Got into good colleges and did well, now the only problem is being able to own or live adaquet for the costs and prices of what there asking now a days. If you can afford to "own," a home in Rockville center with rvc school, or oceanside with oceanside schools or Rvc with Oceanside schools, consider yourself very very fortunate because either or will provide your children with a school district that most city kids and really rural area's would give there arm for. Oceanside and RVC schools are just as good as most private schools and if not better because of the diversity in the students which come from lower class to upper class families instead of just kids were the parents have money so most don't appreciate the little things in life as much as those that don't have money. I would always send my child if I can ever afford to have one, to a public school. Its also important for a child to grow up with diversity and not a perfect world. Makes them tougher and lets them see what life really is. I can also bet on it that in 5 years Oside schools will be just as good as they were back in 1997, just as time goes on there will be more ethnic diversity in these schools as more and more illegal and legal immigrants come into this country and reproduce. When I went to Oside from 1993-1997 we had a bunch of Spanish/Asian students, a few African American Students and the rest were predominantly caucasian catholic/Jewish. I loved Oceanside High School, probably some of the best times in my life.

[SamTheCatRocks]

Well said BugBoy911 ! As a OHS grad from 1988, I second your lovely post!

[BugBoy911]

Oceanside has every type of club and activity under the roof. I'd say the 1 activity that sets Rockville Center apart from almost all schools is there magic of "RED AND BLUE!" My mom was a teacher there for like ten years before she became more valueble "spelling," and is now working in Great Neck. I grew up in Oceanside but had the chance to experience "Red and Blue," cause my mom was soooo involved in it while a teacher at South Side. These area's also won't change in a very long time because of the price of living in these area's. Mostly highly educated successful people who come from good families are only able to afford such fine area's to live. Don't feel that RVC or Oceanside will be gehtto anytime soon. Thats one thing about really high taxes that actually befefit such communities.

[lynn995]

Anywhere in RVC is good to live....houses are beautiful and schools in RVC and O'side are both great..the differences are nominal. (I believe what happens in the home is more important anyway!) I live in south RVC...incorporated village but O'side schools. I do notice that property is, on average, bigger in the O'side school district (I have 15000 sq ft) and I also find that when I read the local papers, most/all of the crime (home invasions) happen on the north side which borders Hempstead.