South Florida vs. Long Island vs. Jersey (New York, Newark: foreclosures, houses)

[FrankieDNY]

Hello,

I would like some advice please. I was orginally born in Long Island New York and like many other New Yorkers in the late 80's, my family relocated to South Florida. It was paradise when we first got here. I loved and still do however I do get scared. I get scared because I am now married and we are expecting a child. Like most South Floridians, I do not feel safe or comfortable raising a child down here. It is a complete shadow of what it used to be however it's all I know. Recently many of my family has moved back up to Long Island or Jersey cause they could not take it down here. In theory it seems great. I know Long Island and have always loved it there. I feel it's a great environment to raise a family and the schools are way better than down here. I do not know much about Jersey but I have to imagine it's along the same lines. I am all for a move to be closer to the family and is overal better for the family. However, I am confused. Any advice from individuals that have lived in SFL and now they are in either Jersey or Long Island or those who are in Jersey and Long Island and are now in SFL? Thank you for your time!

[Dexterguy]

Originally Posted by FrankieDNY

Hello,

I would like some advice please. I was orginally born in Long Island New York and like many other New Yorkers in the late 80's, my family relocated to South Florida. It was paradise when we first got here. I loved and still do however I do get scared. I get scared because I am now married and we are expecting a child. Like most South Floridians, I do not feel safe or comfortable raising a child down here. It is a complete shadow of what it used to be however it's all I know. Recently many of my family has moved back up to Long Island or Jersey cause they could not take it down here. In theory it seems great. I know Long Island and have always loved it there. I feel it's a great environment to raise a family and the schools are way better than down here. I do not know much about Jersey but I have to imagine it's along the same lines. I am all for a move to be closer to the family and is overal better for the family. However, I am confused. Any advice from individuals that have lived in SFL and now they are in either Jersey or Long Island or those who are in Jersey and Long Island and are now in SFL? Thank you for your time!

I have family that is on western Long Island and a few family members that live in North Jersey. A have also been thinking of making a move in this general area for the last few months. I love both New Jersey and Long Island, my first pick would be a move to Long Island, but the houses everywhere are just so darn expensive, and you don't even get alot of house for the money. So most likely if I were to make the move in a few months or maybe even a year from now, I would most likely go with North Jersey because you get more house for your money, the taxes in most areas are much lower, and in many spots you are much closer to Manhattan.

If you have the money then I would go for Long Island, if you are the averge joe middle class person then I would look into NJ.

[NJ Chutzpah]

this is actually a good time to move because foreclosures are happening quite often in LI and NJ at the moment

However, NJ has better location because you can get to other areas of the country easy from there than LI (LIers have to drive through NYC to get anywhere)

NJ also has better schools than LI

NJ probably has more price ranges to your liking than LI

[Rachael84]

My mom will probably chime in on this. In case she won't, i'll tell you her situation. She moved down to Naples with my dad because of his job. They both don't like it down there at all. She worked in the schools on Long Island, and now in south Florida. The school she works at in Naples is a blue ribbon "A" school and says it still doesn't compare to the LI schools. I really recommend moving back to NY in that aspect.

Also, there's mostly just snowbirds in SFL. No real sense of community. My parents live in a gated community, and I would say on their street, only about 5 of the 20 houses have permanent residents. The rest are snowbirds. What sense of community is there? Also, your kids won't have anyone to really play with.

[AlexisT]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

NJ also has better schools than LI

That's debatable. In any case, it's an unsupportable generalization, since NJ ranges from schools that are even worse than anywhere on LI (Newark) to really top districts.

[rusty78]

I was born and raised on Long Island - and when it came time to buy a house - I realized that I could afford the house...but not the taxes that come with it......now the housing prices have dropped some what...but the taxes just keep going up......I now live in Rockland County which borders northern New Jersey...the houses here in a decent school system start at $450,000......and northern Jersey is even higher......

[Toni77]

First let me start off by saying I have never lived in NJ so I cannot speak on that. However, I grew up in Long Island and have been living in Florida for approx 3 years. I don't know what your financial situation is, but as someone who has lived in both places and worked in school districts in both states I would have to say if it's at all possible, move back north. I don't have any children right now but if I did, I would probably do everything in my power to raise them on Long Island.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by NJ Chutzpah

this is actually a good time to move because foreclosures are happening quite often in LI and NJ at the moment

However, NJ has better location because you can get to other areas of the country easy from there than LI (LIers have to drive through NYC to get anywhere)

NJ also has better schools than LI

NJ probably has more price ranges to your liking than LI

Whats theat effing smell?

crooks

[NJ Chutzpah]

^^^

Probably those rotting sea plants washed ashore on LI Beaches

I grew up going to beaches on LI, and I love that smell

Cant wait for summer

[NJ Chutzpah]

Originally Posted by Toni77

First let me start off by saying I have never lived in NJ so I cannot speak on that. However, I grew up in Long Island and have been living in Florida for approx 3 years. I don't know what your financial situation is, but as someone who has lived in both places and worked in school districts in both states I would have to say if it's at all possible, move back north. I don't have any children right now but if I did, I would probably do everything in my power to raise them on Long Island.

Are Florida schools really that bad?