Merrick v Bellmore v. Wantagh/ v. N. shore/ v. Long Beach? (Babylon: for sale, apartment)

[Coachgns]

Been looking for a while on LI, and have limited to a few areas.
Prefer N. shore, but much of the N. shore is difficult to access whether by highway or train. Port Washington tops list, followed by Huntington.
Recently began looking at S. Shore, focused on Merrick - and generally south of Sunrise.
Realtor is pushing homes in Wantagh & Bellmore to us as well. I am familiar with Merrick, but don't know all that much about the other towns. How do they compare?

We are an older couple with no kids. Want to have easy access to highways, to the LIRR, and the location of the home must be Walkable. I check every house on Walkscore.com. Looking for a place where we will not be the "oddballs" without kids in the neighborhood. Don't want an area that strongly revolve around kids. Will probably sell in 5 years.

Could rent, but my fear with renting a house is that the Owner goes bellyup, and we get forced out. OR the owner decides to sell & we are stuck having to "Show" the house while it is for sale. In an apartment building now & it has walls that are much thinner than paper so am very wary about any multifamily building.

Unfortunately, I have to move fast (have been looking abt 6 mos but nothing that was right for me up on n shore has been available) due to lease expiration in 3 months. I'm preapproved, very high credit score & nothing to sell - a great Buyer. But can't find the right thing to buy!

I am getting frustrated with how few houses are coming on the market, and also how unacceptable the inventory is right now.

[TheBucks]

I have no first-hand knowledge of the Merrick/Bellmore areas - but did live in Babylon Village for a while. It's about 10 miles east of Merrick/Bellmore. It was a delightful place with a very nice downtown area and only about an hour away from NYC via the train. I think the area you would want to look at (within walking distance of the train) is called "The Presidents Area" or something like that due to the streets all being named after US Presidents.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by TheBucks

I have no first-hand knowledge of the Merrick/Bellmore areas - but did live in Babylon Village for a while. It's about 10 miles east of Merrick/Bellmore. It was a delightful place with a very nice downtown area and only about an hour away from NYC via the train. I think the area you would want to look at (within walking distance of the train) is called "The Presidents Area" or something like that due to the streets all being named after US Presidents.

Babylon Village is great.

Very accessible.

Good commute

crooks

[quikmove]

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

Babylon Village is great.

Very accessible.

Good commute

crooks

is the village good for a family of 4 and if so, which school district is most desirable?

[SamTheCatRocks]

I like Merrick (having lived there for a few years when I got married 10 years ago). Great town - easy to walk to many things, depending on where you are. We were just slightly north of the train station, in walking distance of the LIRR as well as the shops on Merrick Avenue, which has a lot to offer.

You may want to check out Rockville Centre and Oceanside on the South Shore as well. Just a little bit west, Rockville Centre is a great town for walking around. It is diverse in age range (our block has everything from original residents of the street who are in their 80s to young families with kids). We're in our 30s and don't have kids - the block is mixed with little guys and not, so you wouldn't have funny looks! The utilities are extremely cheap and reliable (our own power supply - with the big blackout a few years ago, we only had a 20 minute rolling brownout which RVC controlled). The commute to Manhattan is pretty good - 35-45 minutes, depending on if you catch a local or an express. You may want to check out RVC as it may fit your criteria.

Good luck!

[lesscrappy]

Originally Posted by SamTheCatRocks

You may want to check out Rockville Centre and Oceanside on the South Shore as well. Just a little bit west, Rockville Centre is a great town for walking around.

Good luck!

Rockville Centre is a great town around the village area. There are a lot of apartment buildings in the area and I've seen many listings for Active 55+ condos. Good restaurants and very fast LIRR to the city. Homes are very expensive though so not sure if in your price range. Not everyone has kids so that shouldnt be a problem. The only way you're getting a weird look is if you support a democratic candidate.

[SamTheCatRocks]

Originally Posted by lesscrappy

The only way you're getting a weird look is if you support a democratic candidate.

Hahahahahahah! The town is more diverse than you might think.

[Chrisk327]

To answer your question,

Merrick, bellmore and wantagh are all very similar in demographics and as a resident more highly family focused than some other areas. Not to say kids are a requirement.

School district can vary depending on which one of those you're in and where in that particular town. Wantagh, Merrick and bellmore school districts are preferable to levittown. Also, depending on where they are showing you, the areas within the towns can vary to very expensive and really nice, to trashy and run down.

Long beach, rockville center, and huntington would be on my list. As they all have nice downtowns. Also depends on if you want a house or a co-op. if I were in long beach I probably would be looking for a Co-op on the beach.

[brunette-T]

both long beach and rockville centre have great "downtown" areas and a great re-sale value. and both have a mixed community of new parents, singles, retirees, professionals, and couples of all ages. both are quite close to the LIRR too. But RVC does has more restaurants than LB.

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by Coachgns

Been looking for a while on LI, and have limited to a few areas.
Prefer N. shore, but much of the N. shore is difficult to access whether by highway or train. Port Washington tops list, followed by Huntington.

Unfortunately, I have to move fast (have been looking abt 6 mos but nothing that was right for me up on n shore has been available) due to lease expiration in 3 months. I'm preapproved, very high credit score & nothing to sell - a great Buyer. But can't find the right thing to buy!

I am getting frustrated with how few houses are coming on the market, and also how unacceptable the inventory is right now.

I'm kind of partial to Western Suffolk - maybe because I know it so well

Seems like you're indeed the "perfect buyer" - ready, willing and able to buy and sounds as though you'd be happy in either Babylon Village or Huntington. Don't know your budget/price range, but there is plenty of inventory and more coming. Is your RE agent familiar with those areas? It's usually easier to find the "right house" if you know the inventory...

Don't give up--it CAN be done