Talk to me on the rental market (Valley Stream, Great Neck: apartments, rentals)

[mom2gurls]

In part two of our post. We had some family let us know that for 2500-4000 per month (4k much more than what I would even consider to spend)..that we could get a beautiful home to rent in the higher rated areas on the island.

Not interested in buying at all for 1-2 years--as Ny isnt our final destination. We already have rental properties and will be selling our own home. We were looking for townhome OR single family--complete WHOLE home (learning that LI means upstairs or downstairs). 3-4 bedrooms, NEWER 10 years, 2-3 baths, colonial ( no ranches, weird setups, raised ranches..so just an old fashioned colonial). 2 car garage and just enough grass for kids to play on in a family friendly neighborhood.

Dont mind a townhome that has pools, fitness center, kids playground..but we need at least 3-4 bedrooms...(have three kids)


Well I did a search and even for rentals I see nothing that appears to be appealing. What am I missing..are the rentals also overpriced? Are there any sections of long island that have the "newer construction feel?"

Any suggestions on townhomes...we need to be within 40 minutes of the port authority..and the quickest access to the LIRR station (if I can get something nice...maybe we can stretch it)

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by mom2gurls

In part two of our post. We had some family let us know that for 2500-4000 per month (4k much more than what I would even consider to spend)..that we could get a beautiful home to rent in the higher rated areas on the island.

Not interested in buying at all for 1-2 years--as Ny isnt our final destination. We already have rental properties and will be selling our own home. We were looking for townhome OR single family--complete WHOLE home (learning that LI means upstairs or downstairs). 3-4 bedrooms, NEWER 10 years, 2-3 baths, colonial ( no ranches, weird setups, raised ranches..so just an old fashioned colonial). 2 car garage and just enough grass for kids to play on in a family friendly neighborhood.

Dont mind a townhome that has pools, fitness center, kids playground..but we need at least 3-4 bedrooms...(have three kids)


Well I did a search and even for rentals I see nothing that appears to be appealing. What am I missing..are the rentals also overpriced? Are there any sections of long island that have the "newer construction feel?"

Any suggestions on townhomes...we need to be within 40 minutes of the port authority..and the quickest access to the LIRR station (if I can get something nice...maybe we can stretch it)

Long Island is one of the older suburbs in the United States. The housing stock is older. It was/is considered "single family dwelling" territory for the most part. Of course there are some apartments, but that is not the housing staple here.

I would say that anything close to what you want (newer construction "feel" townhome) (but probably still more expensive than what you ideally want to pay), would be way out in Suffolk County, VERY far from New Jersey and a horrible commute for your husband.

Long Island is just that, an island. We don't have the room to keep building more and more "exurbs" in a circle radiating from the larger city as is done in the south, midwest, west, etc. That is why you will probably not find what you are looking for on Long Island at the price you want to pay.

Basically, if you want 3-4 BRs, 2 car garage, newer or at least recently fully renovated home, good school district, convenient to LIRR and only 40 minutes to Port Authority door to door, you will have to pay $$$$. (That 40 minutes will be tough no matter how close in you are to the city border.) There are plenty of other people out there that do have the $$$$ and will pay it, so that is who you are competing with and that's why it's more expensive than you are used to. We can't just throw up a new townhome complex and include the drapes and carpets anytime we feel like it because we don't have the open space.

Since your husband will be working in NJ, have you thought of moving to NJ? You might find something within your budget that fits your needs there.

[WJFM]

I think you should be able to find 4bed 2bath rentals for 3500$ or so. Check out mlsli.com and look for rental properties in Great Neck, Garden city etc.

I am not sure if you can find houses built in the last 10 years for that price.. but you can get updated homes. Like the prev post mentioned, new houses are not that common in Long Island.

[arangoa79]

I rent one of my homes in Valley Stream for $3,600 which includes utilities (5BR, 2BTH). Never had a problem finding a family to rent.

[mom2gurls]

Yes..we have considered NJ..personally I am not a native new yorker (california)...so It doesnt matter to me..but ask my dh who is a "new yorka"..I guess there is an unsaid rivalry between NJ/NY that I dont get!

I def see more of what we are looking for in rockland..but the island seems more convenient. Just got discouraged from some of the negative threads...it really does seem like a nice place if you are in the right area.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by arangoa79

I rent one of my homes in Valley Stream for $3,600 which includes utilities (5BR, 2BTH). Never had a problem finding a family to rent.

Why do you pay all the utilities on the house? I thought if you rent a house the tenant pays the utilities. I have even seen two-families where the landlord sets up separate heating systems and the tenants have to pay their own heat too (which is usually included in the rent of just an apartment).