Job in NYC (7th Ave) Costs questions about renting/living in LI (New York: apartments, rental)

[LucyLastic]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Do you want something newer that includes amenities like a dishwasher and central air conditioning for the summer (as opposed to window air conditioners)? Would you prefer larger living quarters, but less modern?

What do you like to do as a family on your leisure time? What are your hobbies as individuals?

hi,

We would like a low maintenance, fairly young property. I like them to be quite airy with lots of light. We would need air conditioning for the summer. Our house in the UK isn't that big, for example, our living room is about 160 sq feet and is the largest room in the house. We have one bathroom and one toilet, no en suite luxury . I would also like a washing machine and dishwasher included if possible to save us having to buy them.

Ideally we would like a modest car so we can get out and about with the baby rather than struggling with trains etc so a parking space would also be a plus.

[I_Love_LI_but]

In current US$, that is $1,444.96 needed to budget for paying for home in the UK while they are in the USA.

[cmdrogogov]

I would not suggest Long Island due to the excessively long commute times.

I currently live out in Babylon and my commute from House--->Work is just over two hours each way. This adds up to 4 hours a day of commuting. I'm not kidding when I say it will literally suck the life out of you. You will be unable to do much of anything by the time you get home other than eat and go to bed. The MTA and the Long Island RailRoad are generally frustrating entities to deal with at the best of times, although to the LIRR's credit, they have done their best and sometimes very quickly to deal with any complaints I've had regarding things they have the ability to fix.

Make no bones about it though - travelling into Manhattan from L.I sucks.

A car is a MUST out in Long Island. The layout simply isn't designed for anything else. Cycling is generally pretty dangerous, although they are a few people (me included) who will cycle to work, there is precious little in the way of dedicated cycling lanes, and generally speaking drivers here are fairly aggressive. Walking is an option but again, astonishingly few people will walk anywhere here. The upside is that running a car here is far cheaper than in the UK. As long as you don't go and buy a tank or something

Land taxes in this area are about $10-12,000 per year, and usually have to be paid in one lump sum. This should be enough to discourage buying and owning a house. Renting is a more attractive option, although if you can find somewhere nice in Brooklyn or Queens, it might be worth the higher rent just for the reduction in commuting time alone.

There are a few decent places to have fun in the local area. Most residents can get a season pass to one of the beaches for about $30 or so, and there are provisions for docks if you wind up buying a boat (which is also popular around here)

Heading out further east, you will hit The Hamptons and Montauk, which are fairly popular tourist destinations and have a distinctly resort-ey feel to them. But like everything else, they're pretty expensive. While the train does run all the way out to Montauk, chances are you'll be driving out there if anything.

Assuming you're relatively careful with your spending, $150k should be fine. My salary is just over 1/3 of that and while we can manage, we really have nothing left at the end of each month (single income family of three).

[I_Love_LI_but]

I remember you mentioned that you have a dog, so you would need something pet friendly. I went to this website MLSLI.com – Long Island Real Estate – Find A Home in Nassau, Suffolk & Queens and did a search on "Rental Properties" (left menu bar, fourth from the top) for the following radio buttons "all rentals" "Nassau" and drop down menu choices "towns" (chose the following in Western Nassau with good commute/under 1 hour to Penn Station in NYC: Cedarhurst, E. Atlantic Beach, East Rockaway, Great Neck, Hewlett, Island Park, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Oceanside, Port Washington, Woodmere); "price to" $2,500;"bedrooms" 2 or more; checkbox under "features" pets. The result was 70 properties available to rent, some whole house, some 1/2 house (2 family home), some in buildings. Remember with a whole house rental you are responsible to pay for heat/hot water. Often tenants in whole house rentals take care of the yard too (mow lawn, etc.). Some 2 family houses have separate boilers/water heaters (either gas or oil) and their tenants pay this on top of their rent and the usual utilities (electricity, telephone, cable). If a 2 family house has this setup, the monthly rent should be lower than those that include the heat. In apt. buildings the heat/hot water is usually included in the rent.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by cmdrogogov

I would not suggest Long Island due to the excessively long commute times.

I currently live out in Babylon and my commute from House--->Work is just over two hours each way. This adds up to 4 hours a day of commuting. I'm not kidding when I say it will literally suck the life out of you. You will be unable to do much of anything by the time you get home other than eat and go to bed. The MTA and the Long Island RailRoad are generally frustrating entities to deal with at the best of times, although to the LIRR's credit, they have done their best and sometimes very quickly to deal with any complaints I've had regarding things they have the ability to fix.

Make no bones about it though - travelling into Manhattan from L.I sucks.

For some of you it is tough to commute to Manhattan and I sympathize the farther out you live. That is why I am suggesting they look in exclusively western Nassau County, not Suffolk County where you live. For example, my travel time is 33 minutes to Penn and well under an hour total by subway to my final destination. The OP's husband will be walking distance to Penn.

Originally Posted by cmdrogogov

A car is a MUST out in Long Island. The layout simply isn't designed for anything else. Cycling is generally pretty dangerous, although they are a few people (me included) who will cycle to work, there is precious little in the way of dedicated cycling lanes, and generally speaking drivers here are fairly aggressive. Walking is an option but again, astonishingly few people will walk anywhere here. The upside is that running a car here is far cheaper than in the UK. As long as you don't go and buy a tank or something

I agree a car will greatly enhance quality of life here, although it is possible to get by without one in some areas.

Originally Posted by cmdrogogov

Land taxes in this area are about $10-12,000 per year, and usually have to be paid in one lump sum. This should be enough to discourage buying and owning a house. Renting is a more attractive option, although if you can find somewhere nice in Brooklyn or Queens, it might be worth the higher rent just for the reduction in commuting time alone.

They are not looking to buy because they are not going to be living here that long, so no need to frighten them about property taxes. As for the "paid in lump sum" ... I don't know why you are mentioning that as most homeowners pay 1/12 installments along with their mortgage.

As for commute time from Queens and Brooklyn, I know many people from there that take a lot LONGER on the bus and/or subway than my commute from LI does, so that's no panacea for sure.

[SamTheCatRocks]

There are some very reasonable commutes from Long Island. We live in Rockville Centre (South Shore, in Nassau County). The train ride into Penn Station is 40 minutes and my walk to work from there is less than 10 minutes (I'm also on Seventh Avenue - but not sure where your husband's office will be and that's a mighty long avenue!). The further out east you live on Long Island, the more time he'll have to spend on the railroad, but honestly, my commute is a breeze.

Keep in mind transportation fees. From Rockville Centre, a monthly train pass is over $200.

[cmdrogogov]

Oh I'm not trying to scare anyone, and I don't own a property out here - I'm mostly just repeating what my landlord and next door neighbor continually whine about - then again they no longer have mortgages

I currently do not own a car and I can get around fine - It just takes a bit more planning. There are supermarket services with delivery available but to really get anywhere takes a car.


I have no experience with Nassau county, but I'd definitely recommend anything that would shorten the commute. 33 Minutes is far more reasonable.

From my wife's experience (Brooklynite) - the average commute from the more pleasant areas could range from 30m to 50m.

[cmdrogogov]

Keep in mind transportation fees. From Rockville Centre, a monthly train pass is over $200

Mine is $350, post fare-hike. So not cheap by any means, but much cheaper than most UK commuter rail -I originally lived in Bedfordshire.

[nancy thereader]

I'd suggest Douglaston, Little Neck, Manhassset or Port Washington. All great commutes for a Seventh Avenue worker & all very nice towns to live in.

[LucyLastic]

Thanks everyone!

Your replies are very helpful indeed and all is being taken on board.

Btw, we do have a dog, a jack russell, who'd I'd love to bring with us but if we can't, hubby's mother will look after him for us while we're away.

Also, thanks for the travel costs, we're bearing those in mind too. In the UK, his fare is a yearly ticket and costs £3500 yr (and the service is poo!).