Bellmore, Watagh, Merrick, Hicksville, and Massapequa (Hempstead, Huntington: apartments, condos, houses)

[Dewdrop93]

Hi Everyone! I've posted something similar here before and everyone was so helpful! My husband and I are still looking for a house - we've kind of been dragging our feet about it because we don't really want to leave the upper east side! However, we want to start a family soon and we also really want a backyard for our dog! So, to the suburbs we will go!

The agent that we are working with has been sending us listings for Bellmore, Wantagh, Merrick (including N. Merrick), Hicksville, and Massapequa and Massapequa Park (only the areas in the Massapequa school district). We drove around Long Island one time and we liked Merrick and Massapequa but we didn't look around Bellmore, Wantagh, or Hicksville. I would love any feedback, comments, and suggestions as to the areas! We are looking at houses under $400,000 (yes - there are a bunch in that price range) with a doable commute to the city since we will be going ther almost everyday. I would also love to be close to some sort of village center type area - shops, restaurants, nice grocery stores, sushi, etc. Like I said, we live on the upper east side in Manhattan and are used to having everything right outside our front door! I know that we will be giving up a lot of that - but in return we will be getting a lot more space (we live in a tiny studio) and a backyard!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

The agent that we are working with has been sending us listings for Bellmore, Wantagh, Merrick (including N. Merrick), Hicksville, and Massapequa and Massapequa Park (only the areas in the Massapequa school district).

When you say, "Bellmore", does this include "North Bellmore"?

When you say "Wantagh", does this include "North Wantagh"?

When you say, " ... (O)nly the areas in the Massapequa school district ... ", does this include the western two-thirds of the Hamlet of East Massapequa that's in the Massapequa Union Freee School District?

[Johninwestbury]

All of those towns are nice except for Hicksville.

[DawnSells]

I do not know what your budget is but if you like the feel of the city I think you would like Long Beach. It is pricey since it is close to the water. There are a lot of shops to walk in and out of. Huntington has the same feel if you want to go out a little further.

[KENNY GUIDO]

Originally Posted by DawnSells

I do not know what your budget is but if you like the feel of the city I think you would like Long Beach. It is pricey since it is close to the water. There are a lot of shops to walk in and out of. Huntington has the same feel if you want to go out a little further.

long beach is more for college crowd and singles. mostly apartments, condos and small homes.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by KENNY GUIDO

long beach is more for college crowd and singles. mostly apartments, condos and small homes.

Long Beach is pricey...the homes are very tiny and yet miraculously they are going for like $700's now. A lot of homes don't have backyards and you are literally on top of your neighbours.

I think you would get more for your money in the other mentiond towns.

As far as college crowd...ya. I am 27 and I feel I am getting too old for Long Beach now.

[Dewdrop93]

Thank you - yeah - we are in our 30's - definitely not looking for a college crowd!
I think we are probably looking at N. Bellore and N. Wantagh, too. But I think I'd rather not be in the North part of any of the cities since I want to be near the train.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

Thank you - yeah - we are in our 30's - definitely not looking for a college crowd!
I think we are probably looking at N. Bellore and N. Wantagh, too. But I think I'd rather not be in the North part of any of the cities since I want to be near the train.

generally the further away you are from the train the nicer it is though...who would want to live right near the tracks...esp. in bellmore town- yeck!

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

I think we are probably looking at N. Bellore and N. Wantagh, too. But I think I'd rather not be in the North part of any of the cities ...

Dewdrop93, North Bellmore and North Wantagh are hamlets in the Town of Hempstead.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-y...-glossary.html and http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html may be of some help to you in understanding the geography of "Lawn Guyland".

http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...you-think.html may help you understand the great geographic confusions caused by non-conforming ZIP Code postal zones.

When you do find a house that you like, you can find out in which community (city, village or CDP) that house is actually located, which is oftentimes different from the community named in that house's mailing address, by using the Census Bureau's online address search function. (CDP or Census Designated Place is the Census Bureau equivalent for a hamlet in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.)

And, very importantly, among other things, the Census Bureau's online address search function also indicates in which school district an address is located.

[WJFM]

Actually, there are also parts of Hicksville that are very nice. Hicksville is a large area, and many people equate it to just the Broadway mall and the train station. But there are parts that are just regular suburban Long Island where friendly hard-working families keep their homes in good condition. Hicksville schools are probably as good as Massapequa and Wantagh academically. ( the avg SAT scores seem to be around the same for these school districts).

I don't live in Hicksville, but have some friends that do.