Western Suffolk good nieghborhoods?? (Islip, Babylon: short sales, apartment, to rent)

[jennifferm]

I am trying to find a nice neighborhood in Western Suffolk. Anything that is West of say Kings Park / Commack. I dont want to have to deal with 347 as I commute to the city everyday.
I am only familiar with the North Shore. Looking to rent for a year then buy in the same school district.
Schools are important, but am willing to "step down" from the Three Village quality.
I am either going to have to rent a 3 bedroom in the $2000 to 2500 range or buy in the 275 to 325 range.
I will be moving there with my girlfriend and her 13 yr old daughter. Just about any school district on LI would be a step up from where she is now. Any advice on decent but not Three Village $ neighborhoods would be really appreciated.

[dman72]

Originally Posted by jennifferm

I am trying to find a nice neighborhood in Western Suffolk. Anything that is West of say Kings Park / Commack. I dont want to have to deal with 347 as I commute to the city everyday.
I am only familiar with the North Shore. Looking to rent for a year then buy in the same school district.
Schools are important, but am willing to "step down" from the Three Village quality.
I am either going to have to rent a 3 bedroom in the $2000 to 2500 range or buy in the 275 to 325 range.
I will be moving there with my girlfriend and her 13 yr old daughter. Just about any school district on LI would be a step up from where she is now. Any advice on decent but not Three Village $ neighborhoods would be really appreciated.

Kings Park, East Northport, West Babylon, Babylon, Islip, West Islip. You can get something quite nice for 2500 in rent, not so nice for a buy in the range you mentioned. Big time fixer uppers.

[jennifferm]

Yeah, basically I would look to rent where i would end up buying in a year. So as not to have to move her kids school again. Kings Park and Northport are both great. I don't really know anything other than that area of the North Shore. Where could 325k get me something that is not a big time fixer upper? How big time do you mean?

[Walter Greenspan]

jennifferm, in case you are unfamiliar with the local geography:

What people refer to colloquially as "towns", or in your case, neighborhoods, are actually villages and hamlets, which are within actual towns; and, because villages and hamlets are referred to as "towns", then, many times, the error is compounded when actual towns are referred to as "townships".

Also, many colloquially refer to a "downtown business district" in a hamlet as a "village".

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.

[dman72]

Originally Posted by jennifferm

Yeah, basically I would look to rent where i would end up buying in a year. So as not to have to move her kids school again. Kings Park and Northport are both great. I don't really know anything other than that area of the North Shore. Where could 325k get me something that is not a big time fixer upper? How big time do you mean?

Like not updated in 35 years, old electric, old appliances, old carpet, ugly wallpaper, etc.

Check out mls #'s 2198403 2165359 2129829 on www.mlsli.com

These are in Kings Park

The one for 350 is nice. The other 2 for 325K or so are older short sales, one with an illegal apartment that will need to be taken care of (sold "as is")

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by jennifferm

I am trying to find a nice neighborhood in Western Suffolk. Anything that is West of say Kings Park / Commack. I dont want to have to deal with 347 as I commute to the city everyday.
I am only familiar with the North Shore. Looking to rent for a year then buy in the same school district.
Schools are important, but am willing to "step down" from the Three Village quality.
I am either going to have to rent a 3 bedroom in the $2000 to 2500 range or buy in the 275 to 325 range.
I will be moving there with my girlfriend and her 13 yr old daughter. Just about any school district on LI would be a step up from where she is now. Any advice on decent but not Three Village $ neighborhoods would be really appreciated.

I think KP will give you the best bang for the buck in NW Suffolk.
(E Npt too) Its no 3V but its still a hell of a buy.
275-325....doubtful.
Wheres TomMoser?

FWIW... although not optimal, I know quite a few people on the 704 Express out of Ronkonkoma who live in Miller Place, Sound Beach and Rocky Point.
Good Schools...275-325 would serve you well there.

Crooks