Best Areas on LI for young family? (Islip, Babylon: houses, neighborhood)

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

I didn't even think a bank would give you a loan if you didn't make above a certain amount. The max you can get for a loan is 3x your salary...

You're absolutely right.

If they just bought it as first-time homebuyers, as he claims they did in his post, they had a mega-downpayment from somewhere (either savings or gifts), which made the mortgage manageable for someone on that salary (who is also supporting a non-working spouse).

[TheBS19]

Again, thanks to everyone for weighing in.

After reading a different thread (the one on Redfin), I decided to check it out and it has that cool feature on recent sales. Saw a lot of nice looking homes on there in Bethpage going for pretty reasonable prices, and saw the Bethpage schools (in Bethpage Union Free SD) are pretty highly thought of. But, it hasn't been mentioned much in here - any reason why? Or is this another good place to be looking?

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by TheBS19

Again, thanks to everyone for weighing in.

After reading a different thread (the one on Redfin), I decided to check it out and it has that cool feature on recent sales. Saw a lot of nice looking homes on there in Bethpage going for pretty reasonable prices, and saw the Bethpage schools (in Bethpage Union Free SD) are pretty highly thought of. But, it hasn't been mentioned much in here - any reason why? Or is this another good place to be looking?

Yes, definitely check out Bethpage for starter homes. I don't know of any red flag areas to stay away from in Bethpage, but I am not a Suffolk expert like some of the C-D posters. If there are any areas to stay away from in Bethpage, hopefully someone will chime in.

[TheBS19]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Yes, definitely check out Bethpage for starter homes. I don't know of any red flag areas to stay away from in Bethpage, but I am not a Suffolk expert like some of the C-D posters. If there are any areas to stay away from in Bethpage, hopefully someone will chime in.

I was under the impression it was in central-eastern Nassau - am I wrong?

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by TheBS19

I was under the impression it was in central-eastern Nassau - am I wrong?

Duh to me! I've had a rough day and my brain is getting fried. You're right. I guess I don't pay enough attention to it as Nassau or Suffolk because I consider it too far out for my purposes. But I've been there and it seems like a very nice community with no red flag areas.

Here, I will play Walter Greenspan for you:

[Walter Greenspan]

Just bear in mind that a place can have a "Bethpage, NY 11714" mailing address (2,842 acres) and not be in the Hamlet of Bethpage (2,356 acres).

Places with a "Bethpage, NY 11714" mailing address that are not in the Hamlet of Bethpage are in the Hamlet of Hicksville and the Hamlet of Plainedge in the Town of Oyster Bay, as well as in the Hamlet of Levittown in the Town of Hempstead; and, at the same time, there are places in the Hamlet of Bethpage that have a "Hicksville, NY 11801" and "Plainview, NY 11803" mailing address.

[barbk]

In general, Nassau county has higher taxes and prices than Suffolk. There are many fine homes in both Nassau and Suffolk counties with wonderful schools , express trains to the city and plenty of shopping. Price and taxes will narrow your search to a manageable level. In Suffolk I would recommend Babylon and West Islip. If you can find Half Holow schools in Deer Park go for it. Prices tend to be lower than Dix Hills with the same school district. In Nassau Massapequa, Wantagh, Seaford, Merrick are also good choices. I suggest you contact a mortgage professional and determine a monthly payment you are comfortable with, based on how much downpayment you are working with. If you want a larger property size for the money definetly look in Suffolk.

[Crookhaven]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

We're talking an hour DOOR TO DOOR not an hour LIRR SCHEDULE DEPART TO LIRR SCHEDULE ARRIVE.

I dont even know what that menas buT IVE BEEN MEANING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR CAPSLOCK.

[TheBS19]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Duh to me! I've had a rough day and my brain is getting fried. You're right. I guess I don't pay enough attention to it as Nassau or Suffolk because I consider it too far out for my purposes. But I've been there and it seems like a very nice community with no red flag areas.

Here, I will play Walter Greenspan for you:

Thanks. I've been doing some Redfin research and stuff like that with the wife the last few days and we do really like what we see in the Bethpage, Old bethpage, Plainview area (little more expensive there than some of the other spots we looked into but looking at recent sales data, there are definitely SOME options there). Like I initially had said, this move is probably about a year away from getting really serious but we are just very curious and want to have as much info as possible when we do ramp it up.

Seems like we really like the strip along the South Shore (the Massapequa-Seaford-Bellmore-Wantagh-Merrick run) and the area I described above. So I think thats going to at least be our jumping off point initially. As far as Suffolk options are concerned, it seems Huntington's "affordable" areas are a little more touch-and-go so we'd have to be a bit more careful there and the same for the Babylon-Islip-Lindy area (plus the longer commute). I have family in Dix Hills (to the poster that suggested that area) so I am planning on talking to them more over the holidays about their thoughts on that spot.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their info and ask that if you think of anything else or hear of something, please don't hesitate to share!! I'll definitely be perusing around these boards as they are so helpful and when we really start ramping up our search I'm gonna be sure to be asking about specific neighborhoods!

Thanks again.

[hotkarl]

Nah, move to Bethpage, maybe your new neighbor will be the future Nassau Exec,
Mr. Mangano...