Need general info on Staten Island (Newark, Russia: real estate, apartments, to rent)

[OleSchoolFool]

I drove through Staten Island today just looking around for 2 hrs. I've seen a lot of negative things said about SI online, but my first impression-I actually really liked it. I'm in Northern NJ, and I moved here last year from Pacific NW, originally from Russia. I am not trying to move right now or anything like that, just looking for general info on SI. I like the fact SI is close to Brooklyn where I go sometimes for Russian restaurants and other things, while it seems more peaceful and suburban at the same time. I liked how I felt like I have a lot of space and didn't feel constricted.
I noticed people say you get more space for less in SI, is that in regards to renting, buying or both?
What about property taxes?
Any specific neighborhoods that have good real estate investment potential?
Is SI more suburban and car friendly than Eastern Queens, in regards to traffic and finding parking near stores and such?
Is the ferry reliable?
Is there parking near the ferry or you have to get there using public transit? If there is parking, how much is it?
From what I understand, tolls are $5.76 for SI residents?
Any other pros/cons for SI?

Thanks a lot.

[RUBIES77]

Originally Posted by OleSchoolFool

I drove through Staten Island today just looking around for 2 hrs. I've seen a lot of negative things said about SI online, but my first impression-I actually really liked it. I'm in Northern NJ, and I moved here last year from Pacific NW, originally from Russia. I am not trying to move right now or anything like that, just looking for general info on SI. I like the fact SI is close to Brooklyn where I go sometimes for Russian restaurants and other things, while it seems more peaceful and suburban at the same time. I liked how I felt like I have a lot of space and didn't feel constricted.
I noticed people say you get more space for less in SI, is that in regards to renting, buying or both?
What about property taxes?
Any specific neighborhoods that have good real estate investment potential?
Is SI more suburban and car friendly than Eastern Queens, in regards to traffic and finding parking near stores and such?
Is the ferry reliable?
Is there parking near the ferry or you have to get there using public transit? If there is parking, how much is it?
From what I understand, tolls are $5.76 for SI residents?
Any other pros/cons for SI?

Thanks a lot.

The ferry is pretty reliable and there is reasonable paid parking areas. Most stores are car friendly. Lots of express buses to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Taxes in all the boroughs are much less than neighborhoods outside of the boroughs. Residents get discounts in all the bridges, but you must apply for them. Many excellent areas with lots of potential for investment. It is broken down into the North Shore, the Middle island, and the South Shore. The South Shore is more affluent than the North Shore. Some less productive areas in the North Shore.

A tremendous influx of rich Russians have moved to the South Shore, from South East Annadale to Tottenville. Schools are pretty good. In these areas, it is very suburban, and houses are set up in large lots. Lots of parks, lakes, greenery, etc. There is a multitude of excellent restaurants.

A house worth $900,000 can pay $6,000 taxes, same house outside of the 5 boroughs or in New Jersey will pay double.

[Baby Punisher]

SI has a rampart drug problem. Prescription meds, coke, weed, herion is making a come back. It's not great.

[OleSchoolFool]

Well, a lot of places have that problem. Where I used to live in NW, it was like every other person tried meth. Being now around Jersey City and Newark, I'm also used to seeing crack houses so no big deal.

[checkmatechamp13]

Parking is about $7 or $8 by the ferry. Keep in mind that you can reach St. George from practically any neighborhood on SI, as that is the main bus hub for the borough. (Also keep in mind that if you are taking the subway or bus in Manhattan, you get a free transfer, so essentially the bus or SIR in SI is free because you would have to pay anyway in Manhattan)

There are also express buses that go directly to Manhattan for $5.50, so for $11 per day, it might just be worth taking those, rather than dealing with the ferry (if it's $8 for parking and you need to take the subway in Manhattan anyway, that's $12.50 right there)

I can't speak much on traffic, but I have a feeling SI is better than Eastern Queens.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by Baby Punisher

SI has a rampart drug problem. Prescription meds, coke, weed, herion is making a come back. It's not great.

no it doesn't

[OleSchoolFool]

Originally Posted by RUBIES77

The ferry is pretty reliable and there is reasonable paid parking areas. Most stores are car friendly. Lots of express buses to Manhattan and Brooklyn. Taxes in all the boroughs are much less than neighborhoods outside of the boroughs. Residents get discounts in all the bridges, but you must apply for them. Many excellent areas with lots of potential for investment. It is broken down into the North Shore, the Middle island, and the South Shore. The South Shore is more affluent than the North Shore. Some less productive areas in the North Shore.

A tremendous influx of rich Russians have moved to the South Shore, from South East Annadale to Tottenville. Schools are pretty good. In these areas, it is very suburban, and houses are set up in large lots. Lots of parks, lakes, greenery, etc. There is a multitude of excellent restaurants.

A house worth $900,000 can pay $6,000 taxes, same house outside of the 5 boroughs or in New Jersey will pay double.

Interesting. Are there any decent bars or nightclubs?

[OleSchoolFool]

Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13

Parking is about $7 or $8 by the ferry. Keep in mind that you can reach St. George from practically any neighborhood on SI, as that is the main bus hub for the borough. (Also keep in mind that if you are taking the subway or bus in Manhattan, you get a free transfer, so essentially the bus or SIR in SI is free because you would have to pay anyway in Manhattan)

There are also express buses that go directly to Manhattan for $5.50, so for $11 per day, it might just be worth taking those, rather than dealing with the ferry (if it's $8 for parking and you need to take the subway in Manhattan anyway, that's $12.50 right there)

I can't speak much on traffic, but I have a feeling SI is better than Eastern Queens.

That's good to know. Does cheaper living in SI outweigh extra commuter costs and tolls as opposed to other boroughs?

[checkmatechamp13]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

no it doesn't

Yeah. There's always going to be drug users, but the impact on your day-to-day life is going to be minimal, if any.

Originally Posted by OleSchoolFool

That's good to know. Does cheaper living in SI outweigh extra commuter costs and tolls as opposed to other boroughs?

I would say so.

A weekly pass on the express bus is $50 a week, so for a year, you're talking $2,600. By comparison, a subway pass is $104 per month, or $1,248 per year. The monthly difference is about $115 per month, but I'd say you easily make that up in rent.

[OleSchoolFool]

Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13

Yeah. There's always going to be drug users, but the impact on your day-to-day life is going to be minimal, if any.



I would say so.

A weekly pass on the express bus is $50 a week, so for a year, you're talking $2,600. By comparison, a subway pass is $104 per month, or $1,248 per year. The monthly difference is about $115 per month, but I'd say you easily make that up in rent.

Yea, I actually checked apartment listings and I was like DAMN. Some SI apartments even have washer/dryer in unit for like $1000 a month. It's def way cheaper than even further parts of Queens so it seems like it does outweigh. I'm not sure if these apts are spacious or not, but I pay that in NJ, and I don't have w/d. Maybe it's not a big deal for people around here, but I was accustomed to doing laundry at home back in NW so I hate going to laundromats or apartments own laundry facilities.