The harsh reality (Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Rye: apartment, big house, buy)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I do agree with Winnie , and will strongly advocate for Orange County, Washingtonville / Bloomingrove / Hamptonburgh / New Windsor (some parts of it) in particular. We moved there from the City almost three years ago, and are very happy. You may want to start by looking at the school district reports. The Washingtonville school district is superb. They implemented new math and reading programs in all three of their elementary schools recently, and we are happy with the progress our child has made within such a short period of time. Obviously, Monroe-Woodbury school district is better then Washingtonville's, but you have to consider school taxes that you are about to pay. Besides, you may want to get a better house for your money in Washingtonville as opposed to Monroe. Good luck!
I dont mean to be rude but if thats anything like these ***'s we have in Manhasset-Great Neck it could be why your on your flipping out over things are getting expensive. If so keep the kid and sell the wife !
I got rid of the wife, Manhasset house and $$chool district and kiss the sky for not being taken to the cleaners !
Move to Queens (parts of Astoria and Whitestone are still nice) spent Christmas eve there. It was like the old days--all the houses had lights and Santa's !
Jayman I understand how you feel. I grew up in Rockland County. After finishing a career in the Navy I looked at returning to NY to raise our family. I learned real quick that I could not afford to go home, all the decent areas are way out of my price range. My elderly mother is paying over 6K a year in taxes alone up there. besides potental jobs I looked at the tax burden in different areas, In Virginia where I live we pay $8.80 per $1000 of assessed value. In Lockport NY I calculated the tax burden at $47.00 per thousand. Although homes were cheaper up there the taxes were outragous. In comparing my current job with the same in NY I found Ny was @1 1/2 times more but housing was 2 1/2 times so no advantage there.
I guess you need to look at whats the most important to you. One area you might want to check is Port Chester Ny, it's an easy commute to the city and the home prices run less than all the surrounding communities (Rye, White Plains etc). Here in Virginia I have had to make sacrifices, They still fight the Civil War and they wouldn't know a decent deli if it hit them in the face. But I have a 10 minute commute to a great job and could afford a 4 BR Colonial with no problem.
I wish you the best in finding whats right for you...
Last edited by VA Yankee; 01-10-2007 at 07:09 PM..
Reason: To eliminate the Original message
I guess you need to look at whats the most important to you. One area you might want to check is Port Chester Ny, it's an easy commute to the city and the home prices run less than all the surrounding communities (Rye, White Plains etc).
While Port Chester definitely is cheaper than the surrounding towns, there is a reason for it. The town is probably 75% Mexican/Central American at this point, if not more. Go visit Port Chester sometime and you will have trouble finding a restaurant on main st that isn't serving some type of Latin American food.
I mean don't get me wrong, its not a bad area in terms of violence or crime or anything like that. It is just that if you move to Port Chester you will be surrounded by 3rd world people, and 3rd world people always bring with them 3rd world problems.
I dont mean to be rude but if thats anything like these ***'s we have in Manhasset-Great Neck it could be why your on your flipping out over things are getting expensive. If so keep the kid and sell the wife !
I got rid of the wife, Manhasset house and $$chool district and kiss the sky for not being taken to the cleaners !
Move to Queens (parts of Astoria and Whitestone are still nice) spent Christmas eve there. It was like the old days--all the houses had lights and Santa's !
I hope you enjoy it and are more happy, Joe, but Whitestone and (more so) Astoria are not like what they used to be, or at least they won't be much longer. I lived in Whitestone for 6 years and Bayside since I was born and it's not the same.
Jayman, I understand your predicament. Let me ask you -- do you own now. the reason I ask is, obviously even with $140 down on a $600 something house you're looking at a mortgage of about $400 plus taxes, which is going to be a squeeze. but if you buy something cheaper -- say a condo or coop in the suburbs in a good area, hopefully it will appreciate then you can sell that and get the home you want.
I realize you want a home and not a condo/coop but I know other people who have gone this route and it took a few years but worked out well.
I think another thing to remember are the commuting costs & times that you will incur if moving farther away. Also, if you work in Manhattan the commute by train will be a lot easier but if you do work in the Bronx then it will be a little bit more of a challenge.
LSLE, thank you for suggesting those towns. I am defintely going to check them out!
Joe L, my wife's a fine lady, so the asking price would be too high My wife use to work part-time, but we found that we are very involved parents (something we'll have to deal with later on), and my wife loves to spend her days exposing our toddler to new things and experiences. Also, probably more important, we just don't like any of the day-care centers in our area. I have family and Astoria, and I find it to be very urban and very expensive.
VA Yankee, thank you for the advice. I think you folks (vets and current soldiers) deserve a lot more than you are getting! May I ask, do you live near a major city? I am considering moving to another state entirely and finding a new job. Pondering's points about holding on to a great job are in line with my thinking. I have it real good; it's scary to think of leaving
#22, I see your point about the coop/condo. I do own now. I know areas like forest hills and rego park have coops/condos that I can afford and offer good neighborhoods and schools. But, I do want to get away from the hustle and bustle a bit. I understand your point though - buy here, when it goes up, sell (scarafice now, gain later). You given me something to think about.
jlhct, you are right. I've been checking fares on MTA's and NJ Transit's web site.
You might wanna try Orange County,or upper westchester, like Mt.Kisco...many Italians living in these areas..I live in Pelham manor, and used to live in Pelham parkway...many italians from the Bronx have moved to Westchester...hope this helps
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.