pomona, NY (Ramapo, Haverstraw, Suffern: condo, co-op, townhouse)

[daf916]

Hello all,

I am new to the board and would like some info. I am in contract to purchase a lovely townhouse in Pomona, NY. I have lived in Queens all my life and I work as a NYC teacher in Manhattan (15th st and 1st ave). What is transportation like aside from driving, what is the town of Pomona like, taxes (is Pomona part of haverstraw and the current tax issue being played out in north rockland county?). Well these are just a few questions running through my head. While looking for property I really enjoyed the feel of rockland county and pomona. As a 1st time homebuyer I hope you will understand my nervous anticipation. Just sick of life here in the city, congestion, rising rents cost etc.Could not afford the property prices in NYC and refuse to buy a co-op in an apt building. Any feedback would be helpful. Have a great day!

[SuburbanDweller]

Hi there.

While I do not live in Pomona, I do live in Rockland County and hopefully can answer a few questions you have.

Pomona is quite affluent, average income is over $100,000. Haverstraw is about 6 miles away from Pomona. Pomona's school system is East Ramapo School District. I believe they are served by the police of either Suffern or Ramapo. Taxes are high (school tax makes up a large portion) depending on the value of your condo, probably $4,000 to $7,000/year.

Pomona is small and family minded. I'd say it's a pretty typical suburban town. It's pretty quiet. It's also a nice point that it's also very close to the New Jersey border - the Palisades Parkway & NYS Thruway are minutes away (hello cheap gas!)
Rockland County has a sytem of public buses called Tor of Rockland as well as Coach/Red & Tan lines which make trips to the city. There is a train you can catch from Suffern that goes to NYC via Hoboken PATH (which makes a stop at 14th Street). I'd say the majority of Rockland County commutes to NYC on a daily basis.

HTH!

[RiversideScribe]

I grew up in Pomona, from 1984 to 2004. In 20 years, it has become severly overdeveloped and overpriced. There is no mass transit, at least nothing reliable, so a car is compulsory, especially because it is very hilly and not something you'd want to walk, or even use a mountain-bike on.
Yes, it is in the township of Haverstraw, which has the lowest taxes of the five townships in Rockland. With this low rate, you will still get plowed streets at the drop of a snowflake (it tends to stick to the ground up here), vs. Clarkstown, which has the highest rate and you can't a plow there to save your frozen skin.
I honestly don't know what the "tax issue" you mention is: I moved out of there two years ago and haven't been keeping up with local issues.
If I were you, I'd look just a little further north to Orange County, before property up there gets out of control.