Tell me about Tuckahoe NY (real estate market, homes, taxes)

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by BronxRosie

I am considering moving to Tuckahoe NY.

There are two Tuckahoes in New York State: there is the Village of Tuckahoe in the Town of Eastchester in Westchester County and there is the Hamlet of Tuckahoe in the Town of Southampton in Suffolk County, and since this is a Long Island forum, it's the latter Tuckahoe whose geography I'm posting here:


Concomitant with the April 2000 Federal Census, the Hamlet of North Southampton (Southampton unincorporated) in the Town of Southampton was renamed Tuckahoe and, in addition, some land from the Hamlet of Shinnecock Hills was transferred to the newly named Hamlet of Tuckahoe.

Adding to the geographic confusion, Tuckahoe is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where none of the places in the community have the hamlet name in their mailing address.


For those who may not be familiar with Tuckahoe:

Tuckahoe is a hamlet (an unincorporated area) in the central part of the Town of Southampton, in the east end of Suffolk County.

Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Tuckahoe in the Town of Southampton is bordered on the north by the Great Peconic Bay; on the east by the Hamlet of North Sea; on the south by the Village of Southampton and the Shinnecock Indian reservation; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Shinnecock Hills and the Hamlet of Hampton Bays.





Tuckahoe is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where none of the places in the community have the hamlet name in their mailing address: places in the Hamlet of Tuckahoe have a "Southampton, NY 11968 and 11969" mailing address).


For a good set of town-by-town maps showing all the villages and hamlets in each of LI's 13 towns (3 in Nassau County and 10 in Suffolk County): http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html

[BronxRosie]

The home I am looking into would fall into a handyman special only b/c damage was done to it. The current taxes are 21 thousand, which is totally ridiculous. I was kind of lead to believe that repairing it would bring it back to almost its original value. No one really gives you a straight answer.

My main concerns are the taxes and the snob/materialistic factor.

I wish I could stay in the Bronx, but the schools suck!

[bmwguydc]

Usually with a handyman special, you do build equity faster, bringing the property back to full market value as you complete the repairs, and it's doubtful that it would raise your taxes, since you would not be altering the building to restore it.

I would ask the assessor's office as to how the property was valued, and whether or not it has a special case such as a double lot that could be subdviided or a larger amount of proiperty. At roughly $21k in taxes, that's an assessed value that's in the high $900s, which could be appealed in this market and due to actual condition, assuming this is without STAR reduction, otherwise the assessed value is higher, closer to $1M. In light of condition issues and the market conditions, you could grieve the taxes, but to get a reductionyou would have to prove that the actual market value of the property is less than the current assessed value. Even when restored, if you are reassessed based upon that work completion, the taxes could go up again, but it might not be as high, depending upon the actual market value of the house.

It's not a materialistic village at all, and has a close-knit community that draws people to it. It has a charming downtown, and the people are generally friendly and relaxed, not uptight and snobby as other towns/villages in the area can be.

[BronxRosie]

Thanks bmwguydc, I appreciate the info. The home was originally assessed in the $900's. The home b/c of the owners situation and the conditions is selling for under $550 and of course the the current market helps. We would be only repairing not adding. The assessor's office tells me that the new taxes will be based on the sale price of the house plus taking into consideration the repairs, but "reasonably." He claims the new taxes will be around $11,500. Seems to good to be true.

It's good to know that it is a nice community, that I won't get gawked at in my Toyota.

[bmwguydc]

That sounds like a good deal, and the taxes will be in line with the purchase price and some renovations, so that really makes it a win-win. Overall, it's a very nice community, where people in the neighborhood tend more to wave hello as you drive past as opposed to looking at the car's make/model. It's also generally described as a close-knit community; and, with a child in the school, which is a relatively small district, you should find it easy to establish your family in the village.

[BronxRosie]

Thanks again bmwguydc, I am hoping for a win win situation. It's hard leaving the Bronx with a large paid off home in a nice area with only $1500 yearly taxes, yes you read that correctly fifteen hundred. If it weren't for the schools, I would remain here. But change is good right.

[bmwguydc]

Change can be a very good thing, providing new opportunities for growth. And, you can restore the house to suit your taste, get a good school district, and another neighborhood in which you can make new friends. You're close enough such that you won't lose old friends as well from the current neighborhood, so it sounds like a very good situation.

[tomcio]

my wife, 2 year old son and i just moved in to Tuckahoe school district (Eastchester P.O.) in december and can only back up anything that bmwguydc mentioned in his posts - we love it so far. assuming from your posts you are looking for things we were and you should also appreciate the area like we do. and yes, if you are buying a house for around $550K you should expect taxes in $12K range. best of luck.

[BronxRosie]

Thanks Tomcio, I am finally glad to hear from someone that is actually from the area (same school district). Happy to hear you like the area. I am just looking for a good school district in a nice unpretentious area that will not kill you with the taxes.
I guess I was a little freaked out by and can't understand how the house is currently 21k in taxes and now will go down to 12k. I feel like right after I buy they will rocket those taxes right back up to 21k. The tax office wasn't really that helpful. Any other advice please pass it along. Thanks.

[tomcio]

Well, that is what you are getting in Tuckahoe - a good school district in a nice unpretentious area. I can't speak for your taxes being knocked down by almost 50%. All I can tell you is our taxes were adjusted by 17% last year and we will try to lower them by another 10% this year for the house still being assessed for the value higher that we actually bought it for. If the house you are considering is a handyman special you may need to be aware of high utility bill especially during winter months.