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I shopped this area and surrounding extensively years ago - I owned a house in Sachem years before that... First of all, there is nothing "upper" middle class about Ronko, regardless of what you see in driveways. It's "more affordable" for a reason. That's not to say there aren't many good people and hard working blue collar types living there... and certainly someone who bought into that area 20-25 years ago is doing pretty well just basically paying taxes with little to no P&I.
Just be sure you're not buying on a bet that an area will be improving long term. It's a much more likely scenario to see the "bad" expanding - there is absolutely nothing to drive a gentrificationesque-like phenomenon in Suffolk county.
Teenagers used to hang out behind the fitness place (was a porn theater years ago). Not sure if they still do or not. I'm not talking about getting mugged in the parking lot, I'm talking about having kids hanging out in cars blasting music on Friday and Saturday nights behind the shopping center.
And yest it looks like Foster can be used as a cut through from Hawkins to Portion.
I am through there too early to notice that, but I do see a fair number of police cruising around. Given the Sears and Waldbaums are closed, kids have new, empty places to hang out behind.
I shopped this area and surrounding extensively years ago - I owned a house in Sachem years before that... First of all, there is nothing "upper" middle class about Ronko, regardless of what you see in driveways. It's "more affordable" for a reason. That's not to say there aren't many good people and hard working blue collar types living there... and certainly someone who bought into that area 20-25 years ago is doing pretty well just basically paying taxes with little to no P&I.
Just be sure you're not buying on a bet that an area will be improving long term. It's a much more likely scenario to see the "bad" expanding - there is absolutely nothing to drive a gentrificationesque-like phenomenon in Suffolk county.
I wish they'd bring the lake back to what it was in the 50s, instead of adding another shopping area by the train station.
The town and community are foolish for not improving the area by tearing down the derelict buildings and improving park facilities. It could be a gem. At one time Le Petit Trianon stood at the end of the (then private) Long Island Motor Parkway and offered fine dining on Lake Ronkonkoma. Talk about an area which took a wrong turn in time.
The town and community are foolish for not improving the area by tearing down the derelict buildings and improving park facilities. It could be a gem. At one time Le Petit Trianon stood at the end of the (then private) Long Island Motor Parkway and offered fine dining on Lake Ronkonkoma. Talk about an area which took a wrong turn in time.
They started in the right direction with the park/beach improvements, but they should really make it an actual destination again and drive people to it and make it an attraction...like a real lake town. I'm in the area and hope that is the case eventually.
The parks and beaches have been vastly improved (other than a lot of broken glass still all over the place left over from when the lake was just a hangout), but the Bavarian Inn mess and the motels ruin any chances of the area improving.
the parks and beaches have been vastly improved (other than a lot of broken glass still all over the place left over from when the lake was just a hangout), but the bavarian inn mess and the motels ruin any chances of the area improving.
We've been looking all over long island, with our eastern extent (due to commute to work) being around the nicolls road area, and we havent found more than a couple of homes we've felt anything for.
We recently found a home in lake ronkonkoma that has everything we're looking for, reasonable price, and low taxes.
The only question that still sticks in my head is "how truly nice is the Lake Ronkonkoma area, and is the resale value strong"
I know about the area north as being not so great due to its vicinity to the (now torn down) Bavarian Inn and the couple of run down motels, however the house we're looking at is slightly east of Hawkins road just north of the LIE in the neighborhood comprised of Pleasure Rd, Cheryl Dr, Foster Rd, Gregory Dr, etc. Sachem school district as well.
We took a drive around the neighborhood a few times and it seems very well kept, with quiet families. Some houses had very nice cars, and a few had boats, which leads me to believe its a middle to upper middle class neighbor hood, which is what we are. Now obviously areas like Smithtown, Nesconset might be more desireable, but I already know that and i'm not asking anyone to tell me where i should live.
Just looking for an honest opinion from people who either live, or have lived surrounding this area, and experience with home values, resale value, etc.
This is a solidly middle class area in a decent school district. Sachem is very large but it is efficiently run (for Long Island) and offers a ton of extra curriculars. The proximity to the Ronkonkoma station will preserve home values. Sounds like you found the right one for you. Congrats!
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