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We currently live in Rego Park, Queens and are looking to buy a place. With very high prices over here and questionable schools, we are looking at various areas/regions around NYC, such as NJ, LI and Westchester. Unfortunately, I don't know much about LI as we moved to NYC around 2.5 years ago, so please take it easy Any area/town suggestions in LI based on my criteria are highly appreciated!
My family now consists of 3 people, my wife, my 3 year old son and me, but we are planning for more kids. So schools are very important. Below are some key points:
Area criteria
1. Safe to walk around after dusk
2. Relatively quiet, but sufficient shopping in the general area
3. Parks and green areas around are preferred
4. Good public schools
5. Not too industrial/polluted
House criteria
1. Price up to $500K
2. Size > 1,500 sq. f.
3. Type - single family
Commute
1. I'd like to keep my commute to Penn Station around 75 min by train.
Look into valley stream, Lynbrook, Franklin Square.....West Nassau neighborhoods. 75 min commute to Penn is very doable, just have to find the right neighborhood at your budget. I'm in the same boat as you, but plan in buying in 2020. Also from Rego Park.
@ 75 minute commute you should look @ Western Suffolk. I personally am not a Suffolk fan (516 fo lyfe!) but you will get more for your money.
Personally a 75 minute commute will suck & be expensive from there but if you're open to it... You might luck out. Nassau is the more expensive county...
With your budget & 75 minute commute, pretty much that will get you into most Nassau neighborhoods...
go to MLSLI, search by school district, Elwood, Harborfields, Half Hollow Hills, Commack, Plainview Old Bethpage, Syosset, Bethpage. All of those are very good districts, with homes in your price and commutable time frame. The 1st 4 are suffolk the rest is nassau. There are towns closer to the city, albertson, East williston, anything in Herricks schools but they will be tough in your budget.
Half Hollow Hills schools (Melville, Dix Hills, Deer Park only) would be a good LI area for your requirements. It's better than most Nassau County towns in that price range since you'll get more bang for your buck. Trade-off is the commute time. Most of that area is also more picturesque. We would've chosen there if not for the commute. Commack is ok too - may be a bit more busy depending where you are.
Also be wary of the taxes that figure into your monthly mortgage budget.
We currently live in Rego Park, Queens and are looking to buy a place. With very high prices over here and questionable schools, we are looking at various areas/regions around NYC, such as NJ, LI and Westchester. Unfortunately, I don't know much about LI as we moved to NYC around 2.5 years ago, so please take it easy Any area/town suggestions in LI based on my criteria are highly appreciated!
My family now consists of 3 people, my wife, my 3 year old son and me, but we are planning for more kids. So schools are very important. Below are some key points:
Area criteria
1. Safe to walk around after dusk
2. Relatively quiet, but sufficient shopping in the general area
3. Parks and green areas around are preferred
4. Good public schools
5. Not too industrial/polluted
House criteria
1. Price up to $500K
2. Size > 1,500 sq. f.
3. Type - single family
Commute
1. I'd like to keep my commute to Penn Station around 75 min by train.
Thank you in advance for any tips!
A lot of your requirements are covered by most towns on LI.
500K as a price point is helpful, but you need to figure out a monthly payment that makes you comfortable. Taxes can go from about 9K on up, and the total tax bill will make a difference in your payment. While that probably sounds high, it's about half of the tax bill you'd pay in comparable parts of Westchester.
You might get slightly more bang for your buck in NJ.
But back to LI... commuter favorites in Nassau are typically the towns on the Babylon line: Merrick/N. Merrick, Bellmore/N. Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa Park, Massapequa. East Meadow doesn't have a train station but residents can park at any of the stations on the Babylon line.
You will get more house for your money in western Suffolk but will be trading commute time. Melville/Half Hollow Hills schools and Farmingdale schools (which is technically Nassau but the county line literally runs through it) would also be good options.
Another poster mentioned Commack, which is a great area, but you're going to push the limits of your 75 minute commute time, especially in bad weather or delays.
Tip for searching MLSLI: search by school district, not town. Zoning is less strange on LI than it is in Queens, but it's still confusing for newbies...
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Any particular reason why some of you are recommending NJ?
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Any area/town suggestions in LI based on my criteria are highly appreciated!
