North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I'm originally from Great Neck, currently living in Douglaston. All I have ever known is the North Shore and all that runs up and down 25A/Northern Blvd.! So, when it comes to the South Shore, I am clueless!

We have begun looking at houses and I am noticing that houses on the South Shore seem to give you a lot more for your money. I am seeing some great stuff in Merrick and Bellmore, but don't really know much about the areas. Is one supposed to be "better" than the other? I've heard the schools are good, but how good? What's the difference between N. Bellmore, S. Bellmore, and regular Bellmore? (and the other S. and N. areas). I teach in Great Neck and my husband works in the city - what kind of commute are we looking at?

I'll leave the questions at that for now .. but I'm sure more will be coming! Thanks for any help you can offer!

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I grew up near those areas. IMO, anything with an "S" infront of it is more desirable than an "N". a lot more $$$ too!!

as far a commute, the train ride into Penn station from Merrick is about 40-45 minutes. that's not an express train time btw.

Message edited 5/8/2006 8:11:04 PM.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

yup, I did the same thing - grew up on the NS and moved down to the SS....it took a while to educate myself too

The best thing to do is really just get in your car and drive around the towns...it's hard to get a feel for what you want by others, since everyone has their own opinions and concerns. It does seem to be true that the SS does give you a bit more for your money. I've noticed things in general being a bit less expensive than the NS....it's amazing really!!

I'm a bit familiar with Merrick - the more South you are, generally is more desirable but of course more $$$. My friends live in South Merrick and have a nice big house but pay dearly for it in taxes every year. North merrick is in a different SD than S. Merrick.

Bellmore is similar - South is supposedly more desirable....South Bellmore shares the same SD with South Merrick. In my experience with North Bellmore, the houses are cute and a bit more affordable, but the neighborhoods are a bit more mixed with commerical stores and industrial/business sections. This was just what I noticed though.

The train line is convenient - no transferring or anything - good parking for the most part. From Merrick it's about 45 mins to Penn - Bellmore probably another 3 mins or so....Massapequa is 50 mins from Penn.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

As far as commute anything you pick on the Babylon line will offer you an express train with good time. I can't really offer you help on the Bellmore/Merrick debate. We're in the RVC school district. You are definitely right in general though that you can get way more for your money on the South Shore.

Message edited 5/9/2006 11:49:20 AM.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I grew up in North Bellmore. I lived there a total of 28 years. It's a solid middle class town with strong roots, excellent schools and an easy commute into NYC.

If you would like property by the water opt for S. Merrick or Massapequa. Also excellent schools..etc..

These homes will be more money and have higher taxes, but one thing to consider when you live by the water is home insurance. Some companies will not offer flood insurance. Almost everyone I know who lives by the water and has a basement will have a wet basement. Most of long islanders have experienced it too.

I ended up buying in Bethpage and I'm very happy with our decision. It's mid-island with the same demographics as N. Bellmore. We opted to go a little further east for value. I take the train everyday and door to door its a little over an hour each way.

Good luck with your search. The south shore is spectacular.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I live in S. Bellmore so if you have any ?'s feel free to PM me.

I originally started looking North Shore but didn't love it there so we then went to Bellmore and Merrick and felt more at home.

South merrick and bellmore is pretty much south of Sunrise highway/Merrick Road. Typically the further south you go - the higher the taxes and price tag. North is pretty much north of the Sunrise highway. Both areas are nice and all are in good school districts - I think the south one is rated highest but all are good. Although I pass the hs everyday and all these kids have better cars then we own and that scares me a bit because I think many of the kids are a little shall I say spoiled (it is the big stereotype of my hs - rich, snobby kids - I have a hs girl who babbysits for me who lives in N.Bellmore and she gives me the hs low down)...and I don't want my kids to be that way.

In the south areas - you pretty much have a lot of waterfront properties. I have water a block or two away on each side of me but I don't need flood insurance where I am (and I have no basement - many homes here are on a slab). If you aren't a waterfront property - you pretty much don't have access to the water at all.

The commute isn't bad about 45 minutes from Bellmore to the city on express trains and the express trains don't even stop at Jamaica which is nice. most are stright to the city after Merrick in the mornings. Both Merrick and Bellmore have good parking too and no permit or town pass or anything.

Message edited 5/9/2006 2:08:05 PM.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Most people answered your questions! I grew up in South Merrick and it was a very nice place to grow up. I agree that the South parts of Merrick and Bellmore are more money and more desireable but the north sections are very nice too. I know some houses in North Merrick that now have higher taxes than South Merrick. The schools are good - I know that people in South Merrick and South Bellmore go to high school at JFK. And people from North Merrick go to Calhoun, and people from North Bellmore go to Mepham.

ETA- yes the South parts of town I think are snobbier - the parking lot in my high school was nuts - BMW's, corvettes... but then again you are from Great Neck so you know what that's like. It's probably similar so I would think if you want to be in an environment like that. I certainly did not get a car in high school and was not part of the snobby crowd but still liked high school and had friends and grew up perfectly fine.

Message edited 5/9/2006 2:32:33 PM.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Thanks for your replies! Everyone has been really helpful!

I actually would like to *avoid* moving to a town so similar to Great Neck .. while I didn't mind growing up there, I was in the minority (I'm Catholic and not rich ) and would like my own kids to have a different experience.

What do you all know about Wantagh and Seaford? I was told those areas might be good for us to look at as well.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Seaford is excellent! The borders for Wantagh, Seaford and Levittown are all over, so if you do want Seaford schools, be aware of that.

I know people in Seaford and what I can tell you is that the children are amazing. They are athletic, with it, have terrific friends who come from excellent families, do well in school, the commute on express is 44 minutes to Penn.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Posted by Miro127

Thanks for your replies! Everyone has been really helpful!

I actually would like to *avoid* moving to a town so similar to Great Neck .. while I didn't mind growing up there, I was in the minority (I'm Catholic and not rich ) and would like my own kids to have a different experience.

What do you all know about Wantagh and Seaford? I was told those areas might be good for us to look at as well.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I'm in the exact opposite position..moved from the south shore to great neck...all I can say is I wish I could go back down to the s. shore

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

You cant go wrong with Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa

South of Sunrise & south of Merrick Rd like the girls said $$$.

Wantagh has a great school district-Blue Ribbon award

Mandalay Section in Wantagh is beautiful but so is the woods.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

Message edited 5/10/2006 2:45:44 PM.

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

I'm also originally a North Shore girls as well. We bought a house in N. Massapequa and love the area as well as the surrounding areas ex: Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, and Seaford. I work in Queens and have about a 45min. commute in the mornings which isn't too bad. Lots of luck house hunting!

Re: North Shore girl needs South Shore advice!

DH grew up in Northern Wantagh, north of Jerusalem Avenue and south of the Southern State, which is the Levittown school district. The schools were very good, and the neighborhood is great. His commute to the city was an hour, when he wasn't on the express train.

When we start looking, we will probably look in those areas, as well as East Meadow.