Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

I am so confused I have no idea where I want to buy. All i know is that we commute to the city and we want space and good schools. Also we need something under 480,000 Could you tell me why you chose to buy your home and what you like about your area. Nassau County please!!! Thanks Im just so frustrated

Message edited 10/23/2008 12:43:53 PM.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We bought in an area that:

1) we could afford if I stopped working (to be a SAHM or worked P/T) or one of us got sick(that meant moving off Long Island)

2) had 90 min or less commute for DH (he has a 75 min commute)

3) had a great school district

Message edited 10/23/2008 12:49:39 PM.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We started out with looking at our budget. We figured out how far we want to be from family, work, friends, etc. Did much research online, asked friends, etc. We drove around. We spent mths and mths of visiting different towns in LI on the weekend.

When we found some areas that fit our budget and distance needs, we did more research on them. Started going into open houses to get a feel for the town, kind of houses, etc. And from them it was easier to make a choice.

Budget is often very limiting so you have to make a list of some towns that you think are in the "location" you want, and then look at the cost of the homes/taxes, etc. And take it from there.

Message edited 10/23/2008 12:51:57 PM.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We made our location decision based on :

* Affordability
* Proximity to city (we both commute)
* Proximity to family
* Good school district
* Proximity to beach (that was a bonus)

and overall feeling we got of the towns we researched and attended open houses in.

Good luck!

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

I grew up in Syosset and my parents still live there so I knew where I wanted to be. I wanted to be close to my parents and sister (in Plainview) so that was the eastern part of Nassau County.

Our budget played a huge factor into where we ended up. 99% of the schools on LI are excellent so finding a good school district wasn't a problem. They are all on par with each other. Besides, we didn't like the areas where the problem schools are anyway.

Then, it came down to house style. We really liked Levittown but DH wanted some kind of basement. I also decided I wanted to be in the Town of Oyster Bay b/c I love Tobay beach. We also liked Bethpage but we ended up in Massapequa Park b/c we found the perfect house on a dead end near the park.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We knew that we needed to be close to my DHs practice, so something within a 15 min. radius; and we wanted a waterfront home, didn't care if it was a shack, we wanted to wake up and see the Long Island Sound.

We found it and yes it was a shack, but after many years, we gutted, added, and fixed it up to become our home.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We haven't bought yet, but just for train experiences, the Babylon line is great and Merrick has good schools and neighborhoods.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Decided on our budget
Then looked by school district..we are both teachers this was a KEY ingredient
We knew that we wanted to stay in Nassau since our jobs are in the city (Queens and Brookyn) and we both drive everyday.

So after that we narrowed down to Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, N Massapequa

We also drove around the areas during open houses. Went out to eat in the areas to see what the people were liked who lived in those areas.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Levittown...

1. affordable
2. more bang for your buck
3. school districts are great!!
4. quiet neighborhoods
5. lots of shopping nearby
6. family community!!

i LOVE it!!

ETA... DH commutes to the city also.. takes the Hicksville line.. which is so close.. and its a major stop.. so the times are great!!

Message edited 10/23/2008 2:20:28 PM.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

When we first married my husband and I wanted to rent in Lynbrook/Valley Stream/Franklin Square are for commuting reasons.

When it came time to buy a house we wanted to stay in Franklin Square but found that everything we could afford was either too small, in the N. Valley Stream Schools (which we didn't want) or needed major work (ex.: one house had its oil tank buried in the ground). Then we thought about Lynbrook (too congested and homes too old), East Rockaway (really old homes with no basement, and Merrick (too expensive).

We put a bid in on a home in N. Bellmore but lost out to the owners nephew. Then we put serious thought into East Meadow. The homes have basements, are fairly new (built after 1950 unlike most homes in S. West areas of Nassau), the schools are fairly good, taxes are low, homes are reasonably priced and most importantly it's near the Parkways.

We saw about 3 homes in East Meadow before we saw the one we bought. The only thing that would make East Meadow perfect is if it had the Italian food (especially Carmella's pizza and King Umberto's chicken parm) of Franklin Square/Elmont and bring it here.

Sorry guys, but Pietro's pales in comparison to Carmellas. It's just not the same.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Posted by MetsGirl07

Levittown...

1. affordable
2. more bang for your buck
3. school districts are great!!
4. quiet neighborhoods
5. lots of shopping nearby
6. family community!!

i LOVE it!!

ETA... DH commutes to the city also.. takes the Hicksville line.. which is so close.. and its a major stop.. so the times are great!!

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Posted by kristinel

Posted by MetsGirl07

Levittown...

1. affordable
2. more bang for your buck
3. school districts are great!!
4. quiet neighborhoods
5. lots of shopping nearby
6. family community!!

i LOVE it!!

ETA... DH commutes to the city also.. takes the Hicksville line.. which is so close.. and its a major stop.. so the times are great!!

When I first moved to Long Island I rented in Levittown. I'll always have a place in my heart for the place.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We were new to this state (IL) and were moving from downtown Chicago to the suburbs. We knew NOTHING about the Chicago 'burbs. I did research on the best school districts, then we looked at house prices on the Internet, then we looked at proximity to Chicago (we wanted to be close enough to be able to drive in occasionally), then we drove around a few towns. We fell in love with the town we bought in. We liked some other closer to Chicago towns, but they were too pricey. We got so much more for our money by going a little further out.

If I were in your situation, I would look at the south shore towns -- Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa. Great schools, not an awful commute. I'm not sure if you'll find enough space though. How much space are you looking for? Is 50 x 100 too small? Space can be hard to find for a decent price in Nassau. Good luck.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

My Dh and I moved to Seaford:

Location to the train...it's a mile away
Love the neighborhood..quiet.

the schools are in walking distance from our house.

Great rated shcool district.

Middle class

stores are very convenient

Affordable.


Good luck!!!

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

we bought in the salisbury area of westbury!
we chose this area because

1-it is centrally located- close to stores, train station, my job and very close to both of our parents

2- good school district - it is the town of westbury but east meadow school district (bowling green elementary school and Clarke middle and high school)

3- LOW TAXES!!! (compared to other areas of nassau county)

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

WOW this was very informative for me. Thank you so much for sharing your stories!!! I know Ill figure it out.........someday

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We wanted to be near a village, train station, walking distance to a park/preserve and have good schools.

We bought in Massapequa Park. Loooooooove it. It's perfect for us.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

I grew up in Nassau (Levittown) but didn't buy there. But what I can tell you is that two of our top priorities were proximity to a train station and some kind of village or shopping closeby.

I actually went on lirr.org and looked up all the towns and then we drove around. Add that to the MLSLI listings, taxes, etc. and we narrowed it down.

We actually 'found' our neighborhood on a fluke. We were looking at houses in the next town and decided to drive around. We fell in love with it immediately.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We are in the Gibson section of Valley Stream. Close friends of ours bought in this area about 8 years ago and that's how we knew about it. We love the style of the houses (almost all tudors), we have our own train station and it's only a 25 minute commute into the city. The school district is great as well (Hewlett-Woodmere)

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Commute to work
close to family
school district
the size lot was important to us

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

Wow, there is such good advice here.

I think it just requires a lot of time and research. Oh, and a lot of saving in the meantime because prices are still what they are.

Just keep looking and looking and looking. We were looking in RVC, then Lynbrook, then E. Williston and now in Floral Park and RVC, again! Oy vey!

You just have to drive around towns that are within your commuting distance with good school districts. Neighborhood by neighborhood. You will just get a feeling about a place and then call up realtors to help you look for something in your budget when you find the town/neighborhood that you love.

If there is nothing in your budget in that area that you like or think you can work on, you just keep looking until you do find it and it all works out in the end.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

*wanted North Shore (near Rt 25A) or further north

*wanted to be within a reasonable driving distance to international airports (DH travels a lot) and NYC (DH has showrooms there.)

*wanted property (we were hoping for an acre or more, but we were willing to go as little as .5 an acre)

*had specific school districts in mind

*we were attracted to Huntington Village and it's community. We ultimately found ourselves looking at the area and it's surrounding towns.

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?

We looked first at what towns we could afford. Next we looked at the school districts, the amount of young families in the area, a sense of community, and we wanted eastern nassau county.
We found a house in South Bellmore that we just love, we are so happy here!!

Re: Frustrated........How did you know where you wanted to buy your home?