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MrsGT
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 51 total posts
Name:
J
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More House or Better District
My short term to mid range goals are starting a family, hosting family holidays and being able to just 'be' instead of being in pursuit of something better (if that's at all possible!!!) Thanks for taking the poll.
Edit: I know this is the perpetual dilemma. I'm just in need of some solid ideas from families out there.
Message edited 9/26/2008 8:54:24 PM.
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Posted 9/26/08 8:52 PM  |
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HillW9608
Hello Summer!
Member since 5/08 5916 total posts
Name:
Hill
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Re: More House or Better District
We are having the same issue.
I looked at a house today, GORGEOUS! New, 4BR 3Bath all wood.. I fell in love. But the SD isnt the best.
Its really hard to make those kind of decisions.. good luck!
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:20 PM |
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want2beamom
Love my boys soooo much!!!
Member since 8/06 10164 total posts
Name:
True love doesn't end with happily ever after...
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Re: More House or Better District
It honestly depends on what you view as an "ok" school district. There were a few school districts that I targeted in my mind, and those were the only places we would look.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:22 PM |
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BabyBoy
is Skylar Elizabeth
Member since 5/05 4189 total posts
Name:
Tom
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Re: More House or Better District
just because your in a "better school district" doesn't mean your child will be a success in it. there are serveral other factors involved in a child's education.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:22 PM |
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Elizabeth
Mom of Three
Member since 9/05 7900 total posts
Name:
"MOMMY!!!"
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Re: More House or Better District
The issue I have with the first house is not the school district as much as the house being a 2 bedroom. I don't see a 2 bedroom house as being a good investment in any school district unless it's a condo. Some "great" school districts aren't all they are cracked up to be and some "ok" school districts get a bad rap, that part really depends on the specific districts. So it makes it a hard Q but off the top of my head, I wouldn't do the 2br house.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:25 PM |
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ready2ttc
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/08 383 total posts
Name:
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Re: More House or Better District
Posted by want2beamom
It honestly depends on what you view as an "ok" school district. There were a few school districts that I targeted in my mind, and those were the only places we would look.
I agree. There are only about 5 districts in Suffolk we definitely won't buy into.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:25 PM |
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Re: More House or Better District
Posted by BabyBoy
just because your in a "better school district" doesn't mean your child will be a success in it. there are serveral other factors involved in a child's education.
Exactly. If you plan to be involved in your child's education, they will be successful, no matter where they go. I would choose choice #2.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:33 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: More House or Better District
School districts change. Go for the bigger house. You will regret buying the smaller one later.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:36 PM |
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MrsM-6-7-08
<3
Member since 8/06 4249 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: More House or Better District
I would like to know which districts both houses are in, its so hard to choose honestly because we dont know what you think is the better what is just O.K.
Are you comparing districts like, Garden City, Cold Spring Harbor, Jericho or Syosset, to school districts like Massapequa, Levittown, East Meadow, Seaford, Wantagh??
If you are then maybe you have to really think about the type of people you want to be around.
For me personally i would rather live in the Massapequa district rather than Cold Spring harbor because i feel like i would not fit in, i would not want to compete with the folks that live in that area.
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| Posted 9/26/08 9:37 PM |
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MrsGT
LIF Infant
Member since 9/08 51 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: More House or Better District
I would like to know which districts both houses are in, its so hard to choose honestly because we dont know what you think is the better what is just O.K.
The 2 Br Handyman is in Bayport/Bluepoint S.D. and the Colonial is in Patchogue/Medford S.D.
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| Posted 9/26/08 10:14 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: More House or Better District
Both have their issues IMO.
The smaller home may be harder to sell if you want to leave, being it's only a 2 bedroom. The larger home may be harder to sell being that it's an ok district.
I am not even sure what I would do in this situation....I would need to know more.
How much price difference b/w the two? Which area can you see yourself staying in for a long time, should you not be able to make your $ back if the market is on the lower end for the next few years? What abotu location of each house, which location is more preferable (such as main road, quiet st, etc)?
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| Posted 9/27/08 7:06 AM |
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angnick
Life is So Wonderful!
Member since 8/06 6663 total posts
Name:
Angela
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Re: More House or Better District
School district.. Can you extend the house?
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| Posted 9/27/08 7:35 AM |
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rkoenke
my little piggys
Member since 3/08 4315 total posts
Name:
rachel
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Re: More House or Better District
Posted by BabyBoy
just because your in a "better school district" doesn't mean your child will be a success in it. there are serveral other factors involved in a child's education.
EXACTLY!!
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| Posted 9/27/08 8:01 AM |
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MrsD06
LIF Toddler
Member since 9/07 478 total posts
Name:
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Re: More House or Better District
I'm not personally familiar with either district but think that it's really important to speak with people who work/live in the district before forming an opinion. One of the places we're looking has a SD that is supposedly not the best, but when you speak to people who live in the area, they are very happy with it. I tend to believe them over people who have never lived there and have only "heard some bad things"  Below is a recent discussion of Pat-Med, where a lot of people say they had good experiences with the district.
Pat-Med SD
You do need to do your research & consider resale value but I wouldn't discount a district based solely on it's reputation.
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| Posted 9/27/08 8:41 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: More House or Better District
the whole keeping up with the Jones' has been the demise of our economy. I know everyone says buy the 'worst house on the best block' but I don't agree with that entirely. I don't want to spend my life 'keeping up'. If you can really only afford the tiniest house in that town, than IMO you don't belong in that town. People have been reaching above & beyond where they should be & its biting many of them in the arse. For me its not so much about having a bigger house, its about being able to truly afford with ease all of the other things that go with it. Kids are pressured in every school about material things. When my son was a senior in Connetquot high school in 2005 he slid on the ice & had a car accident in the student parking lot....he hit TWO escalades that belonged to students!!!! Connetquot isn't even a 'wealthy' district but you've got that small area of Idle Hour where the kids have EVERYTHING.
We love to entertain & having a house that allows us to do so means more to me than a zipcode.
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| Posted 9/27/08 8:46 AM |
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Melmel821
Love being a mom!
Member since 5/08 2776 total posts
Name:
Melanie
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Re: More House or Better District
I'd rather have the better house in an OK district. Everyone I talk to seems to have the same expectations and the same satisfaction with their district and I've talked to a lot of people from many districts.
ETA: Keep in mind you don't move in 10 years. Which is the house you'd rather stay in?
The house I grew up in was supposed to be a starter house. 25 years later I'm the youngest and moved out and my parents still live there.
Which home will better suit your changing needs? Remember it's not just in investment. You are going to live there too.
Message edited 9/27/2008 9:16:50 AM.
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| Posted 9/27/08 9:12 AM |
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LemonHead
Sour Girl
Member since 3/08 5271 total posts
Name:
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Re: More House or Better District
I live in the Bayport-Blue Point school district and even worhed there one year. I LOVE the area, and the district is great too. BUT the budget is always voted down, they've been on austerity in the past, and have extremely limited busing. That's something to consider too.
Pat-Med really is right up the road from here. It's a larger district, probably with more extras like clubs, wider choice of sports, and more technology in the district. It's also a very culturally diverse area, which is great for kids to grow up with. I don't think you need to be concerned about the schools there at all.
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| Posted 9/27/08 9:25 AM |
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MrsD06
LIF Toddler
Member since 9/07 478 total posts
Name:
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Re: More House or Better District
Posted by Melmel821
I'd rather have the better house in an OK district. Everyone I talk to seems to have the same expectations and the same satisfaction with their district and I've talked to a lot of people from many districts.
I grew up in a fairly wealthy and well-respected district (not on LI). My parents bought a house there despite high taxes because they wanted the best education for me. In some ways I believe my k-12 education was excellent. Now that I'm older and have worked in schools, I can also see a lot of the faults in that district and in my education there. Every district has it's faults and every district has it's strengths. I've had the same experience as Melmel when talking to people about SDs...and again, the negatives I hear about districts are almost ALWAYS from people who do not live/work in the district. Focus on what is important to you in a location/SD, etc...
Kelly made some excellent points about cost of living. There are some "top districts" where we could afford the smallest house on a nice block, but these homes often need a lot of work..and we would be at our max budget-wise and not have $$ for renovations. Even if we stayed for 30 years, I don't want to be unhappy with the house and just making ends meet for the first 10 years!
Message edited 9/27/2008 9:35:30 AM.
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| Posted 9/27/08 9:33 AM |
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want2beamom
Love my boys soooo much!!!
Member since 8/06 10164 total posts
Name:
True love doesn't end with happily ever after...
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Re: More House or Better District
Just so you know, Bayport/Blue Point has very limited busing (if they have any at all?). This is what turned me off from this area....It's a gorgeous area though.
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| Posted 9/27/08 11:08 AM |
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Re: More House or Better District
I live in Pat-Med, and now that I know the choices you have, I would go with Pat-Med. IMO, Bayport/Blue Point are good schools, but it's just basically comparing a small district, to a bigger one like Pat-Med. No difference. Great eduacation in both.
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| Posted 9/27/08 11:19 AM |
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Re: More House or Better District
Posted by want2beamom
Just so you know, Bayport/Blue Point has very limited busing (if they have any at all?). This is what turned me off from this area....It's a gorgeous area though.
Yes, that is true also. I know a woman that has had a VERY hard time with it and told me there were no busses for a long time for her kids.
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| Posted 9/27/08 11:19 AM |
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