Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

My husband and I are looking into a few different areas for our first home. So I apologize in advance for all the home and area questions I'm going to post. We really aren't too familiar with the areas we like, just know that we like them from what we read online and driving around them.

My question is for the above locations:

Is it family friendly?

How are the schools?

How is the crime level?

Pros to living there?

Cons?

Is there any area in that city I should avoid?

Any areas that I am overlooking that are nice?

Please feel free to FM me as well.

Thanks, sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to make the wrong decision on our first and most likely forever home.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

You threw me off with Levittown which is nowhere near the others! LOL

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

I work in Levittown often -- my office is in N. Bellmore, which is a neighboring area.

I think Levittown is very family friendly... near parks/playgrounds, it's own pool system, great sports programs for kids, etc.

The school district is large. There are two high schools - MacArthur is for south Levittown (and north Wantagh) and Division Ave is for the rest of Levittown. Part of Levittown also is in Island Trees school district, and a very small part of Levittown (up off of Newbridge Rd., north of Hempstead Turnpike) is zoned for East Meadow school district.

The home prices in Levittown are pretty affordable compared to surrounding areas, but taxes tend to be high. If you are in Island Trees schools, taxes are more affordable.

Location-wise, you are pretty central to major roads, parkways, shopping. But one potential con is that you don't have your own LIRR train station, so you'd have to drive to a neighboring town to get the LIRR.

Another potential con would be the fact that most houses in Levittown are Levitt homes built on slabs... so no basements. But if you are researching the area, you are probably well aware of that. There are some pockets of Levittown that have other styles of homes, such as Miller capes (with basements) or ranches or hi ranches. But the vast majority of homes are Levitt homes.

As far as other areas you may want to consider -- as I mentioned, north Wantagh is part of Levittown schools and has a similar demographic and community "feel."

Is your preference to be in Suffolk, as most of your listed towns are there? What is your desired price point? If you give more of your criteria, I'd be happy to recommend some other areas.

And definitely let me know if I can answer other questions or help you with your search! [email protected] or (516) 587-7618.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Message edited 9/12/2013 1:22:00 PM.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Thank you Christine, going to send you a FM

Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

I am a Suffolk girl and you couldn't pay me enough money to live in Levittown!

Holbrook and Holtsville would be my top choices out of the other pics, although they are all centrally located to each other, highways, have good school districts and lots of local amenities. To me they kinda blend into each other, but I know that parts of the Ronkonkoma area can be a little iffy. I think you'll also get more bang for your buck in these areas than L-town.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

I'm in Lake Ronkonkoma. We looked in the same areas including Levittown. I hated that we couldn't find a house with decent taxes and a basement in Levittown in either the Island Trees SD or in the zone for MacArthur HS (DH grew up in the area and didn't want to be zoned for Division for some reason). So we looked east. I'm very happy. I live right near the lake, never hear planes from the airport, my neighborhood is quiet & safe (I'm pretty much bordering Lake Grove and Nesconset) and we are very happy with the area. We got so much more bang for our buck out here. 5 mins to the LIE which is a major bonus. The sellers of our house loved the SD so much that they purchased a larger house in the same district and in the same zone as their kids school. We're in Sachem SD.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

I live in Holtsville over by the Fire Department and I love the area. It's quiet and very family oriented. It's also very close to the LIE which is perfect since my DH works in Great Neck. There was no way we could afford anything in Nassau so we've been living out here for a while (condo) and just bought a house earlier this year. Some of my family lives in Ronkonkoma (off of Rosevale) and that's a nice, quiet area too. Good luck.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

We live in Ronkonkoma as well, Lakeland/Lake Hills Area off Motor Parkway Connetquot School District.

Nice area for starter homes

Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Wantagh/Levittown is good - I live in Massapequa and my Brother just bought a house in Wantagh w/ Levittown SD. I would stay away from anything in the Division ave district. Island Trees is also good.

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Thanks so much for the advice everyone!

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

Re: Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, Holtsville, Levittown

I know a bit about the Ronkonkoma, Lk Ronkonkoma, Holbrook, and Holtsville areas only. I lived In Ronkonkoma for 4 years and now live in Holbrook. I am renting now, but am house hunting in these areas too.

Is it family friendly? Yes for all

How are the schools? Sachem and Connetquot are the SD's in these areas. All are great schools, but Sachem is very large.

How is the crime level? It depends on where you are. Speaking as a renter, I've rented in Ronkonkoma and Holbrook and the Ronkonkoma complex had a better reputation believe it or not. However, these areas are all relatively safe. Of course check sex offender registry and I would just try not live on top of the LIRR Ronkonkoma station because there are a lot of bars and some riff raff.

Pros to living there? Low taxes, best bang for your buck, good schools, traffic is not bad, close to LIRR and all major highways. Family oriented area with down-to-earth people. Lots of parks. Close to everything!

Cons? Holbrook has higher taxes than Ronkonkoma and IMO is further away from shopping and stuff. Living in Ronkonkoma was super convenient...we were close to pretty much everything, same goes for Lake Ronkonkoma area. I find that there isn't as much by where I live now in Holbrook, but I like the houses better in Holbrook than Ronkonkoma. This being said, I am not a fan of the town of brookhaven. I lived within the town for almost a decade and I am not impressed (i.e. we were one of the towns that was not dug out from the snow for about a week).

Is there any area in that city I should avoid? Nothing truely comes to mind...I would just stay away from the LIRR area.

Any areas that I am overlooking that are nice? I would love an answer to this too!