Shoot meeee

Found a house that we like. We actually love that it's in queens and 1 block for the LIRR and in our budget. Yard, huge deck, well maintained home. We have to redo the kitchen but the space isn't big enough to make it exactly how I want. I would have to take over the full bath to expand it and maybe just add half a bath in the extra office/bedroom and turn that into a big closet/bath. 2nd floor is just a massive bedroom a huge bath with cathedral ceilings. I will covert it to a 2 bedroom. All this costs $$$ and will def put us over. Not the bedroom conversion but the kitchen and bath downstairs. Taxes are LOW! (8k)

We out a strong offer in but we are regretting it. Luckily nothing has been signed. I'm also not worried because by the end of the weekend someone, probably more than 1 person will walk in with cash.


So my dilemma: buy a house in Nassau, 10 min from queens, walking distance to train for a house 300k less, end up doing the same work, yet paying a litte less than double in taxes? My logical reasoning is NO. We can always pay off the house, but taxes will always be there and increase each year. But I also don't want to use up most of our liquidity fixing a house that's already at the top of our budget.


Maybe I'm just venting.... Sorry for the typos.

Shoot meeee

So sorry you are going through this. House hunting is a giant B. I hated it. Absolutely hated it. However, I will say this, I agree, taxes will always increase and never decrease, however a house can be paid off. Also it took us years to find a house, like 2 years to decide what we wanted and where we wanted to be. In those 2 years I got a promotion and DH changed jobs so, it made our budget when we ready to buy a little better. However, the biggest thing I learned is, buy the house for the location and budget, you will never find THE PERFECT house. There is always going to be something in a house you want to change, because after all, you are buying someone else's house and their style. Renovations don't need to be done right away. If it's livable and the things you cannot change about a house meet your needs, don't rule it out just because the kitchen may not be your style or whatever else it may be. My house has a kitchen from 1959, has faux bricks on the walls, the original stick on flooring in the kitchen from the 50s and its small, nothing I EVER imagined. Then there was the wood paneled and shag orange carpet in the master bedroom, and the rest of the house- 50 shades of peach. We bought the place anyway. Location, perfect, major things on our own personal check list, all crossed off. Taxes low. So far we have gutted the master and are almost finished. The peach is somewhat gone and we repainted a few rooms. Next will be the nursery and probably in 5 years when we save up enough for the kitchen that will get done.
Don't sacrifice location and budget. You don't want to be house poor. So many stupid things come up! Good luck!!!! Sometimes taking a step back and making a priority list of must haves and the things you can do over time helps! Don't give up!!

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We have been looking for years as well and keep getting priced out. We almost bought the most incredible home but I kept having nightmares because the taxes were 25k! We backed out every chateau/mansion we stayed in on our honeymoon I kept repeating the address of that home in a whiney voice haha. Nothing will ever compare to that piece of property. I have to learn to let go. Damn westchester taxes!!!

Moving on, I invited my mom out today with us to look at the house we put an offer on to get her opinion. She's purchased a few properties years ago so she has a good eye and is EXTReMELY critical. I told her not to worry about price because she's not aware of how bad these neighborhoods truly are. The market is beyond ridiculous.
She brought up giving me the home she lives in now and I lost my shit. I keep declining and she won't take no for an answer. Part of me wants to take it and sell it to be spiteful haha

I'm all over the place with this post. Sorry

Location- we don't care at this point. We would LOVE to be less than10 min walk from the port Washington line. 2nd choice is floral park-10 min or less to LIRR as wel.

I'm ready to network with divorce attorneys in the area to see which couple needs to sell their home. So wrong, yet brilliant. No?

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What helped DH and I narrow things down was 1. Location & 2. Property size.

Location, location, location!! That's a saying for a reason lol

You can always add on (if you have property to)
You can't get more property unless you plan on buying out a neighbor



If this will be your forever home, Renovations can happen over time. It'll be worth it over time.


We've been in our home for 5 years and are almost done. 2 more big projects and it'll be exactly what I want.

Shoot meeee

I'm all over the place with what I want too. At least you are finding things you like. I think I've decided to base my decision more on the property size & location, but every time I sort of like the property, it's near top of our budget and really old :( I'm worried about the renovation costs.

Shoot meeee

Well, normally my vote always goes to Queens, but I think there are a few things to consider.

Is this your forever home and do you plan on having children? If yes to both, it might be worth considering Nassau. The schools are likely better in Nassau (though I'm guessing you're looking in 26, which is also great). Also, the cost of the home itself is less of an issue- if you're not selling, the future market doesn't have as much an effect on you. I would also venture to guess that you could get a bigger house with more property in Nassau.

Queens? That house will only increase in value. You're never taking a loss on a house in eastern Queens. Taxes will go up, but not as much as in Nassau. Schools are perfectly fine if you plan on having kids. Even if the schools go to sh!t in 10 years (which they won't) no one cares, that house will still be worth a fortune. You can't say the same for Nassau.

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Remember living in NYC you are subject to NYC taxes regardless of where you work. These NYC taxes offset the savings in property taxes you pay living in the five boroughs.

Shoot meeee

Taxes are forever.

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Queens house is out. We went to see it again and it's not worth the money. Plus no windows in the basement. The mildew smell made me gag.

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Went to see a house in Nassau today. everything was brand new. Paint, floors, bathrooms, kitchen, basement. And all I'm going to do is rip out the kitchen and knock down a few walls. I guess I can put the cabinets in the basement and make a laundry area? And the appliances can be sold on Craigslist?? It's so wasteful but my azz is getting a 60 inch Viking no matter what. Too bad the bedrooms were small. Master bedroom is smaller than the bedroom I have now in my co op.

Saw a gorgeous home in Westchester last week. Lower taxes than Nassau and less expensive house. 5 bed 2 bath. No work needed. But it's 25 min and a bridge away from my mom. Not like I see her every week, but knowing she's 5 min away vs a bridge away is more comforting.
Commuting for my husband would be easier than Long Island. It will suck for me just a tad 1 day a week but other days I go in whenever I want so I can avoid rush hour when I drive to my queens office.

What do I do!?!

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Shoot meeee

You found lower taxes in Westchester?????

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Yup. Floral park taxes are 13-15k there's a house we like in garden city but taxes are 20k. Feel bad for the owners because they can't sell because of it.

Excessively high taxes are criminal. When is it going to stop!?

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House is 749. Taxes are 20k. It's a damn shame. They tried grieving but got denied.

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Ouch. That is high. For that price I would want 13k in taxes.

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It's reallllly out of control.

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JMO but you're better off in Nassau than Queens. You get more space for your money. I was in my dad's old neighborhood recently (Fresh Meadows). He lived in an attached house, 1300 sq ft or less, 3 br/1 bath. A neighbor's house was for sale so I looked it up. Close to 800K and it needed a lot of cosmetic help Yes, property taxes are lower in NYC, but the income tax evens it out.

What about Lynbrook? Close to trains and the Queens border, and taxes are certainly less than Garden City!

Message edited 9/26/2016 9:35:09 AM.

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Shoot meeee

I know nothing about Queens versus Nassau, but you may never find the absolute perfect house that checks every single box - you will, however, find the best house that suits you that checks most of the boxes. You can always renovate, but you can never recoup money if you overspend on the price of the house, taxes will always go up, and you can never change property size.

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I don't like the feeling of feeling like we settled. Does that make sense?

We aren't going to find the perfect house because I already did and the stupid taxes ruined my dream. It was a money maker. Air bnb and full time rental plus 5 bedrooms for us. I need to let gO..

But again, not looking for a turn key since I have very specific requirements for a kitchen.

We looooove floral park but the houses are not big at all. Living space is fine but bedrooms are smaller than my own. I have to stop watching hgtv

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What about Stewart Manor? Its beautiful and walking distance from the train.

Message edited 9/26/2016 1:21:36 PM.

Re: Shoot meeee