Where should WE live/look for a house?

The wife and I are anxious to start a family, but I want us to have a house before we start the family.
This way shes not moving boxes and painting while pregnant.

She grew up in Manhattan, and I grew up in Flushing, therefore we are not familiar with many towns in LI.

Here are our requirements, please help us find some nice towns to look at.
1. She works long hours in Manhattan, so the commute needs to be less than 1 hour each way. (either LIRR or express bus)
2. Good school district.
3. In Queens or LI so that my family can help with the kids
4. 3 bedroom, 2 baths, basement for approx. 600k
5. SAFE

number 5 is an important part.
You are thinking "you fool, who doesn't want to live in a safe place?"

There is a difference btw: safe when I am with the husband vs safe when I am walking the street alone.

Big issue is my job requires me to be in another state sunday night through friday.
She will be living alone in the house for 5 nights a week.

So I want someplace SAFE.
For her and eventually my children.


I do not know of many towns, here are the towns I know of that fulfill the 5 points -
Queens: Oakland Gardens, Douglaston, Fresh Meadows, Little Neck
LI: Great Neck, that is all I know of right now.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Floral Park VILLAGE

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Beth posted a website on another thread that can help you find what town suits your needs.

link to website

ETA I live in North Merrick and fulfills all your requirements.

Message edited 9/7/2011 2:42:06 PM.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

How big do you want the house? How big do you want the yard to be?

Do you want a village/downtown feeling?

What kind of town do you see yourself living in?

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Floral Park!

Stay in Nassau to stay semi-close to NYC.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

If you are willing to go to suffolk, the babylon train is about 1hr to manhattan, and I sugguest West Isilp. Very safe and lots in your price range. Also something to consider is taxes you are comfortable with. property taxes on LI will generally be much higher than the city so keep that in mind when setting your purchase price range.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

I think your LIRR line is very important in picking your town.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

New Hyde Park
Manhasset

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Rockville centre

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

garden city, you can probably get a house that meets those critera in that approx price range if you're able to act soon (as in before the market rebounds)

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Message edited 9/24/2013 9:21:03 PM.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Merrick, Bellmore, or Wantagh, on the south shore in Nassau.

I live in Bellmore, and I used to commute to Manhattan. All of those towns are on a great train line with lots of express trains. Merrick is the furthest west and the train ride is 39 minutes to Penn on the express.

They are very safe towns with highly rated school districts. All are family oriented with lots of street fairs, festivals, restaurants, theaters, etc.

They are close to parkways, which is convenient, and also close to the beaches.

Let me know if you have specific questions about these towns or any other areas. I am a full time realtor, and I'd be happy to discuss the home buying process with you and give you info on various towns, no obligation! I could also set you up with a free Liistingbook account -- it's an interactive website for home buyers that can provide you with daily updates of new listings, price adjustments, etc. Many buyers find it addicting!

Feel free to contact me, my bio and contact info is in the business directory on this site.

And smart to try to move before the kids come. I moved from Manhattan back to LI when my son was 5 weeks old. It was so much fun packing with a newborn!

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Rockville Centre

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Garden City, Rockville Centre, Port Washington are all very nice towns, Excellent SD, and a great commute.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

try this website

Exit realty's life style search

let me know if you have any questions-

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

i would say Garden City, RVC, or Lynbrook

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

My three favorite towns in Nassau:

Rockville centre
Long beach
Port Washington

Lb is about an hour on the train, the other places are 35-45 min.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

Hello all. Thank you for the replies.
I am surprised at some of the places mentioned, I would have thought the list would be along the lines of:
Roslyn, Manhasset, Kings Point, Sands Point, Port Washington, Great Neck

I will be the first to admit, I know very little about the towns in LI.


Last weekend we went to an open house in Port Washington, and the house was near the Sands Point Preserve, and she thought the drive was too far from the highway.
"Not convenient" - shes a picky one!

After discussing it with the wife, here is our plan (subject to change)
Long Island - Great Neck
Queens - Bayside

She feels that in Queens, Bayside is the best town.
And for LI, Great Neck has the best combination of closeness to the city while still a very good neighborhood.

She feels Manhasset and Roslyn are out of our budget, but she wants to stay on the Port Washington line.
She looked at other lines, and riding the LIRR for 50 minutes, then adding subway time is going to be tough on her (although I used to spend 90 minutes commuting each way)

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

there are so many different good neighborhoods which would meet your criteria. garden city is great, and you can get the LIRR at garden city, but also at mineola which is only 35 min to penn station during peak hours. the port washington line can be great, but if there are problems it can be really bad. mineola is on the main line, and although it has its own problems, it's a very convenient station.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

I can help in Suffolk and agree about Babylon. My aunt and uncle live there with their very young kids, he is a commuter with long hours in his firm and has erratic times. The area is great and I personally love it.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

In addition to what was mentioned 600k can get you a house in the following Queens areas (they will either need a lot of work or if they are move in they will likely be semi/fully attached) unfortantely on the Pt. Washington line 600k does not get you what you can get in say Merrick or even Floral Park nassau:

Whitestone
Bayside
Flushing
Auburndale

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

You have to watch with some of the towns on the very north part of LI. They are far from main highways. Mostly 2 lanes rd to go south. so it could take 20+ minutes to get out of the town.

Re: Where should WE live/look for a house?

I would also look into Douglaston Manor.