Suffolk towns

Can anyone tell me some nice areas of Suffolk? We are still holding off on buying till after our baby is born but my hubby & I just decided to find out a little more about Suffolk....but we know very little. If you can tell me some areas that are nice, preferably with good schools, I would really appreciate it. Also, if you live in Suffolk - do you like it? What are the advantages or disadvantages (other than the distance from NYC) of living there?

Thanks so much!

I live in Suffolk, in St. James. We've lived here for about a year, and really love it. We are in Smithtown school district, which is excellent (good schools are a MUST for me, as a teacher), close to the train station, have nice neighbors, and a cute little town to shop in. I would say the major advantages of living in Suffolk are lower priced houses and taxes, and I have a bit more property (but not a tremendous amount) than most of my friends who live in Nassau County.

The disadvantages (for us, anyway) are that Pat still has a bit of a commute into the city, and the best shopping is in Nassau... But we have managed to deal with that!

I work in Commack, and that is also a nice town with good schools. Other areas we looked into and liked were Northport, Sayville, and Oakdale. I've been a Suffolk county girl all my life, so if you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask!

We just moved into our house in Sayville, and it's wonderful. I'm only 3.7 miles from where I work, which is a big benefit - the commute to the city doesn't matter to me.

The town is cute, our neighbors have been so friendly - in fact, our next door neighbor cut our lawn for us!

I feel like I live in a summer vacation town - especially when I pass the train station and see all the weekenders headed to Fire Island on Saturday.

Shopping - Smithtown Mall is not so far, and also the Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead. Southhampton has some nice shopping options, as well as all the malls in Nassau. Within 30 - 45 minutes, you have a lot of options, as well as small local stores.

I'm told the Connetquot school district is good - that's what we're in. We also looked in Oakdale, E. Islip, and up towards Lake Grove and Setauket. There is an express train to the city from Ronkonkoma station - I think it 's about an hour into the city from there.

Feel free to e-mail me with any specific questions!

Where are you living now ? I ask because if you are coming from any of the 5 boros, like i did (Queens) it IS a culture shock to move out here, but I am adjusting to it, and I do love it. Its nice to have a decent size home and decent size property to call your own, without a neighbor 3 ft from you!
I do miss Queens, and I go back often to visit my sis and parents. I miss the 'taking a walk' or 'walk everywhere !!' part of life that I left behind, living in Queens and working in Manhattan. Im currently unemployed so the commute is not an issue for me. I have worked, since i've moved here, and would only continue to work, on LI (especially since im 5mnths pregnant -NYC is out of the question for my future).
Sorry, if i went off onto tangents here and there. Depending on where you and DH work, and what your priorities are in your ideal home, Suffolk would be the place to go, as JennRenee said, to get more home and more property for your money. And we have no taxes on clothing! (I think Nassau does). I live in Smithtown, and i'm in the Commack schools, which we were told were excellent schools (SD#10). We also looked in East Northport, Huntington, Commack, and several other towns. There are so many towns that are all beautiful with great people to have as neighbors.
Make a list of what youre priorities are in finding a home, and how far out you would go, etc etc.
Feel free to come back and ask any more questions. I havent been out here that long, so I may not be as helpful as the other girls here !

GOOD LUCK !
Happy House Hunting !

I didn't realize you lived in Commack SD... I could be your new baby's teacher some day!

Steve & I are also looking in Suffolk, how funny would that be if we wound up in the same towns?

Hope you are feeling well

I just thought of that after I posted, also. That would be sooo great !!! Youre lucky to be teaching in such a great school district ! I should finish that masters in Elem ED that I started a few years ago. Its always in the back of my mind ! and then i get discouraged knowing how hard it is to get in to teach at these schools. Sounds like so much fun, especially the younger grades like what you have !

:)

DO IT! Finish your master's in ed!!! The job market has really opened up, and it'a a great job for mom's, especially once your own children are in school. I truly love my job, and I think everyone else will too.
I'm glad summer is just around the corner, but I have an awesome class this year and I'm going to miss them! BUT ~ I LOOOVE my summers off!

After 6 months of trying to find a co-op in Queens (and dealing w/ the most unprofessional realtors on earth ) we're thinking about calling it quits and looking for a house.
We're not familiar w/ eastern LI at all. What are nice communities near the water? A la Long Beach in Nassau? that are not way out east and for millionairs only? We're looking for a starter house. Any suggestions would be so appreciated.

Thanks a bunch ladies.