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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
The main priority is school district? How come no one ever talks about things like library services, or emergency services? No one ever asks about how long it takes on average for an ambulance or fire truck to get to a house after a 911 call. Did you know that Kings Park only has basic life support ambulances? Meaning if you live in Kings park and have a life-threatening emergency you will get basic care but nothing more than that unless they get help from a surrounding district like Commack or Smithtown....
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Posted 11/15/07 1:46 PM  |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
I guess b/c
if you have children you will need the schools everyday for over 12 years.
You may only need an ambulence a time or two, hopefully never...
So people aren't going to worry about that stuff that may never happen vs what they know they need (reputable or good schools).
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| Posted 11/15/07 2:24 PM |
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dgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/07 1079 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
I know for us it was extremely important to be in a great school district (we don't even have kids yet) because we are a mixed religion couple and don't want to send the kids to private school of either religion.
Our taxes are high (almost $13,000) mainly because of the school district.
Also, I think when you go to sell the house, people will factor in if they have to pay for private school and it can affect what they will be willing to pay for the house.
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| Posted 11/15/07 2:29 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
The main reason is that SDs affect the home's value and resale value more than those other factors.
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| Posted 11/15/07 2:33 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
I think a good SD says a lot more than just the schools - the people who choose (and who can afford) to live there too. If you can afford the SD & town, you may not have to have a renter to bring in extra dough. Which means more taxpayers with a large investment in their community and upkeep of their house and town.
SD was not a factor in our decision as we are not having children. It just so happened to work out that way.
But what you bring up about BLS in Kings Park is very interesting to me. How did you find that out? I used to be 'in the loop' on things like that but not so much anymore.
Do you happen to know if St. James has ALS?
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| Posted 11/15/07 2:49 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by greenfreak
But what you bring up about BLS in Kings Park is very interesting to me. How did you find that out? I used to be 'in the loop' on things like that but not so much anymore.
Do you happen to know if St. James has ALS?
I know because I am a member of Commack ambulance, and we get mutal aided to them a lot for ALS calls. 
St. James is ALS, they have two ambulances and a first responder car.
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| Posted 11/15/07 3:04 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by greenfreak
If you can afford the SD & town, you may not have to have a renter to bring in extra dough. Which means more taxpayers with a large investment in their community and upkeep of their house and town.
Great points. I totally agree!!!
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| Posted 11/15/07 3:05 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by Kara
The main reason is that SDs affect the home's value and resale value more than those other factors.
ITA
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| Posted 11/15/07 3:42 PM |
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Chatham-Chick
*********************
Member since 5/05 10311 total posts
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
SD was our main priority for 2 reasons: 1. at the time "our future" children 2. resale value
We definitely took into consideration how close the fire department was, as well as the hospital, among many other things.
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| Posted 11/15/07 4:09 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by Kara
The main reason is that SDs affect the home's value and resale value more than those other factors.
I think Sweettooth was looking for WHY they affect resale as she already knows SD's are the main selling aspect, and was wondering why not these others things such as library and ambulence response times.
So why is SD more important and more valuable to buyers? B/c they are services used for over 12 years versus an ambulence that may never be used. Or a library, that will be way less used than attending a school everyday, esp in the world of gaining info on the net.
And b/c as someone above said, who wants to pay for private school when they are paying huge taxes (mostly due to schools)? Or does not feel Private school would be a suitable option due to religion, $, etc.
So most people would not make such a huge decision of buying a house based on how quick an ambulence might come or how often they need a library.
Message edited 11/15/2007 4:15:28 PM.
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| Posted 11/15/07 4:11 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
They are also where a HUGE chunk of your tax money goes...
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| Posted 11/15/07 4:19 PM |
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mtnmama
Member since 5/06 4794 total posts
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Message edited 8/24/2009 1:40:37 PM.
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| Posted 11/15/07 5:00 PM |
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SuzyQ
Mama to 3!?!?!?
Member since 7/06 8069 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
You've brought up a good point. This is something I hadn't considered when looking for a house. I did think about the quality of the closest hospital. Do you know how you find out the info you're talking about? I guess we could call EMS in the town, but I don't even know what to ask. Thanks for bringing this up. I'll add another thing to my checklist as we begin house hunting.
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| Posted 11/15/07 5:36 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by Goobster
Posted by Kara
The main reason is that SDs affect the home's value and resale value more than those other factors.
I think Sweettooth was looking for WHY they affect resale as she already knows SD's are the main selling aspect, and was wondering why not these others things such as library and ambulence response times.
So why is SD more important and more valuable to buyers? B/c they are services used for over 12 years versus an ambulence that may never be used. Or a library, that will be way less used than attending a school everyday, esp in the world of gaining info on the net.
And b/c as someone above said, who wants to pay for private school when they are paying huge taxes (mostly due to schools)? Or does not feel Private school would be a suitable option due to religion, $, etc.
So most people would not make such a huge decision of buying a house based on how quick an ambulence might come or how often they need a library.
Yes, I know that SD is very important. But no one ever seems to take any other community services into consideration, and I was wondering why that was.
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| Posted 11/15/07 7:31 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by SuzyQ
You've brought up a good point. This is something I hadn't considered when looking for a house. I did think about the quality of the closest hospital. Do you know how you find out the info you're talking about? I guess we could call EMS in the town, but I don't even know what to ask. Thanks for bringing this up. I'll add another thing to my checklist as we begin house hunting.
Are you looking in Suffolk or Nassau?
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| Posted 11/15/07 7:32 PM |
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MrsPowers
So blessed!
Member since 11/06 10348 total posts
Name:
Ivelysse
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
SD was number one for me. I am a teacher so I spent a lot of time and energy researching that.
As for the EMS services, it wasn't a concern because we know people in our Fire Department and my DH is an EMT so I feel pretty safe.
I guess we have a lot of first hand knowledge. I do know how long it takes to get to the nearest hospital and which hospital I would go to in an emergency.
ETA: I did look into the library. Ours is not the greatest but hopefully one day they will expand.
Message edited 11/15/2007 7:56:18 PM.
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| Posted 11/15/07 7:54 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
I do not have children attending the district we live in. For me the library was a huge consideration because its one of my favorite places. While all of suffolk's libraries can loan books to each other, having a rented tiny store front library would be a major turn-off for me. I love the services our library offers for everyone in my family, from 5 hour drivers ed when my son needed them to SAT prep for DSD to craft classes I love & computer classes that have been great for DH. The location of the fire dept was also very important to us because some fire districts on LI are very large & I like to know they are close by. Our neighborhood of 800 homes has a substation that consists only of volunteers that live IN this neighborhood.
We also like to be near other things like State & county parks & beaches.
I understand that school taxes are a big thing & certainly school districts affect resale value. However if I paid less because I bought in what may be considered a less desirable district, than certainly I'd know & expect to see that same lower value extended to the next buyer. So I'm always confused as why that is SUCH a big point for people especially those without children.
There are very few areas of Long Island that would truly be a bad investment if this is a home you plan to stay in long enough to conceive, give birth & raise your children to the age that slightly lower middle school or high school stats would be relevant.
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| Posted 11/15/07 9:06 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by SweetTooth
Posted by greenfreak
But what you bring up about BLS in Kings Park is very interesting to me. How did you find that out? I used to be 'in the loop' on things like that but not so much anymore.
Do you happen to know if St. James has ALS?
I know because I am a member of Commack ambulance, and we get mutal aided to them a lot for ALS calls.
St. James is ALS, they have two ambulances and a first responder car.
Thanks! When I was in my corps, we provided in-house staffed crews with guaranteed ALS and were primary 75% of the time. It was something we always had to explain during our fund drive when people asked the difference between the FD ambulance responding and the corps ambulance responding.
And when I worked for Long Beach hospital, we used to mutual aid Atlantic Beach because they didn't have an ambulance, much less ALS. 
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| Posted 11/16/07 8:17 AM |
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DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
No one has mentioned this is a big cultural issue is NY and LI specifically. ALL the LI school rate better than schools in other areas including CI, Brentwood etc.
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| Posted 11/16/07 12:43 PM |
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alisonggg
Cutie
Member since 3/06 4749 total posts
Name:
a
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by KellyFG
I understand that school taxes are a big thing & certainly school districts affect resale value. However if I paid less because I bought in what may be considered a less desirable district, than certainly I'd know & expect to see that same lower value extended to the next buyer. So I'm always confused as why that is SUCH a big point for people especially those without children.
this is how I feel as well. I bought in a FINE school district but not one that is recognized as being GREAT and that is just fine with me. I got an affordable house in a beautiful neighborhood with low taxes. I could (if I choose to, which I probably won't) send my future children to private school with the difference that I pay in taxes for my district vs. a GREAT school district. When I sell later on in the future I may have a lower resale value, but I paid less than I would have for the exact same house in a GREAT school district.
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:07 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by alisonggg
When I sell later on in the future I may have a lower resale value, but I paid less than I would have for the exact same house in a GREAT school district.
Great points.
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:19 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by melijane
No one has mentioned this is a big cultural issue is NY and LI specifically. ALL the LI school rate better than schools in other areas including CI, Brentwood etc.
Really? I never knew that.
Other areas of the state or country?
I wonder why that is... Does it have to do with the amount of funding they get due to our high taxes? What factors go into these ratings? I'm honestly curious!
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:24 PM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by Goobster
Posted by alisonggg
When I sell later on in the future I may have a lower resale value, but I paid less than I would have for the exact same house in a GREAT school district.
Great points.
Very true. We did the same thing. The SD we are in is not the greatest on LI but it is good enough. Besides, we have no children, and even if I concieved right now it would be 5 or 6 years until I have a school-aged child. And even then the "great" school thing doesn't really come into play until MS or even HS, so I don't get why everyone is so worried about SD.
And as a PP mentioned, pretty much all LI school districts are above the national averages.
I am a product of a SD that is considered "great" but I don't consider myself any better off than people I know who went to "lesser" districts.
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:43 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by SweetTooth
I am a product of a SD that is considered "great" but I don't consider myself any better off than people I know who went to "lesser" districts.
It's funny - I'm a product of a school district that's considered not so great and I have done well scholastically - I have an MBA. It's all relative!
ETA - And I feel that I got a good education when I was there.
Message edited 11/16/2007 1:49:19 PM.
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:48 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: How come when researching/talking about "good" towns...
Posted by Kara
Posted by melijane
No one has mentioned this is a big cultural issue is NY and LI specifically. ALL the LI school rate better than schools in other areas including CI, Brentwood etc.
Really? I never knew that.
Other areas of the state or country?
I wonder why that is... Does it have to do with the amount of funding they get due to our high taxes? What factors go into these ratings? I'm honestly curious!
really?  I though when the top schools in the country were posted- there were very few LI schools on it
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| Posted 11/16/07 1:58 PM |
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