Buying in North Babylon: Belmont Lake State Park, sense of community draw homebuyers
Vintage car owners display their wheels at Deer Park Plaza in North Babylon. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
THE SCOOP A central location between New York City and the East End combined with community spirit are a draw for homebuyers to North Babylon, said Travis Steward, president of the hamlet's Belmont Lake Civic Association.
"There's always something going on to celebrate a sense of community," said Steward, who is also an agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
With its many trails, scenic lake and dog park, the 463-acre Belmont Lake State Park is a community gathering place, where summers bring concerts and this year, a mega-reunion for graduates of North Babylon High School spanning 50 years, noted Steward.
North Babylon is home to the smaller Phelps Lane Park, top, and the sprawling Belmont Lake State Park, bottom. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The local environment will benefit from the recently completed Carlls River sewer expansion project, which impacts about 500 properties in North Babylon.
"Cesspools leech into our groundwater and on Long Island, our groundwater is our drinking water," Steward said, adding that with North Babylon's Belmont Lake feeding into Carlls River which empties into the Great South Bay, the project will help the marine environment.
A lifelong resident of North Babylon, Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer said the town is applying for funding to improve pedestrian safety along a mile-long corridor of Deer Park Avenue to help revitalize the area.
Through the years, the hamlet has pretty much stayed the same, Schaffer said.
"A lot of us are still here — that's a commonalty of North Babylon," Schaffer said. "Generations will buy the house from the parents, and the parents will stay there with the kids. You see a lot of that."
North Babylon Fire Department, top left, Marion G. Vedder Elementary School, top right, and Deer Park Plaza shopping center sit on — or just off of — Deer Park Avenue.
In the early 19th century, farms dotted the North Babylon landscape. Later in the century, the area experienced an influx of wealthy residents, notably financier/diplomat August Belmont. He built his 1,100-acre mansion, nursery and horse breeding farm in 1868, attracting the likes of President Chester Arthur, who would go there to fish. Much of the estate was taken over by the Army Air Corps in World War I and, in 1924, Belmont Lake State Park was created on the site.
Once Long Island Rail Road service reached Deer Park in 1842, Babylon Lane (now Deer Park Avenue) became a busy stagecoach thoroughfare, used for horse, foot and sack racing, as well as greased-pig chasing. After World War II, estates, farms and woodland gave way to a number of housing developments.
House hunters will find mostly Colonial and ranch homes, mixed in with newer post-moderns and contemporaries, with prices ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 for a renovated four-bedroom home.
Homes along Cyprus Street, top, and Liberty Avenue, bottom. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There is one condo, priced at $479,000, and two co-ops, priced at $239,900 and $240,000, on the market.
SALE PRICES Between Aug. 1, 2022, and July 30, 2023, there were 148 home sales with a median sale price of $524,500, according to OneKey MLS. The low price for that period was $300,000 and the high was $820,000. During that period a year earlier there were 188 home sales with a median sale price of $535,000. The price range was $250,000 to $790,000.
OTHER STATS
Town Babylon
Area 3.3 square miles
ZIP code 11703
Population 18,776
Median age 40.1
Median household income $109,515
Median home value $535,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Babylon $327
School districts, graduation rates North Babylon (93.3%), Deer Park (95.9%)
Parks Phelps Lane Park, Belmont Lake State Park
Library North Babylon
Hospitals Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
Transit Suffolk County Transit Routes 23, 29, 2B
Sources: 2020 Census; 2020 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$749,000
This $749,000 North Babylon home sits on 0.34 acre. Credit: Marylou Swan Realty
This renovated 2,200-square-foot Colonial has four beds, 2½ baths, new central air, alarm and camera system, whole-house generator, hardwood floors and radiant heat in a second floor bathroom. The 0.34-acre lot has a pool with diving board and a large rear deck with paving stones. Taxes are $16,620. A sale is pending. Tanya Negron, Marylou Swan Realty Corp., 631-289-5550.
$669,000
This $669,000 North Babylon home has a bi-level deck overlooking a fish pond. Credit: Hamilton Homes
This approximately 3,000-square-foot split-level features four beds, two baths, oak and laminate floors, a kitchen with oak cabinets, granite counters and updated bathrooms. The quarter-acre fenced-in lot has a bi-level deck overlooking a fish pond, hot tub, two sheds and attached one-car garage. Taxes are $13,247. Dorothy Hamilton, Hamilton Homes, 631-435-0870.
$519,000
This $519,000 North Babylon home was built in 1925. Credit: Realty Connect USA
Built circa 1925, this 1,100-square-foot Dutch Colonial has three beds, 2½ baths, updated kitchen, baths and boiler, hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings and solar panels. The 0.16-acre property has a fenced-in backyard with brick patio and a large shed. Taxes are $8,162. Rosemarie DiChiara and Angela Parisi, Realty Connect USA, 516-714-3606.
RECENTLY SOLD
$424,000
Carlls Path
Style Cape
Bedrooms 3
Bathroom 1
Built 1950
Lot Size 0.11 acre
Taxes $7,629
+/- List price -$5,000
Days on market 138
$545,000
Ventura Drive
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 1½
Built 1958
Lot size 0.18 acre
Taxes $9,447
+/- List price -$4,999
Days on market 164
$700,000
Hughes Lane
Style High ranch
Bedrooms 5
Bathroom 2
Built 1964
Lot size 0.23 acre
Taxes $14,361
+/- List price +$51,000
Days on market 75
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 18
Price range $699,888 to $239,900
Tax range $5,246 to $13,623
