Alice Bopp has lived all over the world: She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, moved to San Diego, where she lived for about 10 years, and now she and her family reside in Lindenhurst.

"People always ask, 'Why would you leave California?' " said Bopp, 49. "But I absolutely love it here. I love the change of pace. And I come from Rio, which is a big city, so it's a huge change. But it's close enough to New York City to jump on the train."

At the same time, there are some aspects of living in Lindenhurst that are not too dissimilar from city life, she said, such as the revitalized downtown scene along Wellwood Avenue. That includes the presence of Bopp's own business, Muni's Coffee Joint.

"When we opened in 2019, Wellwood was super dark and slow," she said. "Things really started to kick in, and now there's so many things that you actually have a hard time parking. The parking lots are expanding more and more."

Homebuyers have a vision for what they want, whether it's a taste of New York City life, laid back beach vibes or even a specific community on Long Island. But those desires are often out of reach in an ever-changing market with high competition and low inventory. With the help of local real estate agents, homebuyers are making compromises that satisfy their needs and keep them on budget.

If you want NYC energy

Millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996, per the Pew Research Center — make up a huge portion of current homebuyers. Similarly aged real estate agents — all of whom grew up and still live on the Island — use their professional experiences and firsthand knowledge to predict the future of where their generation will find their forever homes.

Rachelle Fabre, 34, has been working in real estate for six years. As an agent with EXP Realty, based in Hauppauge, she mostly helps first-time homebuyers.

"Bay Shore is very common for people to inquire about," said Fabre. Many of her clients have taken an interest in Suffolk County over Nassau while house-hunting, often due to property sizes, she said.

"They feel like they can get a little bit more bang for their buck," said Fabre, who was born and raised in Nassau County and now lives in West Babylon.

"They feel like they can get a little bit more bang for their buck [in Suffolk]."

— Rachelle Fabre, EXP Realty agent

Credit: CinnematicX LLC

Bay Shore could be a good option for a New York City transplant, said Rachel Jackson, of Integrity Core Realty in Jericho.

"Bay Shore's downtown area is city-like, with their bars and restaurants, and you have access to the ferry to head over to Fire Island," said Jackson, 32. She grew up in Bay Shore and still resides there. "It attracts that young crowd — same with Patchogue, too."

Danielle Christopherson, of Bay Shore, is the owner of Flour Shoppe Cafe on West Main Street. She used to work in Patchogue and although the communities are similar, there is a different vibe when comparing their downtown scenes: Patchogue is more focused on nightlife after sundown, she said.

Bay Shore's downtown area is city-like, with their bars and restaurants, and you have access to the ferry to head over to Fire Island.

—  Rachel Jackson, real estate agent at Integrity Core Realty

"It's different with Bay Shore," said Christopherson, 47. "It doesn't get rowdy like that and you still have that hometown feel, in a sense. It's family-oriented and it has that nightlife, but also there are a lot of activities to do with the kids."

With four children and four grandchildren, Christopherson, who lives with her boyfriend, often takes her family to events and parks in town. Her children all live farther east, but they love her neighborhood, she said.

"Families come out here in droves," said Christopherson, originally from Shirley.

There are some parts of Long Island that find a "perfect balance" in busy main streets and quiet residential areas, like Huntington, Jackson said. She added that Ronkonkoma is a centrally located community that might attract homebuyers looking to ease into a more suburban lifestyle.

"It's a hub; it offers so many modes of transportation," she said. "The Long Island Rail Road, the LIE, MacArthur Airport. I would suggest Ronkonkoma to people making a transition from the city to get that suburban feel, but it has an urban, city feel as well."

Then there are clients who hope to get the best of both worlds. While working with people who have jobs in New York City but want to live on Long Island, Dominique Ehrlich, an agent with Mr. Homes Realty in Levittown, has found her clients are becoming more comfortable with longer commutes. She's noticed that people are willing to face an hourlong drive to work, if it means landing their dream home.

"It really is worth the drive to be happy where they are," she said. "It's just a mindset shift, especially in this market."

If you want the Hamptons vibe

According to the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers for 2023, 60% of buyers cited quality of the neighborhood as the most important factor while determining the location of their home.

Twenty-eight percent took proximity to shopping into account, while 22% of buyers cited convenience to entertainment and other leisure activities as a main factor influencing their neighborhood choice.

"The common denominator is that people want a nice lifestyle," said Kate Works, of Compass. "A downtown where restaurants, bars and shopping are all convenient, and we're lucky that on Long Island there are so many villages like that on the South Shore."

Bayport and Bellport are smaller versions of the Hamptons — same access to beaches and boutiques, without the East End trek — local real estate agents say.

"Bayport is super quaint. It has that same feel [as the East End], but it's more affordable with the same Hamptons-style homes."

— Dominique Ehrlich, real estate agent with Mr. Homes Realty

Credit: Dominique Ehrlich

"Bayport is super quaint," Ehrlich said. "It has that same feel [as the East End], but it's more affordable with the same Hamptons-style homes."

Works, 33, grew up in Bellport and believes many prospective homebuyers aren't familiar with the area.

"There are all these beautiful, old homes," said Works, who has been working in real estate for 10 years. "And a main street with cute boutique shops. It really has that Hamptons feel, without being in the Hamptons."

Bellport also has some amenities for its residents, such as its own ferry to Fire Island and a private beach.

As you move closer to the water, home prices increase in Bayport and Bellport. North of Montauk Highway in Bayport, there are houses on the market between $520,000 and $700,000, according to OneKey MLS.

Annie Rohrmeier has lived in Bellport for 50 years. While working at Eileen Green Realty, she has seen plenty of Long Islanders discover her village for the first time.

"People say it reminds them of a quaint New England town," she said. "And it's close enough to the Hamptons, without all that traffic."

The price range can fluctuate, though, from $575,000 for a house in the heart of the village, to an $8 million waterfront property, Rohrmeier said.

It's essential to get a sense of all a community has to offer before committing to a house, Works said.

"The nice part of Long Island is that there are so many different options," she said.

If you have your heart set on one spot

If your heart is set on a particular hamlet, but you're priced out of it in the current market, Amanda Palmeri, of Signature Premier Properties, recommends looking right next door.

"Farmingdale is a town that has really become popular, and there's a lot to do there," said Palmeri, 31, citing the village's businesses and nightlife along Main Street. "That would be almost a more affordable option to Massapequa Park, or somewhere like that. You don't have the waterfront aspect, but you have lots of shops, apartment buildings and restaurants."

The median home price in Massapequa Park by the end of last year was $677,500, with the median in Farmingdale at $610,000, per OneKey MLS data. But it takes no time to travel between the areas, with Farmingdale being just a few miles north.

"Farmingdale is a town that has really become popular ... You don't have the waterfront aspect, but you have lots of shops, apartment buildings and restaurants."

— Amanda Palmeri, Signature Premier Properties agent

Credit: Midrise Media

As for the North Shore, Works compared Huntington to Manhasset: "Huntington is a really good alternative," she said. "There's a very convenient train, a cute little main street and you can get into the city quickly."

In Suffolk County, Babylon and Lindenhurst are also comparable while being close to each other, Palmeri said.

"A lot of people want that Babylon feel, but don't want that price tag," she said. "Lindenhurst has really evolved with its revitalization of Wellwood in the last few years. They have a lot to offer."

In fact, these real estate agents have compared Lindenhurst to both New York City (because of its vibrant downtown) and the Hamptons (because it's close to the water). And they agree: The village has become a hotspot for families and first-time homebuyers.

If you want something completely different

It was a no-brainer. [Lindenhurst] fit all the criteria.

— Madelyn González

Madelyn González, her husband and their 16-year-old daughter moved from Jamaica, Queens, to Lindenhurst last year. "I knew nothing about Long Island, in terms of why to move there and what the benefits would be," she said. From October to December 2023, the median home price in Lindenhurst was $560,000, according to OneKey MLS.

Her uncle used to live in Seaford, so she was somewhat familiar with the region, but began her house search in Garden City and Levittown. González and her husband, who is an optician, even put in an offer on a house in Levittown.

But then they noticed some similarities to their home in the city, from which they had been trying to get away.

"When we were driving to go back home to Queens, we were feeling kind of the same vibe, in terms of traffic," said González, 54. "The homes were close together; we had more space than our home in Queens, but not a huge difference."

González's real estate agent, Dominique Ehrlich, suggested that they start searching in Suffolk County. They purchased their five-bedroom, three-bathroom house for $1.15 million, which was over the asking price, González said.

"It was a no-brainer," she said. "It fit all the criteria. Close to the Long Island Rail Road, good backyard, walking distance to the village and the house is beautiful."

Overall, she prefers the change of scene.

"We're actually visiting the city more now that I'm on Long Island," said González, an assistant principal at Community School District 24 in Queens. "We're going to museums more than I was when I was living in Queens, because instead of just avoiding the craziness of crowds, now we go whenever we feel like it."

"Totally envelop yourself in the search. Every town has a different vibe — find one that speaks to you, and the quality of life that you're looking for."

— Kate Works, real estate agent with Compass

Credit: All Media NY Inc./Andrea Onglengco

Many of González's coworkers had recommended Lindenhurst to her while her family was house-hunting, and a "large population of teachers" at her school live on Long Island, she said. Now, she understands why.

"We own a second home in Florida, and our intentions were to relocate to Florida once I retire," she said. "Now, our plans have changed." They hope to sell the home in Florida someday, and put that money toward their mortgage in Lindenhurst.

For those anticipating taking a similar leap to Long Island, Works has some advice: Take some time to check out places in town, such as grocery stores and restaurants. Drive around at different times of day to get a sense of traffic patterns. And most important, talk to the residents.

"Totally envelop yourself in the search," she said. "Every town has a different vibe — find one that speaks to you, and the quality of life that you're looking for."

By Rachel Weiss

rachel.weiss@newsday.com@RachMWeiss

Rachel Weiss joined Newsday in 2016. As a real estate/living multimedia reporter, Rachel writes feature stories and contributes to and appears in on-camera video packages. She was the lead reporter on Newsday’s LI Acts of Kindness series.