Buying in Center Moriches

Town of Brookhaven Councilman Dan Panico says that Center Moriches “still possesses that small-town America feel that has disappeared from much of Long Island.”

To help maintain that atmosphere and preserve the character of the area, he says Brookhaven Town recently completed an “exhaustive rezoning of the area to prevent the proliferation of retail sprawl.”

Parts of a five-mile stretch on Montauk Highway in Moriches and East Moriches were rezoned from commercial and retail to residential, mixed use and office space in order to limit overdevelopment and discourage big box stores.

Rachel Hujber, resident and owner-broker of Signature Homes of New York, agrees that Center Moriches is a private, small-town area where “you feel like you’re far away from everything, but you’re really not.”

Center Moriches, with various creeks off its southern shores along Moriches Bay, boasts a private beach, marinas and a yacht club. The area includes Kalers Pond Park, which reopened in December after a $500,000 renovation, Webby’s Beach and Park, which includes a public beach, and the 263-acre Terrell River County Park.

With its proximity to Long Island’s East End, Center Moriches provides a less expensive alternative to more easterly hamlets and villages. “It’s close to the Hamptons, yet with homes that are much more affordable,” Hujber says.

The average price of a starter home, she says, is about $325,000, with trade-up prices varying from $400,000 to $600,000, and waterfront homes that range from $500,000 into the millions. The area features a mix of Colonials, Victorians, ranches and capes.

Center Moriches is home to the recently restored Ketcham Inn, a late-1600s farmhouse where Thomas Jefferson and James Madison once stayed, and the recently landmarked Lindenmere, a bayfront bed-and-breakfast that was once the estate of Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, although they seldom stayed there.

CONDOS AND TOWN HOUSES

There is one condo on the market for $579,000.

SALES PRICES

Between October 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016, there were 94 home sales with a median sale price of $341,500, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $90,000 and the high was $1.075 million. During that period a year earlier, there were 92 home sales with a median sale price of $327,500. The price range was $102,000 to $1.895 million.

SCHOOLS

Most students attend Center Moriches High School. In 2015, 38 percent of graduates earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation. That’s compared with 45 percent in 2014.

OTHER STATS

Town Brookhaven

Area 5 square miles

ZIP code 11934

Population 7,580

Median age 39.5

Median household income $87,216

Median home value $337,500*

LIRR to NYC From Mastic-Shirley, 97-110 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket $446

School district Center Moriches

SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlsLI.com; LIRR;

*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI

RECENTLY SOLD

$685,000

BELLEVIEW AVENUE This five-bedroom home sold for $4,000 less than its asking piece after 106 days on the market. The 2000 home boasts four bathrooms, a granite kitchen with a stainless steel Viking oven and fridge, a den, a dining room and a living room with a fireplace. The basement, with nine-foot ceilings, includes a wine cellar. The 1.1-acre property also features an in-ground pool with a pool house, an outdoor kitchen, a multilevel patio and two-car garage. Taxes are $13,083.

$590,000

TIGER LANE After 116 days on the market, this three-bedroom ranch sold for $59,000 less than its asking price. The 1950 waterfront home includes two full bathrooms, a living room with a fireplace, a granite eat-in kitchen with vaulted ceilings, a dining room and a sunroom. One bedroom features vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. The 0.47-acre property features 118 feet of bulkhead, a floating dock, three boat slips and a waterside deck. The taxes are $16,107.

$273,000

OLD NECK ROAD Originally listed for $350,000, this three-bedroom Colonial sold in November after 575 days on the market. Built in 2006, the home features 1 1⁄2 bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a den and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. All three bedrooms and a full bathroom are on the second level. The 75-by-150-foot lot also features a full-length front porch, an attached one-car garage and a full basement. The taxes are $10,571.

NOW ON THE MARKET

Starter

$259,000 This four-bedroom ranch offers 1 1⁄2 bathrooms, a living room with a fireplace and an updated eat-in kitchen and a bedroom featuring a walk-in closet. The 0.47-acre property includes a finished basement. Taxes: $10,265. Mark Shuster, Hampton Estates Realty, 631-793-8804

Trade-Up

$489,999 This four-bedroom Colonial features 2 1⁄2 bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen with granite counters, a family room, a den, a formal dining room and a master suite with vaulted ceilings. The 0.97-acre property includes an in-ground pool. Taxes: $11,919. Rachel Hujber, Signature Homes of New York, 631-662-1528

High-End

$1.799 million This waterfront five-bedroom home features 3 1⁄2 bathrooms, a first-level master suite and a second-level junior suite and guest suite with a sitting room. The one-acre property also boasts an in-ground pool, a hot tub and boat and JetSki docks. Joseph Savio, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-745-8248

On Multiple Listings

Number of houses 75

Price range $149,900-$5.995 million

Tax range $3,974-$32,623