Farmingville ‘great’ for first-time home buyers

THE SCOOP

In Farmingville, a hamlet featuring an affordable housing market and a variety of shopping options, the community is focusing on the future of the area’s downtown and business district, says Town of Brookhaven councilman Kevin LaValle.

He says the town and community have completed a land-use plan to add retail and walkability to Portion Road’s business district, which runs through Farmingville.

“Where do we want our retail space? Where do we want our doctor offices? Where do we want everything laid out?” LaValle says. “We worked with the property owners up and down the district to try to identify those areas and rezone areas to make it easier for those property owners to be able to develop over the next 20 years.”

In addition, construction on a 292-unit community called Arboretum, which will include single-family homes and condos, is expected to begin in a year or two, LaValle adds. The project, on a 65-acre lot behind the Farmingville Post Office, is also expected to include restaurants, office space and a pond.

The Bristal Assisted Living at Holtsville, a senior facility on the Farmingville border along North Ocean Avenue and the Long Island Expressway, also opened recently. The area has recently added an L.A. Fitness and, in the same shopping center on North Ocean Avenue, will soon add a Starbucks.

The area offers a diverse housing stock, though ranches and expanded ranches are common, says Lina Lopes of Douglas Elliman Real Estate’s Farmingville office. Prices, she says, range from about $300,000 to newly constructed homes that command more than $600,000. Taxes are less than $10,000 per year for most of the area, she adds.

“It’s a great area for first-time and second-time home buyers with the tax situation and the commuting,” Lopes says. “Farmingville is right on the border of the expressway, making it easy to get to everything.”

Farmingville, one of the highest points on Long Island, is home to Bald Hill. Once a ski area, it now includes the landmark obelisk American flag monument in Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, and the Pennysaver Amphitheater, an outdoor music venue, which this year, LaValle says, will host the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli and Toby Keith, among others.

“It’s the largest outdoor music venue in Suffolk County,” LaValle says, with a capacity of 7,000. “Most townships don’t have something like that. It’s a great attribute in our community.”

CONDOS AND TOWNHOUSES

There are no condos or co-ops on the market.

SALES PRICE

Between March 1, 2017, and March 8, 2018, there were 191 home sales with a median sale price of $322,500, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $99,000 (foreclosure) and the high was $760,000. During that time period a year earlier, there were 166 home sales with a median sale price of $301,000. The price range was $103,000 to $651,000.

SCHOOLS

Most students attend Sachem East or North High School.

OTHER STATS

Town Brookhaven

Area 4.5 square miles

ZIP code 11738

Population 15,481

Median age 37.0

Median household income $90,790

Median home value $330,000

LIRR to NYC From Ronkonkoma, 66 to 85 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket $391

School district Sachem, Middle Country

SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlslI.com; LIRR;

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

RECENTLY SOLD

$470,000

LIDGE DRIVE After 60 days on the market, this renovated four-bedroom raised-ranch sold for $11,000 more than its asking price. The house, built in 1960, includes a formal living room with a stone fireplace, a formal dining room and an eat-in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. The main level has three bedrooms and one bathroom. The lower level includes an en suite bedroom and a den. The 0.27-acre property, with taxes of $8,222, also has an attached two-car garage.

$385,000

ABNER DRIVE This four-bedroom, three-bathroom Colonial sold for its asking price after 321 days on the market. The 1975 house features a living room with a fireplace and eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, ceramic tile and cherry cabinets. Also on the main level are two bedrooms, including the master, and a bath. Two additional bedrooms, along with a den and bathroom, are on the upper level. The 0.24-acre property, with taxes of $11,230, has a finished basement and an attached two-car garage.

$272,500

LOCUST AVENUE Originally listed for $279,900, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom ranch sold in February after 182 days on the market. The house, which was built in 1959, features an eat-in kitchen with brand-new countertops and sliding glass doors that open to a sunroom. The living room is warmed by a pellet stove. The house also includes a partial basement and a detached 1 1⁄2 car garage. Taxes on the 100-by-160-foot property are $5,423.

NOW ON THE MARKET

$309,999 This three-bedroom, two-bathroom expanded ranch features a remodeled living room, dining room and full bathroom. The 0.46-acre property also has a two-car garage and full basement. Taxes: $8,847. David Oakley, Realty Connect USA, 631-338-7233.

$369,990 This four-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch includes a family room, a formal dining room, a library and an en suite master bedroom. Taxes on the 0.27-acre property are $8,356. Lina Lopes, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-487-3113.

$419,000 This five-bedroom, three-bathroom expanded-ranch offers a living room-dining room combination with sliders, an open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an en suite master bedroom. Taxes on the 0.27-acre property are $11,419. Barbara Fortcher, Keller Williams Realty Greater Nassau, 631-235-9199.

On Multiple Listings

Number of houses 44

Price range $189,900-$699,900

Tax range $4,441-$16,204