Most people hate change, so the concept of moving to a new area, a new state, or a new part of the country, and potentially taking on a new job, represents a life-changing experience that often invokes feelings of fear and trepidation. Whether you’re interested in relocating to Long Island to start a family, retire, potentially improve your quality of life, experience a change of surroundings in terms of your living situation, or pursue a new job, for example, the actions you’re about to take will require you to make many important decisions. And, what you ultimately decide and the actions you take will, no doubt, have long-term implications on many aspects of your life (and the lives of your family members).
The best way to go about making life-altering decisions that involve relocating, and ultimately choosing the very best place to live on Long Island (based on your budget, lifestyle, needs, desires, and unique circumstances), is to do plenty of research before making any firm commitments.
This section of the Insiders’ Guide to Long Island will guide you through the relocation process, help you choose the best place on Long Island to live, and help you determine whether your financial situation will allow you to maintain or improve your current standard of living—especially during these unpredictable economic times.
As you already know, Long Island is a very diverse region. While real estate prices across America have been extremely unstable in recent years, the negative impact of the nation’s economy has had a somewhat lesser impact on Long Island, so real estate prices have remained strong. This is mainly because of the region’s overall affluence and close proximity to New York City.
However, just like everywhere else, economic conditions have resulted in sometimes significant increases in cost-of-living expenditures and moving costs, all of which you’ll need to calculate into your budget. In fact, the biggest complaints among Long Islanders are the high costs of their property tax and utilities (primarily gas and electricity) and the shortage of affordable apartments, condos, and single-family homes on the island. Affordable rental properties (apartments and homes) are also in high demand and short supply.
The following steps will help guide you through the relocation process as you establish a new life on Long Island.