Buying a home in Babylon, a Long Island waterfront village
Springlike weather on March 10, 2016, draws walkers and runners to Argyle Park, which the village mayor describes as the gateway to Babylon. Credit: Johnny Milano
The waterfront village of Babylon “is like Mayberry,” says Mayor Ralph Scordino. It’s a place where people are proud to live, Scordino says, and where they look forward to village traditions like the Little League Opening Day Parade in the spring and the Babylon Beautification Fair in the fall. Scordino says Babylon has a great downtown, where residents enjoy “the walkability of the business district” and access to beaches, marinas and parks.
Scordino describes Argyle Park as the gateway to the village, where residents can enjoy fishing, a children’s playground or a stroll around the lake. The park’s bandshell plays host to summer concerts, Scordino says, and the waterfall is a popular spot for couples to take wedding photos.
Eric Ramsay, owner-broker of Eric G. Ramsay Jr. Associates, says Babylon village has a “desirable small-town feel,” with deeply rooted families and some homes more than a century old.
There’s a large price range in the village, Ramsay says, from entry-level homes with low taxes to waterfront estates. Homes sell quickly in Babylon, Ramsay says, as homebuyers are drawn to the bay-front location, downtown shops and restaurants, and their right to a dedicated parking spot at the village dock and train station.
Other highlights include the Gil Hanse Memorial Pool and Southards Pond Park, which offers paths for hiking and cycling and spots for fishing and bird-watching.
CONDOS AND TOWN HOUSES
There are eight condos on the market ranging in price from $280,900 to $820,000.
SALES PRICES
Between Feb. 1, 2015, and March 5, 2016, there were 137 home sales, with a median sale price of $380,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $142,000, and the high was $1,460,000. During that same period a year earlier, there were 124 home sales, with a median sale price of $360,000. The price range was $110,000 to $970,000.
SCHOOLS
Students attend Babylon Junior-Senior High School, North Babylon High School and West Babylon Senior High School. In 2015, 50 percent of graduates from Babylon Junior-Senior High School earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation, down from 60 percent in 2014. Thirty-seven percent of graduates from North Babylon High School earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation in 2015, up from 26 percent in 2014. Fifty-two percent of graduates from West Babylon Senior High School earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation in 2015, up from 46 percent in 2014.
OTHER STATS
Town: Babylon
Area: 2.4 square miles
ZIP code: 11702, 11703 and 11704
Population: 12,166
Median age: 42.5
Median household income: $101,549
Median home value: $369,500*
LIRR Babylon to NYC: 53-79 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $338
School district: Babylon, North Babylon, West Babylon
Sources: 2010 Census; mlslI.com; LIRR;
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI
RECENTLY SOLD
Lucinda Drive, $1.46 million
Originally listed for $1.6 million, this six-bedroom expanded ranch sold after 84 days on the market. The custom-built, 2005 home offers four full baths, an eat-in kitchen and a formal dining room. There are two fireplaces — in the living room and family room — and three en suite bedrooms on the main floor. The second floor has three additional bedrooms, as well as a music room and theater. There’s a heated pool and spa on the 100-by-162-foot waterfront property, which features a bulkhead, patio and sprinkler system. The taxes are $44,248.
The Crescent, $759,000
This cedar, center hall Colonial sold for its asking price after 100 days on the market. The five-bedroom home offers 3 1⁄2 baths, a formal dining room, a living room with a fireplace and a renovated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Built in 1927, the home features the original millwork, hardwood floors and doors as well as a marble inlaid foyer and a butler’s staircase, a covered porch and a full basement with an outside entrance. The 107-by-200-foot property features a rear patio and a three-car garage with a finished second floor. The taxes are $20,428.
Burnage Lane, $365,000
After 122 days on the market, this three-bedroom split-level sold for more than its asking price of $357,500. The 1956 home offers 1 1⁄2 baths, a new eat-in kitchen, a living room with vaulted ceilings and a den with a fireplace. The home features hardwood and laminate flooring, and a Green Home Certified energy efficient heating system. There’s a patio and attached garage on the 80-by-113-foot property, which is equipped with inground sprinklers. The taxes are $10,647.
NOW ON THE MARKET
Starter, $259,000
Updates to this cedar-shingled, two-bedroom ranch include a full bath, eat-in kitchen, roof, doors and windows. There’s a front porch on the 60-by-160-foot property. The taxes are $5,003. Martina Scheben, Coach Realtors, 631-241-9958
Trade-up, $699,000
This waterfront Colonial offers five bedrooms, two baths, a granite kitchen, formal dining room, two fireplaces and hardwood floors. The 75-by-90-foot lot on a cul-de-sac features a bulkhead, porch and patio. The taxes are $19,367. Joanne Schloen, Coach Realtors, 516-318-9243
High-end, $1.995 million
This five-bedroom Colonial offers 6 1⁄2 baths, three fireplaces, a gym and a home theater. The 125-by-265-foot property features a heated pool, deck, bulkhead and a four-car garage overlooking Foster’s Creek. The taxes are $46,691. Debra Carr and Noel Kappauf, Netter Real Estate, 631-786-9606 and 631-661-510
ON MULTIPLE LISTINGS
Number of houses: 64
Price range: $259,000-$2,250,000
Tax range: $5,003 to $46,691
