Buying a house in Ronkonkoma
The Long Island Rail Road station in Ronkonkoma; an idea behind the "hub'' project is to encourage the use of mass transit, Oct. 6, 2016. Credit: Ed Betz
With the upcoming Ronkonkoma Hub project expected to revitalize the area, “people are seeing Ronkonkoma as potentially a good place to invest,” says Gail Carillo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
The transit-oriented destination project will add 1,450 multifamily apartment units, 360,000 square feet of commercial space and 195,000 square feet of retail space to a 53-acre area surrounding the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station. The $538 million project is to begin later this year.
That, along with Ronkonkoma’s affordable housing prices and proximity to the Long Island Expressway make the area an attractive option for young professionals, Carillo says.
“You’re seeing a lot of first-time home buyers in Ronkonkoma,” she says, adding that the area is diverse in housing styles, with the most common generally being ranches.
Denise Schwarz, a 40-year resident and president of the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce, says the neighborhood doesn’t have “cookie-cutter homes.” Instead, it offers a variety of houses and families.
Schwarz says the hub project will provide beautiful living quarters, attract a variety of businesses and create a walkable downtown. She says community organizations also are initiating a campaign to clean up Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island’s largest freshwater lake, which is along Ronkonkoma’s northeast border. In July, swimming was banned at the lake because of high levels of bacteria.
“That should be the jewel of Ronkonkoma,” Schwarz says. “We need to clean up the beach and clean up the lake so it’s swimmable. It’s not going to happen tomorrow, but for the future.”
This Ronkonkoma Colonial, on the market for $384,990 in October 2016, is considered a trade-up housing purchase. Credit: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
CONDOS
There are five condos on the market ranging from $139,000 to $229,888.
SALES PRICES
Between Sept. 1, 2015, and Sept. 30. 2016, there were 234 home sales with a median sale price of $305,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $100,000 and the high was $655,000. During that period a year earlier, there were 185 home sales with a median sale price of $305,000. The price range was $75,000 to $625,000.
This Ronkonkoma ranch, listed for $219,000 in October 2016, is a starter home good for first-time buyers. Credit: Douglas Elliman Real Estate
SCHOOLS
Most students attend Connetquot High School or Sachem North High School. In 2015, 64 percent of Connetquot graduates and 62 percent of Sachem North graduates earned a Regents diploma with advanced designation. In 2014, the corresponding rates were 67 percent for Connetquot and 57 percent for Sachem North.
OTHER STATS
Town: Brookhaven
Area: 8.2 square miles
ZIP code: 11779
This Ronkonkoma Colonial, listed for $525,000 in October 2016, is considered a high-end purchase. Credit: Re/Max Beyond
Population: 19,082
Median age: 39
Median household income: $86,432
Median home value: $309,750*
LIRR to NYC: 66-85 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $377
School district: Connetquot, Sachem
Sources: 2010 census; LIRR; mlsli.com
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI
RECENTLY SOLD
18th AVENUE, $590,000
After 301 days on the market, this four-bedroom Colonial sold for $29,000 less than its asking price. The 2003 house has 2.5 bathrooms, a kitchen with a center island and wall of glass, a formal living room, family room and dining room. The master suite has a full bathroom. The 150-by-127-foot lot offers an attached three-car garage, finished basement and back deck that includes a built-in grill and hot tub. The taxes are $11,485.
LAKE SHORE DRIVE, $339,000
This three-bedroom Colonial sold for $20,000 less than its asking price after 133 days on the market. The 1977 home, with 1.5 bathrooms, has an open floor plan that includes a granite eat-in kitchen with maple cabinetry, family room with a fireplace and formal living room and dining room. The 60-by-100-foot lot, down the block from Lake Ronkonkoma, includes a multilevel paver patio and a one-car garage. The taxes are $9,556.
NORTH EXPRESS DRIVE, $275,000
Originally listed for $299,990, this three-bedroom ranch sold in June after 170 days on the market. Built in 1970, the home includes two full bathrooms, a new eat-in kitchen, dining room with sliding glass doors that open to a paver patio, and master bedroom with full bath. Hardwood floors run throughout, and the house has a full basement. The 100-by-157-foot property includes an attached two-car garage. The taxes are $9,088.
ON THE MARKET
STARTER, $219,000
This three-bedroom ranch has one full bathroom, an eat-in kitchen and formal dining room. The 80-by-130-foot property, in the Lake Hills community, includes a full basement and attic.
Taxes: $8,201. Gail Goldstein, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 516-721-7014.
TRADE-UP, $384,990
This seven-bedroom Colonial includes four bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen, two formal living rooms, a dining room and den. The 0.49-acre property, which offers views of Lake Ronkonkoma, includes a one-car garage.
Taxes: $13,076. Gail Carillo, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 631-672-2343.
HIGH-END, $525,000
This five-bedroom Colonial includes a den with a fireplace, an eat-in kitchen, formal living and dining room and master suite with a Jacuzzi. The 0.35-acre property, on a cul-de-sac, includes a full finished basement and two-car garage.
Taxes: $13,643. Christine Hermanowski, Re/Max Beyond, 631-382-8837.
ON MULTIPLE LISTINGS
Number of houses: 84
Price range: $119,000 to $599,000
Tax range: $3,524 to $14,444
