Elmont housing market draws first-time buyers as 'Gateway to Nassau County'
Residents love Elmont's state-of-the-art public library. (Oct. 22, 2013) Credit: Danielle Finkelstein
THE SCOOP Often referred to as the "Gateway to Nassau County," the hamlet of Elmont is an ethnically diverse community that attracts many first-time home buyers.
It's a "dynamic" area, says Deirdre Albertson of Coach Realtors Fennessy Associates, citing, in part, easy access to major highways, community fixtures such as the King Umberto restaurant on Hempstead Turnpike and the state-of-the-art Elmont Public Library.
Shops, services and eateries can be found along Hempstead Turnpike and Elmont Road, Dutch Broadway and Meacham Avenue. Streetscape projects, including the addition of Victorian lighting, have been taking place along Hempstead Turnpike and Elmont Road, says Mike Deery, town spokesman.
The biggest landmark is Belmont Park. The 430-acre racetrack -- the site of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown -- is the largest thoroughbred racecourse in North America.
The fate of further development on the Belmont property remains uncertain. Proposals are being reviewed by New York State, says Nassau County Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont). One calls for a supermarket; another consideration is retail space. Perhaps the most controversial is a 25,000-seat soccer stadium for the New York Cosmos.
TOWN HOUSES 1 listing for $379,990
CO-OPS 1 listing for $150,000
SALES PRICE From Sept. 1, 2012 to Oct. 15, 2013, there were 229 sales with a median price of $300,000, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low sales price was $100,000, and the high price was $505,000. From Sept. 1, 2011 to Oct. 15, 2012, there were 188 sales with a median sales price of $290,000. The low price was also $100,000, and the high was $520,000.
ATTRACTIONS Elmont Senior Center; Averill Boulevard Park and Swimming Pool Complex, Dutch Broadway Park, Elmont Road Park, Hendrickson Avenue Park.
MORE ELMONT STATS
Town: Hempstead
Area: 3.4 square miles
ZIP code: 11003
Population: 36,603
Median age: 35.2
Median household income: $85,564
Median home value: $315,000
LIRR time to NYC: From Floral Park, 34 minutes to 42 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $242
School districts: Elmont; high school students attend Sewanhaka Central High School District
SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlsli.com; LIRR;
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI