If you're thinking of buying in Sea Cliff

THE SCOOP Sea Cliff - a tiny village perched atop a 120-foot bluff overlooking Hempstead Harbor - is dotted by historic homes, lots of parks and a quaint downtown popular for its bistros, old fashioned general store, village green and libraries (one for adults, the other for children).

"Sea Cliff is a boutique kind of community," says Terry Sciubba, a resident and owner-broker of Sherlock Homes Realty Corp. "It's always been a haven for artists and musicians, but the area also attracts professionals."

Summertime is lively with concerts, movies and art shows in the park. "You always see people walking or riding bikes," says John Langone, a broker and partner at Richard B. Arnold Real Estate. And since the village has made improvements to the beach and replaced the boardwalk along the shore, these areas have become even more active, says Dan Maddock, village administrator and assessor. This year's project is to increase the size of the beach pavilion, Maddock said.

From cottages to grand Victorians, buyers have a choice of architectural styles and price ranges to chose from, Langone says. More than half the houses - including Queen Annes - were built before 1938 on tight lots along narrow, winding roads. Larger parcels on wider roads are typically found south of Glen Avenue, while houses with water views are along Bay and Prospect avenues. Houses priced right usually sell in three or four months, Sciubba says.

RENTALS It's an active market, says Kristie Werz of Sherlock Homes Realty, with apartments in buildings, cottages and houses. Monthly rents can start at $1,100.

SALES PRICE Since December 2009, there were 45 sales with a median price of $632,500, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low price was $240,000, and the high was $1,750,000. From November 2008 to November 2009, there were 31 sales. The median price was $540,000 with a low of $278,500 and a high of $955,000.

ATTRACTIONS Sea Cliff Village Museum. The minimart arts and crafts fair on the first Sunday of October.

OTHER STATS

Town: Oyster Bay

Area: 1.1 square miles

ZIP code: 11579

Population: 4,795

Median age: 45.5

Median household income: $104,101

Median home value: $636,250*

LIRR time to NYC: 58 to 65 minutes at peak

Monthly ticket: $254

School district: North Shore

SOURCES: Claritas 2009; mlsli.com; Long Island Rail Road;

*Based on sales in the past six months according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island