Long Island and Queens open house weekend

All the planets will be aligned in favor of home buyers this weekend: Historically low interest rates, affordable home prices and the soon-to-expire federal tax credits - up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers, and up to $6,500 for other qualified buyers - will happily collide with the first Long Island and Queens Realtor Open House Weekend.

Hundreds of Realtors' offices across Long Island and Queens will be open, staffed and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Board of Realtors with refreshments, giveaways and lots and lots of open houses.

"We're inviting the public in," says the board's president, Kathy Engel, whose Re/MAX Shores in Oceanside will be marking what began as a local affair and has snowballed into a national event.

The event is aimed at nudging those who are still unsure if they want to buy. "Those tax credits are going to be eliminated at the end of April," says Joseph Mottola, chief executive of the board and of the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. "The goal ... is to move the fence-sitter off the fence."

Here's a sampling of participating communities (more can be found at the board's site, mlsli.com). Follow one of our game plans to make the most of this one-of-a-kind house-hunting event.

FRANKLIN SQUARE

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
"Franklin Square is a nice family neighborhood which is conveniently located within 30 minutes of Manhattan, area beaches, local airports and all of the bridges," says Kathleen Evangelista of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate. "People keep their homes and lawns in perfect condition. There is a large array of shopping. ... There are annual street fairs and the Oktoberfest at the authentic German restaurant Plattduetsche Park."

WHERE TO START
Angela DiLeonardo of Angela DiLeonardo Realty at 833 Hempstead Tpke. in Franklin Square says her office will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. "I will be here to welcome the people and serve them coffee and doughnuts," she says.

WHERE TO EAT
The Greek Corner at 281 Franklin Ave., which serves authentic Greek food at reasonable prices, says Evangelista.

DON'T MISS
The Rath Park complex at 849 Fenworth Blvd., which has an outdoor pool, baseball and football fields and public tennis courts.

OPEN HOUSE GAME PLAN

Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday

1004 SHERMAN DR.

Price: $409,000

Annual taxes: $9,259

History: Since January

Details: This 1950 Cape has three bedrooms and one bathroom and features hardwood floors, crown moldings and a new roof.

Noon to 2 p.m. Sunday

746 DOGWOOD AVE.

Price: $425,000

Annual taxes: $9,713

History: Since February for same price

Details: This 1951 ranch has a new kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an en suite master bath.

2 to 4 p.m. Sunday

1069 JACKSON AVE.

Price: $429,000

Annual taxes: $7,541

History: Came on the market in February for $439,000; price was reduced in March

Details: This 1941 ranch on a 50-by-100-foot lot has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full finished basement and new central air-conditioning.

2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

949 CENTER DR.

Price: $439,000

Annual taxes: $9,493

History: Listed in January for $459,000; price was reduced in March

Details: This 1948 Cape has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The roof, walkway and patio are new.

2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

749 HORATIO AVE.

Price: $435,000

Annual taxes: $8,655

History: Listed since March for same price.

Details: This 1951 ranch has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bath and garage have been updated, and new windows will be installed.

ROSLYN

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
"Roslyn Village is an adorable little old town that people go to for antiquing and walking around, and it has a big, beautiful park," says Bettie Meinel of Century 21 Laffey Associates in Greenvale. The Roslyns consists of East Hills, Roslyn Heights, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Estates and Roslyn.

WHERE TO START
Century 21 Laffey Associates at 55 Northern Blvd. in Greenvale will open at 12:30 p.m. Sunday with brunch, coffee and giveaways: You'll get a map, a chocolate bar, a bottle of water, a notepad and a prequalification on a loan. "I will have a mortgage man on the spot to prequalify buyers at no charge," says executive vice president Joyce Styne.

WHERE TO EAT
Enjoy soup, salad or panini at Diane's Bakery/Cafe on Bryant Avenue.

DON'T MISS
The picturesque duck pond in Roslyn Village and the Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts, which is featuring "Under the Big Top" in its children's museum.

OPEN HOUSE GAME PLAN

1 to 3 p.m. Sunday

7 SHORT DR., ROSLYN

Price: $839,000

Annual taxes: $22,739

History: Since October

Details: This 1952 expanded ranch has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, oak flooring and three fireplaces.

7 THE LOCUSTS, ROSLYN ESTATES

Price: $849,000

Annual taxes: $20,373

History: Listed in January for $1,088,000; reduced in March

Details: This 1939 Colonial has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen and a bonus room.

135 THE CRESCENT

Price: $718,088

Annual taxes: $15,505

History: Since November

Details: The condo at the gated Summit at High Point has two bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, including a master suite with a Jacuzzi. The $740 common charge includes use of pool and tennis courts.

25 DOGWOOD AVE., ROSLYN HARBOR

Price: $850,000

Annual taxes: $18,690

History: Listed in March for $979,000, cut to $898,000

Details: This 1951 ranch has three bedrooms and a full finished basement.

141 WESTWOOD CIRCLE, EAST HILLS

Price: $859,000

Annual taxes: $18,578

History: Listed since February

Details: This 1952 expanded ranch has four bedrooms, vaulted ceilings, skylights, granite floors with radiant heat and a master suite with his-and-hers custom closets.

BAY SHORE

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Bay Shore is known for its Fire Island Ferry terminals and a lively Main Street. Waterfront restaurants like Molly Malone's and Fatfish are the local hot spots, says Matthew Arnold of Netter Real Estate in West Islip. "You can sit out on the deck, take in the sun, see the boats, listen to music and have fun."

WHERE TO START
"We're having coffee and maps and balloons" at Netter Real Estate's West Islip office at 404 Montauk Hwy., says Arnold.

WHERE TO EAT
Arnold suggests the cozy Milk and Sugar Cafe at 49 W. Main St.

DON'T MISS
Gardiner County Park. Follow one of the nature trails down to the Great South Bay, then take a sandy stroll along the beach.

OPEN HOUSE GAME PLAN

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday

1020 OCEAN AVE.

Price: $349,000

Taxes: $7,176

History: Listed in February

Details: This three-bedroom ranch has one bathroom and a heated Florida room.

1048 CASSEL AVE.

Price: $419,900

Annual taxes: $9,718

History: Listed in October for $439,990, then reduced to $429,900 in November and cut again in March

Details: This four-bedroom, two-bathroom Colonial has a den with a European stove and a breezeway to the garage.

1387 PENATAQUIT AVE.

Price: $289,000

Taxes: $8,214

History: Listed in November for $299,000; cut in December

Details: This 1972 three-bedroom ranch has a new kitchen and deck.

1321 ILLINOIS AVE.

Price: $369,900

Annual taxes: $9,270

History: Listed this month

Details: This five-bedroom Colonial has two bathrooms, a new kitchen, and a finished basement with a brick fireplace.

1283 N. SAXON AVE.

Price: $370,000

Taxes: $9,897

History: Listed in February

Details: This 1934 ranch has two bedrooms and three bathrooms, a full finished basement and an in-ground pool.

TAX CREDIT DEADLINE

You must be in contract on a house by April 30 to take advantage of the federal homebuyers' tax credit.

Realtors' role in LI's growth

The Long Island Board of Realtors has played a bigger role than most would guess in the evolution of the suburban lifestyle most Long Islanders take for granted. "The growth of Long Island is inextricably linked to the railroad and the road networks," says the board's chief executive, Joseph Mottola. Over the years, board officials promoted the eastward spread from the city by talking to legislators, publishing a joint publication with the Long Island Rail Road for nearly 40 years and making numerous other contributions - even once purchasing and donating to the state a key piece of property and right of way to expand Sunrise Highway, Mottola says.