Babylon house for sale retains 1890s quirks, renovated with modern touches
This 1895 Babylon home is on the market for nearly $1.2 million. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
In the early 2000s, Michael Milano and his wife, Carmella, put money down on a house in Lloyd Harbor. When the deal fell through, Michael rushed home from work in search of a Newsday clipping that featured a different home in Babylon.
"We dug through the garbage, found the picture, and there it was," he said. "I said, 'Let's go find this house.'"
Having made the purchase about 25 years ago, Michael and Carmella are now selling the three-bedroom, 2½-bath home on the market. Listed for $1.199 million, the 0.38-acre parcel includes the main house and a detached garage.
Taxes on the property, which falls within the Babylon Union Free School District, total $17,133.
"The whole house has been pretty much renovated," Michael said. "I did a lot of the work, but then had professionals come in to do other stuff."
During renovations, the owners maintained original details and quirks, like angled walls and crooked floors. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
In making changes to the home, which property records show was built in 1895, Michael said he worked to maintain as much of its original character as possible. Quirks like crooked floors and angled walls are "kind of to be expected," he said, in a home that is over 100 years old.
The house has three bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
"If you're looking for straight floors, this is not the house for you," said listing agent Eliot Lonardo, of Signature Premier Properties.
But the house has many updated features, Lonardo said. Renovations have included updated bathrooms, natural gas heating and cooking systems, sewers, siding and the roof, he said.
The kitchen. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
In a sea of Capes, ranches and Colonials, Lonardo said this house was different.
"Out of all the homes that I have sold in my career, this one is probably one of my top five favorites because it's not your everyday house," said Lonardo, who has been working in real estate for 22 years. "It has charm and character."
The century-old house sits on a 0.38-acre property. Credit: Tim Hill Photo
On December 29, 2000, Newsday featured the house as its "Home of the Week." At that time, the sellers were Maxine and Skot Siegler, according to the clipping that led the Milanos to the home.
Listed for $425,000 with a tax rate of $6,900, the home was branded an "1852 converted carriage house." Newsday in 2026 has not found documentation of the home's history as a carriage house, and the reason for the discrepancy in build year is unclear.
One consistency, though, is the description of the floors.
"The sloping, pumpkin-colored pine flooring and the aged moldings all add to the charm of the house, noted the the Sieglers,"the story read.
Arielle Dollinger joined Newsday as a staff reporter in 2022. Previously, she covered local and national news as a freelancer for The New York Times, Newsday and other outlets.
