Best area of queens to live in for me (sales, apartment)

[n62alpha]

Guys can you tell me which area of queens is:

1) Very multicultural

2) Good amount of shops

3) Easy to commute to big stores like walmart etc.

4) Low crime

5) Houses under 400k

I don't need to commute for work because I work from home.

I'm currently deciding about where to live and am leaning towards new york city because I have heard of the
good public transport.

[skinnayyy]

astoria.

but basically everywhere in queens fits that bill for the most part.

[pokistic]

I don't think Astoria has 'houses' under 400k. Maybe a small apartment. You will have to look at bad areas of Queens if you want a 400K house.

[citylove101]

Jackson Heights Queens would meet these criteria except possibly for housing costs. With some searching I think you could get a good 3 bedroom condo for under $400,000, and easily a 2 bedroom for that. But I don't think you'll find either a townhouse or full single family home in that range. Otherwise Jackson Heights is wildly multicultural, stocked with stores selling goods of dozens of Latin American and Asia countries, safe in terms of violent crime--though some of the commercial areas have some quality of life issues--and a short cab ride from Costco (there are no Wal-Marts anywhere in the five boroughs of NYC). It's also well-served by pubic transit subways and buses.

[n62alpha]

Originally Posted by pokistic

I don't think Astoria has 'houses' under 400k. Maybe a small apartment. You will have to look at bad areas of Queens if you want a 400K house.

I'm willing to take my budget up to 700-800k but what my worry is that some time in the future property taxes will go up and I will no longer be able to pay my bill. What do you think is this worry unfounded? As I understand it new york has a debt crisis so could property taxes go up?

[Andysocks]

Originally Posted by n62alpha

5) Houses under 400k

I don't need to commute for work because I work from home.

I'm currently deciding about where to live and am leaning towards new york city because I have heard of the
good public transport.

Honestly, I don't know how many houses under 400K exist in Queens unless you're looking at S. Ozone or S. Jamaica, which have atrocious public transportation, unless you're willing to count condos and/or 2BR shacks.

[n62alpha]

By the way how much are property taxes in queens? Using an online estimator it says if I buy a 800k house my property taxes will be $4400. is this about right?

[citylove101]

Originally Posted by n62alpha

I'm willing to take my budget up to 700-800k but what my worry is that some time in the future property taxes will go up and I will no longer be able to pay my bill. What do you think is this worry unfounded? As I understand it new york has a debt crisis so could property taxes go up?

Taxes will always go up, whether you live in the city or the 'burbs. I think it safe to count on that no matter where you are, though I understand not wanting to get in over your head. And remember, for the same price house/condo, you usually pay lower taxes on property in NYC than in the suburbs. ( And you also get what you pay for some people would argue).

If you are willing to up your budget, however, it will be much easier for you to find something nice in Jackson Heights. And you are South Asian, right? You would find a very large and active South Asian community in this neighborhood, along with many other ethnic groups living there. In your other post you also asked about schools, and in NYC they are all zoned at the elementary level. But many in Jackson Heights have a good reputation I've heard. BUt no first-hand knowledge of that.

[skinnayyy]

Originally Posted by pokistic

I don't think Astoria has 'houses' under 400k. Maybe a small apartment. You will have to look at bad areas of Queens if you want a 400K house.

Yeah when house was said, i just took that as place to live, not necessarily an actual house.

[jcoltrane]

Originally Posted by n62alpha

I'm willing to take my budget up to 700-800k but what my worry is that some time in the future property taxes will go up and I will no longer be able to pay my bill. What do you think is this worry unfounded? As I understand it new york has a debt crisis so could property taxes go up?

It would appear that you really need to take time and do some homework, as it seems you don't have a real comprehension of NYC and/or Queens.

There are no $400K houses worth purchasing, in low crime areas. If there were, everyone would move there, driving up the prices! There are coops and/or condos which you can find in various neighborhoods. Your revised budget is more realistic.

NYC has the least debt issue of any large municpality, and frankily due to Mayor Bloomberg's good financial stewardship, NYC's financial health exceeds that of virtually all municipalities in the country. That said, NYC is not totally immune to the recession, but fortunately is suffering the least, again, of all municipalities.

Upon the issue of property taxes, you need to do your homework, as it would appear that you are unaware that NYC has the lowest property taxes in the region, and likely, comparatively, the lowest property taxes in the country, particularly given the services provided. NYC, unlike virtually all other municipalities (and states), relies primarily upon Commercial/Business property taxes to fund government, while most municipalities rely almost solely upon *residential* property taxes. NYC can do this as a consequence of its overwhelmingly large business and commercial community.

NYC has virtually, if not literally, the lowest residential property taxes (comparatively) in the country. NYC also has a Sales tax and an Income tax. So, while there might in the future be some rise in residential property taxes, your *fears* of some devasting effect is unfounded!!

****

Btw, there are no Walmarts within the five boroughs of NYC. You would have to travel into the suburban regions of LI, NJ, and/or Westchester County, in other words, outside of NYC.

Lastly, Queens is not the most convenient to public transportation, as at least half the borough is in a two fare zone, requiiring commuters to travel by bus to reach the subway.

Queens has a dual personality, with the Western half is primarily an urban area of high density and apartment buildings in and among smallish attached and semi attached homes.

Eastern Queens is a lower density semi suburban to very suburban area of detached homes with lawns and garages. Most of which exists in a two fare zone.

The entirety of Queens is a multicultural zone. Some neighborhoods contain a predomince of certain ethnicities and/or races.

I suggest you do your homework, then return with more substantive and relevant questions.