Home affordability?... Consult the crystal ball

Our trip to Riverdale raised a bunch of questions for Lyle and I regarding what we can afford. In the world of home ownership, it can be extremely difficult to predict the universe of potential expenses vs. the money you can expect to get back with tax deductions. When it comes to a single family house, it's relatively basic. You buy a house, you have a mortgage. With a condominium or co-op it can get a little more complicated when you consider high monthly maintenance fees. But how much can we really afford? What's considered tax deductible and what isn't? Walking around the Costco, I consulted my Mom and brother, both accountants, one thirty years and one for three, to get answers.

The basic breakdown is this, if you itemize your tax return you can deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage and the annual taxes you need to pay on the property. Those are the two heavy hitters. There are also a number of other tax breaks available when owning a home, although it is important to keep in mind the difference between tax deductions and tax credits. What I didn't realize was that you could adjust your withholding with your employer to increase your take home pay throughout the year, post home purchase. You don't need to wait until filing time to see some of that savings. 

As for those monthly maintenance fees Lyle and I heard of on our Riverdale walkabout, the percentage of what's tax deductible is only based on a portion of the maintenance that is used to pay real estate taxes and interest on the building's underlying mortgage. The common charges that go to upkeep of the building and many other things like liability insurance, snow removal, doorman, etc. are not.

So the question remains, how much house can Lyle and I afford? I consulted a couple of web-based fortune-tellers. Zillow's Affordability Calculator said $650,000, which seems wow! unbelievably high. This simple calculator didn't take into consideration location, potential property taxes, etc. The word 'affordability' should be nowhere on the page. $650,000 is out of the question.

Trulia's 'How much home can I afford' calculator put us at $500,000, although I definitely took a shot-in-the-dark guess at potential property taxes and homeowner's insurance.

The NYTimes offers an interactive 'Is it better to rent or buy' calculator, which I thiiiiink told me it would be better for us to buy, although I'm not sure I had enough reliable data to have a true output.

So I decided I needed some clairvoyance. On Sunday, my mom, brother, aunt, grandmother and I, went to the Art Association of Harrisburg to attend a gallery reading of William Stillman, psychic and spiritual counselor. According to Bill, we did make contact with my grandfather, who has passed, but unfortunately Poppop didn't have anything pressing to communicate about my future home ownership. Zero predictions on what we'll be comfortable spending. I guess Lyle and I will have to do it the old fashioned way and call up a real professional, a mortgage lender.  

A view of the Hudson...Riverdale, Bronx

Lyle and I have been having lots of fun over the past few weeks, heading out of town for weddings, a birthday celebration and my epic ladycation. But this weekend we took this community search back to its roots with an inquiry into a neighborhood commutable to our current jobs and offering affordable prices. So over the RFK Bridge we went, to the Bronx. 

We chose to explore Riverdale based on the recommendation of many friends. We've heard nothing but good things about the northern most point of New York City and have long been looking forward to the trip. Our commute time would be just over an hour to our respective offices, and with easy access to the George Washington Bridge, it's also a snap to get out of the City and head west into NJ.

Being realistic, we decided not to peruse the multi-million dollar houses of Fieldston. Instead we attended multiple open houses for 2- and 3-bedroom condos. Now, I've said before that I'm still holding on to the prospect of a single family detached house, but in the interest of keeping an open mind, why not check out what a full service building would have to offer? 

True, some of the buildings we visited were a little dated, but for $250,000 - $400,000 you can get some serious perks. Many buildings have 24-hour doormen and gym facilities. A couple even have outdoor pools for summer fun. Can't be fooled though, the purchase price doesn't include monthly maintenance fees that can range anywhere from $800 - $1,400. Sounds scary, but up to half of those fees, we were assured, are tax deductible. Lyle and I have lots of questions regarding itemized deductions while owning. Stay tuned next week when I get to the bottom of home ownership and taxes with my favorite accountant... Mom!

4901 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 9J; $349,000 with $1,312/month maintenance 

4555 Henry Hudson Pkwy, A508; $365,000 with $1,038/month maintenance

3850 Hudson Manor Terrace, 4-GE; $318,500 with $1,219/month maintenance

4525 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 503; $499,000 with unknown monthly maintenance 

4555 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 805; $275,000 with $1,064/month maintenance 

Our walk around Riverdale proved a little difficult. It's not exactly as pedestrian friendly as I had expected. Very hilly, not many sidewalks and "the park" along the Hudson River was more like a forest hike than a beautiful river walk. Don't get me wrong, we were impressed, just not as enamored as we would have hoped. 

You can tell there is a strong sense of community among its residents. While inside buildings, doormen were chatting with tenants, kids from different units were coming in together after playing outside, heck, we even ran into people on the street who, after seeing the open house flyer in my hand, stopped us to ask how the apartment was. 

George, an actor, and Sharon, a physical therapist, have lived in Riverdale for twenty years. On their way to see a classical concert at Wave Hill, they were checking out an apartment or two. George summed up the day. He said, "Riverdale isn't Manhattan. I miss it, the bustle, but I've come to respect it here." He shrugs...

Home is where family is... Harrisburg, PA

From Left: Uncle Karl, Diane (Mom!), Nana, Aunt Carla, Aunt Lynn (Mother-of-the-Groom) and Uncle Rudy

Lyle and I with my brother, Sam

I have to admit, there's a part of me that yearns for adventure. I've romanticized the notion of moving halfway across the world and defining myself as a free-spirited expatriate. Giving my bi-lingual children the opportunity for dual-citizenship seems a smart option given the global nature of the world today. And who wouldn't well-cultured kiddos? But then I spend a weekend like this one, hanging with my family, and I can't imagine moving so far away. Lyle and I are fortunate enough to both have family relatively close to each other. Mine in Harrisburg, PA and his in West Orange, NJ. All within a four-hour drive or less, we're lucky to see them often. 

I elongated the weekend by leaving on Thursday and kicked off the fun with a mother-daughter Paint Nite at Gullifitys. Forty-six ladies all being instructed to replicate the same sample painting. Throw in some pineapple upside-down cocktails (the special for the evening) and all of us felt like artists. We had a great time and I'd certainly recommend the activity to creatives and non-creatives alike. ;o)

The following evening my cousin got married at Meredith Manor in Pottstown, PA. A gazebo, oodles of twinkle lights and the setting sun were the perfect backdrop to a wonderful evening full of love, laughter and dancing! 

I have thought about what it would be like to move back to Pennsylvania. John Ed Pearce said it best, "Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to." My parents recently sold my childhood home and moved into a brand new townhouse less than five miles from the first house. They're loving their new digs. First floor master suite and laundry, view of the Appalachian Mountains and the HOA fees cover all lawn care and snow removal. 

Since its a new development, houses continue to be built around theirs. I attended an open house for a model home identical to my parents. I admit my trip was as much about reconnaissance for Mom as for the post. My parents want to know they made the right investment. Turns out they did! According to the following numbers, they're hopeful that they have accrued up to $15,000 in equity within less than two years of moving in.

These 2,000 sf townhouses start at $240,000 and easily creep to $280,000 with upgrades. The HOA is $95 a month, in my opinion well worth it to cover all your outdoor needs. Chris, the realtor and my tour guide, did mention a number of other townhome developments being built in the Harrisburg area. Via the website, Classic Communities, you can view over twenty developments ranging in price from $160,000 - $450,000.

Although I don't think Lyle and I will be purchasing a townhouse in the central PA region anytime soon. We did have a relaxing, fun weekend with family. We realize that many things about NYC make it the best of both worlds. A global hub, with all the diversity and pizzazz that competes with any city in the world AND family being no more than 150 miles away. Perhaps we should continue to stay put? 

Millennials and home ownership, oil and water

It's a disappointing statistic, only 36% of people under the age of 35 own their home. Published by The Atlantic today, Gillian White's article touts a familiar refrain, Millennials just aren't buying property! And it's not for lack of wanting, but rather that pesky down payment. White makes a disheartening point that even when young people can take advantage of low down payment programs, they often are not competitive against offers with more cash up front. 

With the average age of first-time home buyers creeping up to 32-34, at least Lyle and I can take comfort in that we're not alone. Maybe we should start a disadvantaged-down-payment support group? Gillian White looks to be a Millennial herself. Perhaps she could take up the position of secretary?

I'm not sure what I'm more bothered by, the constant publication of the Millennial's unsuccessful plight towards adulthood or the fact that I'm categorized as one of them.

Homecoming ladycation... Indiana, PA

You know you're in western Pennsylvania when: 

Your alma mater's co-op store stocks branded items in camo; 

Placemats in restaurants feature a "Hunt Safely" caution; 

The mall has walls covered in Vera Bradley;

Annnd, the name of the game is to wear the biggest hoops you can find when heading out with your ladies! 

I couldn't have had a better time celebrating IUP's homecoming with three of my closest college girlfriends, Megan, Allie and Hannah. It was an actual homecoming of sorts for me. I haven't been back on the campus in eight years and there's certainly been changes. Both my freshman and sophomore dorms have been demolished to make way for new "luxury" dormitories. Two of the academic buildings I spent countless hours in, Waller and Fisher, have merged to make one mega-building. (Although, I must admit I'm not a fan of the utterly insensitive intervention.) And the University's mascot has changed to a Crimson Hawk!

That said, much has remained the same in Indiana, and we all reminisced in our favorite Chinese restaurant, Kim Moon, enjoyed the floats and entertainment of the homecoming parade, strolled by our former off-campus apartments and channeled our college-selves at Wolfies and The Coney.

While steeping myself in nostalgia, I wondered what would have happened if I stayed? This "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" is the birthplace of Jimmy Stewart, home to The Meadows (the pumpkin custard is boss) and of course Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the largest of PA's fourteen state schools. Sixty miles east of Pittsburgh, Indiana is officially part of the Steel City's metropolitan area, although to be in this sleepy college town you'd never know it.

I drooled over the price of houses here. Ranging generally from $130,000 - $160,000, affordability is certainly a plus. Downtown Indiana was declared a National Historic District in 1993, with eighty-six contributing properties representing Italiante and Queen Anne styles. The homes overlooking downtown, atop Vinegar Hill, are large and plantation-like. Beautiful to say the least. 

Top left: 1358 Washington St., $118,000; Bottom Left: 1438 Church St., $139,900; Top Right: 1165 Church St., $137,900; Bottom Right: 920 Chestnut St., $134,000

Left: 703 Water St., $160,000; Bottom Right: 145 N. 7th St., $595,000

Come Sunday afternoon the spell had been broken and I came to the realization that I was happy to be heading home to New York. Even the lure of affordable, adorable houses doesn't change the fact that we would be relocating to Indiana, PA. Hardly the creative hotbed for a graphic deisgner and architectural marketer... but surely the perfect place for Ladycation 2014!

UPDATE: New house and a newborn

On Sept. 14, I posted about my trip to Manalapan, NJ to celebrate the upcoming arrival of my friend Jacqueline's first child. Well, he's arrived! Dylan was born early Wednesday morning at 7lbs 1oz. Congratulations to Jacqueline and Dean!!! I can't wait to meet the little guy.

To view the original post about the Dr. Seuss-themed shower and the couple's newly renovated house in Manalapan click here. 

Celebrating in the suburbs... Bridgewater, NJ

453 State Rout 28, Bridgewater, NJ; $424,999

22 Elmara Drive, Bridgewater, NJ; $549,000

Lyle and I both grew up in the suburbs, he in a suburb of New York City and me in a suburb of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Although we've both been living in NYC for almost a decade, we often ask ourselves if heading out of the city would be the right choice for us.

I align family and success with the owning of a home. Growing up, condo/apartment living didn't cross my mind as an option. The longer I stay in the city the more I realize that a condo can be as much of a home as a house, but that suburban-raised part of me is still very much interested in the prospect of a single-family house amongst cul-de-sacs and country clubs with a front porch, a garage and backyard with a bbq.

In April, Joseph Berger wrote an article for the NYTimes that described the sharp decline of young adults moving to the suburbs. Many are staying in the city, as a generation is "becoming drawn to denser, more compact urban environments that offer a number of amenities within walking distance of where they live." 

That's exactly our hesitation with moving out to suburbia. Would we be able to give up the walkability? The numerous public transportation options? Heck, the oodles of restaurants on Seamless??? 

That said, our community search would not be complete unless we understand what these peripheral communities have to offer. So when Lyle and I traveled to Bridgewater, New Jersey last weekend for the wedding of our friends, Veronica and Ryan, we thought we'd give the neighborhood a drive.  

Left: 7 Jenna Dr., $475,000; Top Right: 2 Bogart Dr., $629,000; Bottom Right: 2 Danberry Ln., $539,000 

Bridgewater is in central, northern New Jersey about fifty miles from midtown Manhattan. It's the quintessential suburb, with organized streets and well-manicured lawns. Volvos and Mercedes are parked in the driveways of these semi-affordable homes. Although we can appreciate the stable comfort these suburban neighborhoods can offer, something about the ticky tacky just doesn't give us jazz hands. 

Although our hands weren't jazzy, our feet certainly were at the Raritan Vallery Country Club. Later that day, we had an amazing time celebrating Veronique and Ryan and dancing the afternoon away!

BirthDia... Beacon, NY

To celebrate Lyle's birthday, I invited our friends Rebecca and Chris to come with us and check out the fabled Dia:Beacon. A converted Nabisco box-printing factory, the space opened in 2003 and houses the Dia Art Foundation's collection from the 1960s and 70s. Dia was one of the first institutions to make the conversion of industrial space into gallery space fashionable and Lyle and I have been talking about visiting for years. With the weather slated to be a perfect 75 degrees, I couldn't think of a better way to say "Happy Birthday!" 

Rebecca and Chris brought their one-year-old son, Avery, who thoroughly enjoyed Richard Serra's monumental steel sculptures, Torqued Ellipses, and the outdoor gardens. Newly mobile, he loved walking around the immense space Dia:Beacon has to offer. Who knows? Maybe this first gallery visit will be the precipice for an artist in the making.

An afternoon of art was followed by an adventure on Main Street. Unfortunately, many of Beacon's adorable shops closed at 6pm and we missed out on Dream in Plastic, Get Frosted Cupcakery and Alps Sweet Shop. Lucky for us though, Denning's Point Distillery was conducting tours and tastings until 8pm. This two-week-old distillery is producing vodka and rye from scratch. 

The tasting was enjoyable and educational. Who knew that there were so many criteria to categorize a whiskey a bourbon? We got in on the ground level, purchasing a bottle of vodka that literally notes its standing as part of batch #1.

We ended the evening at Tito Santana, a taqueria with killer catfish tacos and Single Cut on draft. 

The day didn't include a walkabout of for-sale homes, but peering off Main Street you can see many moderate sized homes huddled around this main drag. Highly affordable, there's been a recent population influx to Beacon. A diverse community off the Metro North Line, many-a-hipster has relocated up the Hudson to take part in the entrepreneurial community. Homes generally range from $150,000 - $275,000. 

I thought Lyle and I would be just as smitten with Beacon as we were with its neighbor, Cold Spring. But as cute as Beacon was, Cold Spring offered more of the historic charm we can't help but love. Perhaps we'll keep Beacon on the 'just visiting' list. 

Northbound nuptials... Cold Spring, NY

Camp out! Lyle and I headed into the Adirondacks this past weekend to attend the wedding of our friends, Minou and Nate, at Chestertown's Forest Lake Camp. The Brooklyn-based couple rented out the full 800 acres for the entire weekend giving us guests the opportunity to enjoy all the amenities summer camp has to offer, from paddle boats to skeet shooting, softball to tether ball, bonfires to sing-alongs. 

But before we took up residence in Girls' Bunk #5, Lyle and I made a pitstop on our journey north in Cold Spring, a historic village that sits directly on the Hudson River. A stop on the Metro-North Line, theoretically we could commute into NYC from this picturesque mountain town, although door-to-door could be two hours or more. 

19th-century homes sit on small, neighborly lots in what some would consider the cutest community within the state. Many of these houses are included on the National Register of Historic Places, something to consider before purchasing as the homeowner would need to navigate the rules and regulations put in place by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) before altering the home in anyway. Although I must say, why anyone would want to drastically change something that is already so gorgeous is beyond my understanding.

Left: 18 Morris Ave., $395,000; Top Right: 26 Rock St., $349,000; Bottom Right: 207 Main St., $675,000

Outside the central village, properties are available with a bit more land. Rustic design abounds, an aesthetic Lyle and I gravitate towards. 

Top Left: 341 E. Mountain Rd., $419,000; Bottom Left: 11 Old Postal Rd., $394,500; Right: 3 Downy Lane, $419,000

After swooning over charming homes and consuming a lobster roll at Hudson House, we hit the road. Although it isn't full leaf-peeping season yet, the drive towards Lake George was beautiful nonetheless. By the time we got to camp the festivities were in full swing. Dinner in the mess hall was followed by s'mores and 90s hits played on acoustic guitar by a roaring fire. 

Bunks did have electricity and running water, but wow the wilderness is cold. My three blankets and two pairs of pants barely got me through.

The wedding followed the next day, but not before a softball game and skeet shooting. Lyle snagged two of his five skeet. I nabbed none (although the instructor did compliment my form and tell me I was ever so close). 

Absolutely stunning, Minou and Nate exchanged their vows with the majestic Adirondack Mountains as their witness. A wedding for the books and weekend certainly worth writing about.

Is independence becoming obsolete?

On Friday, Bloomberg.com published an article noting that the hot lending institution for first time home buyers is none other than good ol' Mom and Dad. The percentage of newbies to the housing market that received cash gifts from relatives for their down payment continues to rise, to a significant 27% in fact.

The author, Michelle Jamrisko, contributes this growing number of gift acceptors to "student debt, tough entry into the job market and stricter mortgage lending rules." I fear that circumstance is playing a critical role in the obsolescence of independence. Why would anyone work to save, when cash can just magically appear? (to the tune of $14,000 per parent without tax repercussions)

The Federal Reserve's 2013 report on the economic wellbeing of households noted the "inability to come up with a down payment as the top reason for renting." Sounds to me like the 73% of us who don't have the ability, or frankly the desire, to ask for money from our families are stuck on the rental wagon.

The really sad part of all this is that it's a recipe for furthering the economic divide. As the "haves" accumulate real estate equity built upon their parents' wealth, the "have nots" will be continuing to throw rental money into the ether. And what happens to our children who will be born to a generation that didn't have to fend for themselves? 

I suppose the honest question here is Where'sMy.DownPayment???

Heading for home base... Flushing, Queens

My dad's a big baseball fan and what better way to spend a September Sunday than at Citi Field out in Flushing? Although the Mets didn't bring home the big W, Lyle and I had a fabulous time with my parents eating sausage, drinking beer and hoping that the apple would have a reason to rise out of its hiding place at the end of the field.  

Realizing that my experience in Flushing has been limited to baseball, dumplings and the ever famous Spa Castle*, I thought an exploration of the Flushing American Dream was warranted prior to enjoying America's favorite pass time.   

So I took the 7 train to the very last stop and exited into what feels like another country. Although Flushing's Main Street is an American thoroughfare, it shockingly resembles the streets of China. Oddly, what I didn't expect was to find myself in colonial America after only walking a short twenty minutes from the station. Charming turn of the century houses are situated on semi-tight lots. Sadly, my hopes for affordability were quickly dashed. Properties here can go for anywhere from $750,000 up to $1,500,000.

Upper Left: 3430 150th Pl., $1,299,000; Lower Left: 3233 156th St., $859,999; Right: 3217 156th St., $788,000

I did end up attending an open house for a 4-br, 3-bath home one block from the adorable Bowne Park. Built in the 1930s, this home did not lack the charisma a home of this era tends to provide, but at a listing price of $878,000, it certainly could hurt the wallet. 

Although Lyle and I won't be able to consider this neighborhood based on price alone, I didn't come back to Astoria empty handed. Walking back onto Main Street, I was sure to pick up a bubble tea and some steamed pork buns. At $2.50 for six, those buns were the only good deal I could find all day. Lyle and our friend, Chris, certainly weren't disappointed. 

*Footnote: If you haven't been to Spa Castle already, it is 100% worth the journey to the end of the 7 line and beyond to get to this magical place. A mere $50 is the admission price for this urban resort, featuring eight saunas, five pools and the promise of major relaxation. 

New house and a newborn... Manalapan, NJ

Last weekend I attended my good friend, Jacqueline's, Dr. Seuss-themed baby shower. She recently moved to Manalapan, New Jersey with her husband Dean and lucky for me the shower was at her newly renovated home, so I got to celebrate the pending new arrival and check out the new digs all at the same time. 

Jacqueline and I have known each other for over five years. We used to work literally two feet from one another and I've been privileged to watch her relationship with Dean grow from the beginning. Last year, Lyle and I boarded a plane to Aruba to take part in their quintessentially beautiful beach wedding. Right out of a bridal magazine, Jacqueline was a picture perfect bride and Lyle and I had a blast spending a few days hanging Caribbean style.

Jacqueline and Dean's Aruban wedding, August 2013

Within six months of the wedding, the two found out they were expecting a new family addition and quickly moved from their Staten Island rental into the 5-br, 2.5-bath house in Manalapan. I remember many a lunch date with her waffling on whether Jersey was the right choice, but with a renovation promise from a husband who owns his own contracting business and a need for space, it wasn't long before she crossed the river. 

The couple is currently in an eighteen-month lease with the option to purchase contract, giving them enough time to get their ducks in a row before buying. This can certainly be a great option for people looking to own, but for one reason or another can't at a particular moment. This type of agreement gives the tenant the right, but not the obligation, to purchase their home at the end of the lease. Jacqueline and Dean definitely plan on purchasing this house they've certainly made their home.

I had never been to Manalapan, so prior to the shower I drove around a little to get a taste of the neighborhood flavor. The name Manalapan is derived from a word in the Lenape language meaning "good land to settle upon," and it's easy to see why it has stuck. The town is full of suburban tree-lined streets and houses surrounded by sizable properties. Prices are affordable, but if you're working in Manhattan the commute is extensive, easily taking two hours or more. 

Upper Left: 14 Sugar Maple Ave., $400,000; Lower Left: 4 Colleen Ct., $669,900; Right: 15 Juniper Ave., $380,000

Although we ended up being rained out of the backyard party, it was a fabulous day highlighted by the entertainment. What lady has a quartet at her baby shower??? Adorable.

Save in Tenafly... Buy in "Bloomingdales East"

Anne Gole, a 20-something new Manhattan home owner; Linda Jaquez for the NYTimes

Today a co-worker sent me a NYTimes article profiling one of her high school classmates, Anne Gole. Anne is a 2011 graduate of Binghamton University who recently bought a 1-br apartment in Manhattan's Upper East Side for $426,000. The article describes her plight, searching for the perfect home. When she found it, she put 35% down ($149,000), spent $30,000 on renovations and now pays a monthly maintenance fee of $1,000 in addition to her mortgage.

You may wonder how she did it. Apparently she "saved, saved, saved" by living with her parents in Tenafly, New Jersey for years while she worked at a large financial services company in Times Square. Moving in with your parents after college has become a frequent refrain for the recent graduate and choosing this option (if you should be so lucky to have parents within commuting distance) is certainly one of the very few ways a young person can gather enough scratch to make buying, or heck even renting, a real possibility. 

Anne's building in the East 60s; Linda Jaquez for the NYTimes

I must admit that when reading the article I felt sorry for her. To have sacrificed so much to get so little seems wrong somehow. For the past three years, her prime fun-having 20s years, she's been doing the middle-age shuffle to the suburbs, commuting three hours a day. You would think that after all this time of living with mom and dad, nickel and diming and saving enough money to purchase a half-million dollar property that she could get a little more than a 1-br apartment where the luxury amenity is that the window faces the street and not the back of the building.

Some would tell me I'm out of mind and that Anne has made the investment of a lifetime in one of the world's most competitive real estate markets. It's true that Anne's discipline should be commended. She had a dream, she went for it and she conquered it. I just can't help but be massively disappointed by how unattainable New York City has become. I love it here, but if this is how to snag a piece of Manhattan, I'll forfeit to Anne.

A beachfront bungalow?... Belle Harbor, Queens

Lyle and I celebrated Labor Day by heading to the Rockaways, a neighborhood in Queens known for sand and surf. We love spending summer days out here, soaking up the sun's rays and reminding ourselves that we actually do live in a coastal community (a point easily forgotten when work days are spent among suits and skyscrapers). 

On this trip we thought it could be fun to consider living seaside and check out the surrounding residential area. Focusing on Beach 116th Street to Beach 130th Street, we strolled the line between what is officially Rockaway Park and Belle Harbor. 

Superstorm Sandy's effects are still visible here, but if you can get behind the current effort to build a resilient homestead, there are plenty of absolutely gorgeous properties for sale at somewhat reasonable prices. 

It's easy to see why residents are committed to rebuilding. We certainly fell in love with the colonial and tudor homes boasting wrap around porches and well manicured lawns. It's hard not to imagine a couple of kids ridin' on beach cruisers and a pup trotting in tow. 

Upper Left: 214 Beach 117th St., $299,990; Lower Left: 541 Beach 130th St., $699,000; Right: 249 Beach 117th St., $649,000

After walking around in the heat, we worked up an appetite and headed back towards the beach at 106th Street where we got a bite and a beer at Caracas. Hyped on summer sun and house dreams, we were quick to take out our phones and learn more. Turns out the K-8 public school, PS 114, has great school ratings and reviews. Over the summer months no street parking is allowed, basically guaranteeing beach exclusivity for the residents. Even the possibility of a lengthy 90-minute commute couldn't bring down our salt water high. 

Hanging on the beach, toes in the sand, we were ready to call up rockaprop. This is definitely a neighborhood to keep on list and come back to visit in the winter months, when the romance of summer has faded away. After all, Lyle said it, "Exactly where we were is exactly where we want to be." 

The hunt begins at home... Astoria, Queens

What better place to start our hunt for a home other than where we currently are? Lyle and I have lived in our 650 sf, 2-br rental apartment in Astoria, Queens for eight years. We pay $1855 a month for our 'cozy' abode and I've been told that's a steal. Comparable apartments within a two block radius are currently listed around $2,200-$2,400 a month.

Wikipedia defines Astoria as a "middle class and commercial neighborhood" and I suppose that's true. Western Queens is a far cry from the urbanites of Manhattan and the hipsters of Brooklyn, although our neighbor, Long Island City, is certainly making a go at closing the gap.

Not as far north as Astoria proper, our apartment borders on the southern end of the neighborhood and our daily hangouts are pretty much within a ten-block radius. There's definitely more to this neighborhood than the tried and true Bohemian Hall Beer Garden. Fabulous restaurants (Brick Cafe, Queens Comfort, Il Bambino and Queens Kickshaw to name a few) and great nightlife (The Strand, Astoria Bier and Cheese and Studio Square, where Lyle and I had our wedding!) make Astoria appealing to young professionals unwilling to pay the exorbitant rental prices of neighboring boroughs.

Lyle and I like to advantage of Astoria Park, one of the largest open spaces within Queens, to host our annual Memorial Day Picnic. The park boasts the city's oldest and largest public swimming pool for those of you looking to escape the sun on a hot summer day. Be forewarned, my limited experience with the pool was certainly an education in NYC bureaucracy. Don't forget your lock and be prepared to leave all your worldly belongings behind. 

Although living here has been great, we realize that our family will eventually need more space. We would like our first home to be a single family detached or townhome and while we haven't ruled out condo living, our heart is initially set on a house. Many of the row homes in Astoria have been owned by families for generations and have, over the years, been converted to multi-family dwellings. There is limited inventory and what is available can easily go for $800,000 all the way up to a few million. Needless to say, even if we thought this was the place for us, Lyle and I absolutely cannot afford to buy here. And so the hunt officially begins...