The Long Island real estate market offers plenty of great properties, still at reasonable prices. Everyone from families to young professionals are looking into Long Island as an affordable alternative to Manhattan and the rising costs of living in New York City. If you're interested in this area, we offer comprehensive search tools to help you find the ideal place to call home.

Many people are drawn to the "neighborhood" feel of Long Island. With restaurants and shopping within walking distance, this is a great location for families and professional couples. Many parents are enticed by Long Island's school districts. These smaller districts - as opposed to the mammoth districts in other parts of the country - are considered to be some of the best in the nation.

Nassau and Suffolk are the two main counties of Long Island, with Queens and Brooklyn/Kings County being considered part of New York City by most residents. Nassau tends to offers more residential options than Suffolk County. In Nassau, the home ownership rate is over 80 percent, with the average home price running about $540,000. In contrast, the home ownership rate in Suffolk is equivalent to that in Nassau, but the average home price is only about $400,00. (For further comparison, the home ownership rate in Queens tops out around 40 percent, with average homes costing near $375,000.) However, all properties are appreciating at about the same rate--12 to 14 percent each year.

In terms of prices, the entire Long Island area is experiencing the typical effects of gentrification. Prices are increasing, but not exponentially. This is a natural market rise due to demand, meaning that this appreciation is natural--there is no inflated "bubble" to burst. The number of homes on the market has also increased--last year saw a 14 percent increase, and the trend has continued this year. If you're interested in moving to Long Island, please use our easy search tools to narrow down your property options and get started.