Far Rockaway Questions...

Platinum Member Joined: May 06 2007 Posts: 8518

I've posted here about this before, but perhaps someone else has something to say. We are thinking about moving to Far Rockaway, but we don't know much about it. We would like to visit, but those connections, have not yet come to fruition.

But, I still have some questions - we're frum but not yeshivish, is there a community/shul there for us? We're a young family with 2 kids. We know one couple there who is our hashkafa, but she hates FR because she hasn't made friends - that doesn't seem like it would a problem for me. Otherwise, people we have connections with are much "blacker" than we are. Dh wears a srugi and no black and white. I wear jean skirts and tichels. Otherwise, we have no tv, and dh learns daily.

So, would we fit?

Also, do people live in houses? I know it depends where in FR - but do the people like us live near houses? I know someone whose parents live in a house, but they're in the kollel. Everyone I heard about live in a house with 3 units - is that the norm? We're looking to buy a single family house. What do they go for? Which neighborhood should we look at?

TIA
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Platinum Member Joined: Jan 23 2008 Posts: 9074

I PM'd you.

Executive Member Joined: Sep 27 2009 Posts: 492

Feel free to PM me for more info. I know it very well. I hate to sound so narrow, but it probably isn't the place for you. maybe try cedarhurst if you like the gen location.

Posted: Sun, Oct 11 2009, 11:40 pm Post subject: re: Far Rockaway Questions...

I second what southernima said. I know some pple from FR and the guys are black and white. Very nice pple but possibly not what you are looking for. The pple I know all live in one family homes.

Posted: Mon, Oct 12 2009, 3:38 am Post subject: re: Far Rockaway Questions...

I'm no expert on FR, have just stayed with friends there a few times. It's very black and white though from memory there is a Young Israel? And yes people live in houses, everyone I visited there had a house.
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Silver Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 748

Plenty of people there can't afford houses and live in apartments within houses, so it seems like everyone is in a house (yes, I know these people.) It is expensive to either rent or buy, buying starts at about $500k at the bare minimum.

Posted: Mon, Oct 12 2009, 2:26 pm Post subject: re: Far Rockaway Questions...

Try Bayswater. It's sounds more like what you are looking for. It's right next door to far rockaway (you need to go thru a small section of africa first, but it's not a terrible drive), is less black and white than far rockaway, has a pretty young crowd, most families don't have kids over 12 or 13, is a bit cheaper than Far Rockaway (AFAIK) , has an Agudah, Young Israel and bunch of other shteibelach also. You are still close to everything- schools, restaurants, food shopping. It's prettier than Far Rockaway too, with actual grass and trees and right by the bay. My parents live there.

If you have any questions, ask.

Posted: Mon, Oct 12 2009, 3:15 pm Post subject: re: Far Rockaway Questions...

I grew up in far rockaway and live there now so I feel that I have a pretty good handle on the place and I actually disagree with some posters above. although I have not seen too many srugies, far rockaway is definitely not black and white only. it is a mixed crowd and you will find all types. there are yeshivish and also not yeshivish. from the way you described yourself ie not yeshivish but still no tv and machshiv torah, you would fit right in. it is true that you also may want to look in cedarhurst or woodmere as well. bayswater may also be an option (but personally, I disagree that it is prettier than far rockaway. it depends on the area. some are very pretty.) bayswater is also right next to a really bad neighborhood.
as far as housing, most young ppl dont live in nice houses in the prettier areas bec the prices are out of this world. im talking not less than 750k and most are above that. if you are willing to be in a less nice area (and closer to bad neighborhoods) then it will be a little less. the poster who said 500k, please let me know where you found a decent house for that bec id like to know.
as far as which areas you should look in. just look for a decent place that you can afford and that is a convenient location for you (train, shuls you like, etc). there is not specific area for specific type.
please post any other questions and I would be glad to answer.

Gold Member Joined: Mar 23 2007 Posts: 1877 Location: NY

"(you need to go thru a small section of africa first, but it's not a terrible drive)"

Shocked

Please let me be reading that the wrong way....oy
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Posted: Mon, Oct 12 2009, 4:11 pm Post subject:

I kno FR pretty well and I know lots of ppl there. I dont think ive met anyone with a kippah sruga but the ppl I do kno r all very open minded and would accept any and every jew. I think you would find friends there.