{"id":22625,"date":"2025-09-11T08:34:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/09\/11\/downsizing-to-a-long-island-condo\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T08:34:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:34:57","slug":"downsizing-to-a-long-island-condo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/new-york\/2025\/09\/11\/downsizing-to-a-long-island-condo\/","title":{"rendered":"Downsizing to a Long Island Condo"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Couple’s Journey to Downsize on Long Island’s North Shore<\/h1>\n

Introduction to the Toths<\/h2>\n

Maria and Pat Toth met while working at a home improvement store, Pergament Home Center, in Port Jefferson, the village on the North Shore of Long Island. It was 1978. \u201cShe was the wallpaper girl and I was the third man \u2014 there\u2019s the manager and assistant manager and third man,\u201d Mr. Toth said.<\/p>\n

Their Life and Decision to Downsize<\/h2>\n

They married, bought a ranch in the South Shore hamlet of Shirley, N.Y., and later traded up to a raised ranch in Coram, a few miles south of Port Jefferson. By then, she was a special-education teacher and he was in sales.<\/p>\n

Reasons for Downsizing<\/h3>\n

\u201cAs I was getting close to retirement, the discussion we had was: We can\u2019t live in this house anymore,\u201d said Ms. Toth, 68. \u201cIt was just too big.\u201d The 13 stairs from the front door to the kitchen were fine when the Toths entered empty-handed, but not so great when they had groceries and cat litter to haul. They also were tired of maintaining the yard and the above-ground pool.<\/p>\n

Desire for Community and Family Proximity<\/h3>\n

What\u2019s more, Ms. Toth said, \u201cI felt isolated from my family.\u201d She longed to return to Port Jefferson, her hometown, which was closer to four of the couple\u2019s five children and all nine grandchildren. And they knew that, if they lived in Port Jeff, as the locals call it, they could avail themselves of village amenities like free downtown parking and access to the two resident-only beaches.<\/p>\n

The Search for the Perfect Condo<\/h2>\n

The Toths had a five-year plan to downsize. \u201cBut then she retired two years earlier, so it became a three-year plan,\u201d said Mr. Toth, 69. They figured their Coram house would sell for around $700,000, so they set a budget of up to $650,000. They wanted to pay in cash. \u201cWe did not want any loans at this time in life,\u201d Ms. Toth said.<\/p>\n

Working with a Real Estate Agent<\/h3>\n

A year ago, she contacted Deniz Ozgur, an agent at OverSouth Real Estate, who was listing a Port Jefferson house and happened to know her son. The Toths told her they were open to a smaller ranch house with a little yard, or to a townhouse in a condominium or homeowners\u2019 association, where most outdoor maintenance would be taken care of. They didn\u2019t care much about community amenities like pools, but they knew their grandchildren would.<\/p>\n

Specific Needs and Challenges<\/h3>\n

They wanted at least two bedrooms, plus space for Mr. Toth\u2019s freelance martial arts photography business. \u201cI took martial arts when I was younger and I was the father taking pictures of my daughter\u2019s sports,\u201d he said. When he realized there were no photographers for karate schools, he filled the void. He also holds two part-time retail jobs. On early tours, every place seemed to have a dealbreaker. One house had a scarily steep driveway. Another was near a siren-plagued hospital route. A three-bedroom had just one bathroom. \u201cFor me, it was almost buyer\u2019s fatigue,\u201d Mr. Toth said.<\/p>\n

Finding the Right Fit<\/h2>\n

The Toths often envisioned how they might reconfigure a house to fit their needs, but Ms. Ozgur suggested they aim higher. \u201cIn a year or two, that house is going to start bothering you,\u201d she said. \u201cI told them: You need to find a house that works for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

In the end, the Toths’ journey to downsize into a condo on Long Island’s North Shore was about finding a place that fit their needs, allowed them to be closer to family, and provided them with a more manageable lifestyle. Their story highlights the importance of considering all aspects of a home, from location and size to maintenance and community amenities, when making a decision about where to live.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n