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Click each question to view the answer |
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Where is Fire Island and how big is it?
Fire Island is a barrier beach located off the south shore of Long Island. It is surrounded by the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It is approximately 40 miles east of New York City. The island is 32 miles long. |
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How can I get to Fire Island?
You can come to the communities of Fire Island on a ferry, your own boat, or you can drive to Robert Moses State Park, which is the state park on the west end of Fire Island, and walk or bicycle in to the west end communities. Ferries depart from Bay Shore, Sayville and Patchogue and arrive at the different Fire Island communities. |
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Does any one live on Fire Island year round or is it just a summer community?
There are approximately 400 year round residents on Fire Island. Most of the year round residents are people who own
businesses on Fire Island. |
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How many communities are there on Fire Island?
There are seventeen different residential communities on Fire Island. They are clustered in three areas, the west end, the center most communities and the easterly communities. Fire Island Living Real Estate specializes in properties on the west end which includes the communities of Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Dunewood and Lonelyville. |
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Which ferry do I use to get to the different communities?
All the communities on the west end have ferry service which is located in Bay Shore, NY. Go to www.FireIslandFerries.com to check the schedule for these boats. |
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How do I get things like bicycles, furniture and large items to my Fire Island vacation home?
You will use the freight boat to bring your things over to Fire Island. Go to www.FireIslandFerries.com to get additional
information. Once your freight arrives on Fire Island, you need to pick it up at the various community docks and either arranges to have those items brought over to your house or you can bring them yourself on your wagon or bicycle. There are contractors who assist homeowners in carting their freight. |
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Can I get propane delivered to my house for my barbecue and kitchen stove?
There is one contractor on the west end of Fire Island, Fire Island Bottled Gas, who delivers these products to your house. The phone number is 631.583.5636. |
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How do I find contractors to do work on my house?
You should ask your real estate agent, check the local newspapers or simply talk to your Fire Island neighbors about who they use. |
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Are there local papers that have information about Fire Island?
Yes, there are two papers which are published in the summer months only, The Fire Island News and the Fire Island Tide. They offer a wealth of information about what is going on in all the communities of Fire Island. |
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What are the typical rents in the communities of the west end of Fire Island?
You can expect to pay from $2500 per week to $7500 per week depending on a number of factors. The size and location of the house, the month and the community the house is in. Typically, August is the most expensive month to rent.
Seasonal rents (Memorial Day to Labor Day) range from $15,000 to $50,000 in the west end communities. An ocean front or bay front property will be a premium property. |
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What are the prices of houses for sale on the west end of Fire Island?
Currently, prices on the west end range from about $400,000 to $1.5 million. A three bedroom, one bath house with no water views will typify the lower end of the price range and an ocean front or bay front would be typical of a higher priced property. |
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How many grocery stores are there on the west end? When do they open and close for the season?
There are markets in Kismet, Saltaire and Fair Harbor. There are also liquor stores in Saltaire and Fair Harbor. Typically they open sometime in May and close sometime in September. Of the three markets, the one in Fair Harbor stays open latest in to the fall season. |
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What other commercial services are available in the west end communities?
There are three restaurants, the Kismet Inn and the Kismet Out in Kismet. There is also The Dock restaurant in Fair Harbor. The Kismet Inn typically stays open late in to the fall season. The Dock and the Kismet Out usually close sometime in
September. The Saltaire Yacht Club has a restaurant but is open to members only.
There is also a general store in Fair Harbor. You can get many general provisions there as well as bicycle parts and repairs.
There are many local contractors who provide services to renters and homeowners. Please refer to the local newspapers or contact your real estate broker for the phone number and names of someone who can assist you. |
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I want to get married on Fire Island. Are there churches and restaurants which cater to people like us?
Yes, we have many weddings here each year. There are churches in many of the communities. There are also a number of restaurants and caterers who have done wedding receptions. The best source of information is the local papers and your real estate broker. |
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If I rent a house this summer, where can I keep my boat?
You can moor a boat in many locations on the west end of Fire Island.
You may be able to rent a boat slip in the Kismet marina for the summer. Please contact the Kismet Inn for further
information. The phone number is 631.583.5592. There are marinas in other communities, but they are set aside for property owners. |
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If I buy a house, can I get a boat slip in a local marina?
Yes, there are marinas in Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Dunewood and Lonelyville for property owners. There is a significant waiting list for slips in Fair Harbor and Saltaire and in all marinas there are limitations on the length and beam of the boats which are allowed. |
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Where are the tennis courts on the west end and can anyone use them?
There are tennis courts in Kismet which are open to the public. The Saltaire Yacht club, open to Saltaire resident members only, has five courts. Dunewood has two tennis courts which are available to Dunewood residents only. |
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If I rent a house, what should I bring with me so that my family can be comfortable?
Your Fire Island rental house should include linens, towels and all the kitchen equipment you need to thoroughly enjoy you vacation stay. The rental property should include a wagon, a least two bicycles and beach chairs. You should only need to bring your clothing. Since there are grocery markets on Fire Island you may buy all your food here. Be sure to check with you real estate broker about the specifics of the house you are renting. |
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Are most houses air conditioned?
No, most houses do not have central air conditioning. Some have air conditioning units in the bedrooms. It is more typical to find ceiling fans or individual table fans in many Fire Island homes. |
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I want to buy a home and get a permit to drive my car. How do I go about doing that?
On the west end of Fire Island, getting a permit to drive a car is a lengthy process involving at least two government
organizations, the Fire Island National Seashore and the Town of Islip. There are specific requirements regarding residency and vehicle type. Please call the Seashore at 631.589.2130 and the Town of Islip at 631.224.5550 for further information. |
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Can I get a permit for a golf cart on Fire Island?
Because the special beauty of Fire Island is the fact that there are no vehicles during the summer months, permits for golf carts and other vehicles are restricted. For further information contact the Fire Island National Seashore at 631.289.4810 and the Town of Islip at 631.224.5550. |
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Are there any doctors on Fire Island? What happens if someone in my family is injured while I am on
Fire Island?
In the west end of Fire Island, there are emergency medical technicians associated with the Saltaire and Fair Harbor Fire Departments. There is an ambulance, which is kept at the Saltaire fire house which is used by the communities of Kismet, Saltaire, Fair Harbor, Dunewood and Lonelyville.
There are also physicians in the communities of Fair Harbor and Saltaire for the summer months. |
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