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View Poll Results: Which state do Alaskan residents prefer most when looking for warmth
Arizona 2 9.52%
Hawaii 19 90.48%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 05-06-2015, 03:30 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Minntoaz View Post
As someone who lived in az for a while don't go there for a vacay over Hawaii unless it's a money thing or some other factor. Id say Hawaii or San Diego.
i agree
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Old 05-06-2015, 12:07 PM
 
Location: Anchorage
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I don't want to escape it, I play in it.
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Old 05-06-2015, 09:01 PM
 
Location: Not far from Fairbanks, AK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heartbeats & Brianwaves View Post
I think Hawaii is better for Alaskans I think
It's a lot cheaper for us to fly to Hawaii, but too expensive for building a house. I would choose AZ, but as far as possible from the nearest city and from the border. Several people I know live in both AZ and Alaska. Since AZ considers a retirement pension as taxable income, it's best to retain an AK residency.
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Old 05-06-2015, 09:47 PM
 
Location: St. Louis Park, MN
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I'm not Alaskan, but given the choice, IDK why anyone would pick Arizona over Hawaii! No offence to Arizona, I think the desert landscape is beautiful and I dream of seeing the saguaros in person, but Hawaii is Hawaii!

I'd prefer to go to Hawaii in summer over winter, though. No matter where I am living. I don't believe in going somewhere to escape the cold, I believe in going there to visit the place and it's beautiful geography, not to feel comfortable. When I live up north in MN I'm not taking trips to warmer places on the basis of simply being warm, I'll go there for job purposes, vacation purposes or family purposes. Seeing weather that I'll see in a few months at home anyway seems like a silly reason to spend a ton of money. Going somewhere to see snow when you live down south is something different though, because you're gonna see weather that your home never gets.

Last edited by Pincho-toot; 05-06-2015 at 09:55 PM..
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Old 05-06-2015, 10:41 PM
 
Location: NP AK/SF NM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RayinAK View Post
It's a lot cheaper for us to fly to Hawaii, but too expensive for building a house. I would choose AZ, but as far as possible from the nearest city and from the border. Several people I know live in both AZ and Alaska. Since AZ considers a retirement pension as taxable income, it's best to retain an AK residency.
If you stick to the Big Island, there is plenty of affordable housing already existing in the Ka'u and Puna districts. Building doesn't really have to be expensive either. I have a friend who bought a one acre lot outside of Hilo for $40K and put less than $100K into building a house....2 or 3 BR/2 BA I believe. Of course, he is a retired building contractor and could do some things himself, but still, $140K is really not a lot compared to a lot of less desirable places. Property taxes in Hawaii are also substantially less than most everywhere else. Out of the 50 states and DC, Hawaii ranks #50, with only Louisiana having lower property tax rates. Seniors also receive generous exemptions on their home, as well. Low income seniors get even better breaks.

Hawaii is also pretty tax friendly to retirees. Social Security benefits and most other pension benefits are not taxed. Estate taxes only apply to estates that are valued at $3.6 million and above, and there is no inheritance tax. The state income tax is fairly high though, but if all you have is retirement income it doesn't really matter. The state gets it share of any other income though. Also, a general sales/excise tax is paid on most things. My son in Honolulu even pays excise tax on his apartment rent.

All in all, contrary to popular belief, Hawaii can be affordable. Just don't go looking for that multi-acre, oceanfront estate and you should be okay!
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Old 05-09-2015, 06:55 PM
 
Location: Not far from Fairbanks, AK
20,293 posts, read 37,189,297 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akpls View Post
If you stick to the Big Island, there is plenty of affordable housing already existing in the Ka'u and Puna districts. Building doesn't really have to be expensive either. I have a friend who bought a one acre lot outside of Hilo for $40K and put less than $100K into building a house....2 or 3 BR/2 BA I believe. Of course, he is a retired building contractor and could do some things himself, but still, $140K is really not a lot compared to a lot of less desirable places. Property taxes in Hawaii are also substantially less than most everywhere else. Out of the 50 states and DC, Hawaii ranks #50, with only Louisiana having lower property tax rates. Seniors also receive generous exemptions on their home, as well. Low income seniors get even better breaks.

Hawaii is also pretty tax friendly to retirees. Social Security benefits and most other pension benefits are not taxed. Estate taxes only apply to estates that are valued at $3.6 million and above, and there is no inheritance tax. The state income tax is fairly high though, but if all you have is retirement income it doesn't really matter. The state gets it share of any other income though. Also, a general sales/excise tax is paid on most things. My son in Honolulu even pays excise tax on his apartment rent.

All in all, contrary to popular belief, Hawaii can be affordable. Just don't go looking for that multi-acre, oceanfront estate and you should be okay!
I just don't like little islands in the middle of nowhere (I was born in one). When I retire some day (working on my second retirement), it will probably be somewhere around Northern Washington (maybe Newport, Cusick, and so on) since it will be a lot cheaper for my wife and I (she has property in that area). But I do like some areas of Arizona, but not their taxes on pensions. Hawaii? Been there and done that.

By the way, the cost of living in Honolulu is around 65% higher than the national average. As I said before, to visit Hawaii is a lot cheaper. But to retire I prefer Arizona. Maybe I am too cheap
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Old 05-10-2015, 08:06 AM
 
Location: North Eastern, WA
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To the best of my knowledge, people prefer to snowbird in AZ and vacation in HI. The reasons have been mentioned earlier.
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Old 05-10-2015, 01:04 PM
 
Location: Idaho
836 posts, read 1,662,455 times
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Alaskan in Hawaii: "Hey, there's that dude from Beartooth, and the checkout lady from Freddys, and..."
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Old 05-16-2015, 01:40 AM
 
124 posts, read 178,895 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AK76 View Post
To the best of my knowledge, people prefer to snowbird in AZ and vacation in HI. The reasons have been mentioned earlier.
I think if you just want to go somwhere to escape the harsh winters of Alaska, just go AZ. But if you are looking for lifestyle and scenery, etc HI would be the best bet.

But if you just want sun, warmth, snowless winters then AZ is the best place for AK


I personally think October-May in Arizona, and June-September in Alaska is the best way of living.
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