Property Taxes (Austin, Spring, Atlanta: estate, houses, rent)

[faithr]

I have to agree with Bobatoo. In my income bracket, moving from Fairfax County, VA to Austin, it will probably even out for me or cost me slightly more. For more high income individuals who pay a lot more at the state level, it will be a windfall.

[mrsclark]

Originally Posted by tibbar

I say they are nuts.

My home was valued at $167,650 in 2006 and my tax was $3829.59. I see they have it valued at $191,180 this year but have the taxable value at $184,415. last year the value and taxable amount were the same. I believe my tax statement for this year was just over $4000..I don't have it handy to look.

So what does your mortgage payment look like with taxes, pmi and all?

And just assuming that your taxes are paid with your mortgage as we do here in WV.

[atlanta hope]

Is there any talk of property taxes ever getting reduced? It's quite a sticker shock when you look at your monthly payment when house shopping! I thought moving from Atlanta to Austin we'd get a really nice house but figuring in the monthly tax bill has pushed us down in what we can afford. Just wondering if there is any relief in sight?

[bobbatoo]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

Is there any talk of property taxes ever getting reduced? It's quite a sticker shock when you look at your monthly payment when house shopping! I thought moving from Atlanta to Austin we'd get a really nice house but figuring in the monthly tax bill has pushed us down in what we can afford. Just wondering if there is any relief in sight?

There is a new business tax (effective 1/1/08) which is supposed to reduce school taxes. Most '07 school tax rates have been reduced which should be a direct result of the new tax, however many jurisdictions can monkey around with the valuation of the property to offset some of the savings.

[tibbar]

mrsclark,

Payment with insurance and taxes runs right at $1000 a month. House alone is $595 since we don't have to do the escrow thing. I can keep the tax money in Emigrant and collect interest on it...better me than the mortgage company!

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

Is there any talk of property taxes ever getting reduced? It's quite a sticker shock when you look at your monthly payment when house shopping! I thought moving from Atlanta to Austin we'd get a really nice house but figuring in the monthly tax bill has pushed us down in what we can afford. Just wondering if there is any relief in sight?

Hope, have you made your move? DW and I are considering leaving Sandy Springs and heading to Austin. At this point, our state income taxes are close to what we believe will be our property tax in Austin...so, it is close to a wash. (I agree that those 600-900/month tax bills are scary!)

I'd be tickled to compare notes re: the move(if you are interested).

[atlanta hope]

No, we're moving early next year. Until then, I'm addicted to austinhomesearch.com and this site!

We're downtown near Grant Park.

When are you moving?

Yes, if I was working it would be a wash but I'm a stay at home mom right now. When you're a one income family you're not really getting the same benefit. Guess it'll be good when I go back to work and we're a two income family again.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

No, we're moving early next year. Until then, I'm addicted to austinhomesearch.com and this site!

We're downtown near Grant Park.

When are you moving?

Yes, if I was working it would be a wash but I'm a stay at home mom right now. When you're a one income family you're not really getting the same benefit. Guess it'll be good when I go back to work and we're a two income family again.

hope,
I'm developing the same addiction! DW and I have just realized that Austin presents an attractive answer to the "I wonder what city has mild weather and about one-third the population/traffic/smog compared to Atlanta?" question. She also has family in Austin and Lomita(in case I get the cowboy bug) and has a hankerin' to be close to elderly aunt and UT student niece...good excuse to move.

We haven't wrapped our arms around the idea of actually MOVING. We have a 50s ranch home in Sandy Springs that we would have to sell but compared to the $1.1 million MacMansion two doors down, we should be able to get three-and-a-quarter out of ours in short order. DW is president of a non-profit that has a big event in early Feb/08, so we can't do any actual moving before that--even if we sell AND find something in Austin.

The best zip code for us would be 78731 but the nicer homes around there are a bit out of our comfort$zone unless we get something older/smaller than I would like. We may push west/north slightly in order to get newer construction in our price range. No commute to consider, fortunately.

I took a quick look at the numbers and our current property tax plus GA income tax is more than the property tax on just about any house we can afford in Austin.

[atlanta hope]

The quality of life in Austin is FAR MORE attractive than life in Atlanta. Have you been to look at houses yet? I went in July and it was hard to decide where was the best place to live -- we're still going back and forth but have decided narrowed it down to a few neighborhoods.

Far West/NW Hills is really pretty and convenient. We looked at homes there but the ones we could afford needed LOTS of work as well as require me to go back to work and stick the kid in daycare. We're looking forward to leaving the rat race here and not joining it in Austin -- so we're not inclined to get all the house the mortgage company will approve us for!

Have you looked at the Mueller development? We're keeping tabs on it but the Phase 1 was too expensive -- comes back to the fact I don't want us to both have to work until our daughter starts school. Phase 2 is supposed to be more affordable. From the sounds of it, it's a little like Atlantic Station but much better. New construction in central Austin with lots of parks -- you can walk or bike around. We're a little concerned about the school situation but we'll see how that pans out.

We like the vibe of the SW -- it seems like it's more laid back and funky. There are some great public schools there too. The NW offers great schools and it probably is better located for work prospects. Decisions, decisions...

Moving to Texas will be interesting for sure. I'm dreading the actual physical move!!!!

I'm sure you're not going to miss the clusterf@#k traffic of Sandy Springs. We thought about moving there but the traffic on Roswell Road was too much for us to bear. We work downtown so it's nice having no commute. Crime is up 40% in our neighborhood so I think it's time to get out of Dodge!

[10scoachrick]

[quote=atlanta hope;1802394]The quality of life in Austin is FAR MORE attractive than life in Atlanta. Have you been to look at houses yet? I went in July and it was hard to decide where was the best place to live -- we're still going back and forth but have decided narrowed it down to a few neighborhoods. /quote]




We only looked at houses as we drove around with relatives. Aunt lives in Balcones Woods but those houses are pretty small compared to what we THINK we want. SIL and BIL live near RR2222 and Mopac but I have spotted a couple of possibilities near RR2222 and Loop 360, a little pricey but newer construction(no more 50 year old houses for me!). Pretty close to a tennis club also. Again, there is no commute involved(we hope!) so a little farther out is OK as long as I can get to a Home Depot or Lowe's! I don't know what the 'nickname' of this area is.

You're right about the lovely traffic in Sandy Springs! I'll miss our new police dept and shiny new fire trucks but NOT the traffic. I only drive 2 miles to the tennis center now and that was a major consideration when we purchased our current house.