Relocation to Austin (Port Isabel, Ranger, Howe: new home, to buy, school)

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by hikernut

I'm reading up on potential retirement areas. I'd initially put Austin on the back burner because of the property taxes, but after learning some more detail it's now on the list of possibilities. There are a few tax benefits given to seniors (at least one of you must be age 65 or more). Here is a link that explains...

https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/seniors

I lived in Austin about 15 years ago, only for a couple of years. I'm sure a lot has changed, so I don't have any input on specific neighborhoods.

While that exemption lowers the value some and then freezes it, it's still a good chunk of money for those who are on a fixed income and the bill never goes away, unlike a mortgage note.

As I said, my mom pays 5200 bucks in taxes each year, which works out to approx. $450 per month. That's for a 1600 sq ft house valued at 264k. $450k? Fuggedaboutit, you'd probably pay at least double that.

[hikernut]

Well sure, there are always taxes to pay no matter where one lives. It's up to each individual to decide how much is too much.


With respect to Austin property taxes, just to be clear... it's only the part of the tax bill that goes toward public schools that gets "frozen". Taxes will go up, but at a slower rate than without the school tax ceiling.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Well sure, there are always taxes to pay no matter where one lives. It's up to each individual to decide how much is too much.


With respect to Austin property taxes, just to be clear... it's only the part of the tax bill that goes toward public schools that gets "frozen". Taxes will go up, but at a slower rate than without the school tax ceiling.

Can't speak for Austin, but in Williamson County, I was told by the Assessor today that the property tax is indeed frozen at the current appraised value. The amount won't go up. I guess another reason why Georgetown is a good choice. Heh. A neighbor in Round Rock paid the same amount in taxes every year since turning 65, despite the fact that her home's value increased.

I didn't say that there wouldn't be taxes to pay, that's a no-brainer. I'm just saying that the amount is not chump change and should be taken into consideration, especially if the house is new and $450k.

The OP isn't moving here for a specific reason other than seeing bright sunny weather in photos and believing that it may be a good destination spot. I'm not dissuading him/her. At the same time, I want to give the total picture so that they know what they're dealing with.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Can't speak for Austin, but in Williamson County, I was told by the Assessor today that the property tax is indeed frozen at the current appraised value. The amount won't go up. I guess another reason why Georgetown is a good choice. Heh. A neighbor in Round Rock paid the same amount in taxes every year since turning 65, despite the fact that her home's value increased.

Ok. Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve been reading the Travis County rules, but of course Austin isn’t confined to just Travis. And then there are the ‘burbs.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by mingau

Caltex Ranger, Centralaustinite, Antny12 and Riaelise:

Thank you all for your valuable comments. AARP magazine shows the beautiful pictures of Austin that attracts us to consider relocation. We did not know the 2-3% property tax that could be the highest in the country. We can tolerant the hot, but the high humidity. We may need to visit Austin in the July-August to feel if we can tolerant the heat.

I would never retire to Austin if I didn't already live here or have family here. In addition to the high property taxes, homes are much more expensive than the national average. It's congested. Traffic sucks. It gets much colder in the winter than many expect and as others mentioned, the summer heat can be insufferable. Additionally, the demographics of Austin skew very young. It's a notorious party town. If you don't already have a social network, it can be hard to establish one here as a senior.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Well sure, there are always taxes to pay no matter where one lives. It's up to each individual to decide how much is too much.


With respect to Austin property taxes, just to be clear... it's only the part of the tax bill that goes toward public schools that gets "frozen". Taxes will go up, but at a slower rate than without the school tax ceiling.

Here's the difference for retired people. In a place like Texas, with no state income tax, the property taxes are collected in lieu of that. That's why they're so high versus comparable spots that have state income taxes. When you are retired and not collecting an income from work, you're still paying what amounts to state income taxes because you're paying those elevated property taxes. And those taxes may be higher than what you would have paid while employed since they're based on the value of your home - which might be much higher than you had elsewhere.

[A-Tex]

Originally Posted by hikernut

I'm reading up on potential retirement areas. I'd initially put Austin on the back burner because of the property taxes, but after learning some more detail it's now on the list of possibilities. There are a few tax benefits given to seniors (at least one of you must be age 65 or more). Here is a link that explains...

https://tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/seniors

I lived in Austin about 15 years ago, only for a couple of years. I'm sure a lot has changed, so I don't have any input on specific neighborhoods.

The over 65 exemption isn't that generous, especially when you consider the outrageous values TCAD assigns to properties.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by A-Tex

The over 65 exemption isn't that generous, especially when you consider the outrageous values TCAD assigns to properties.

The exemptions are even less generous in WilCo.

[CalTex Ranger]

Originally Posted by A-Tex

I would never retire to Austin if I didn't already live here or have family here. In addition to the high property taxes, homes are much more expensive than the national average. It's congested. Traffic sucks. It gets much colder in the winter than many expect and as others mentioned, the summer heat can be insufferable. Additionally, the demographics of Austin skew very young. It's a notorious party town. If you don't already have a social network, it can be hard to establish one here as a senior.

For those that aren’t jaded and bitter:

Relative to many places you’re feeling,

Property taxes you have to watch
The weather is way better, and far more volatile
Buck up son, and find some youth

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by A-Tex

I would never retire to Austin if I didn't already live here or have family here. In addition to the high property taxes, homes are much more expensive than the national average. It's congested. Traffic sucks. It gets much colder in the winter than many expect and as others mentioned, the summer heat can be insufferable. Additionally, the demographics of Austin skew very young. It's a notorious party town. If you don't already have a social network, it can be hard to establish one here as a senior.

Hits every point for a retirement move. Especially "It gets much colder in the winter than many expect and as others mentioned, the summer heat can be insufferable."

When we lived in Austin my elderly parents moved to Austin from out of state for the same reasons many list even though we warned against it based on their expectations and priorities. They lasted 14 months, if I recall.