Somewhere, for all the "droves" of people wanting to "flee" California, um, opportunity appears! (Oakland: school districts, salaries)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by mbell75

Meh, property taxes are chump change compared to the money I'd save on state tax personally and taxes for my business.

So you're leaving when to start reaping those wondrous savings in your newfound Utopia?

I didn't realize that paper routes were so horribly taxed in CA. They certainly weren't when I was a young teen.

Hmm! Wonder if new tubes for my bicycle were tax deductible back in the dark ages.

[nslander]

Originally Posted by chuckmann

Shame on you for stereotyping plumbers! You liberals are such hypocrites

That's special.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by LoriBee62

The homeowners exemption reduces the assessable rate, however, so the purchase price of the home isn't exactly the assessed value. Even so, the highest rate in California is less than half what you'd pay for like property in Texas, and there's no Prop 13. And when you're having to hand over nearly $10K every year just to live there, that super affordable home doesn't look so super affordable anymore.

Not that I'm trying to talk anyone out of moving there....heh.

Just ran the number on my tax for a modest home in Oakland California and my rate is a little over 1.6%... and I pay a little over $9,000.

I had no idea Texans are paying over or almost a 3.333 tax rate.... scary because that would mean my 598k home with Texas rates would be $18,000

UPDATE****

I just checked and the average Texas Property Tax Rate is 1.81% which is slightly more than my rate of 1.63%

http://www.tax-rates.org/texas/property-tax

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Just ran the number on my tax for a modest home in Oakland California and my rate is a little over 1.6%... and I pay a little over $9,000.

I had no idea Texans are paying over almost a 3.333 tax rate.... scary because that would mean my 598k home with Texas rates would be $18,000

Yeah. How about them apples? Pay off your house in Texas and look forward to $1500 dollar a month tax payments that continue to rise for life. Speaking of paying for your home about 3x over.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by LoriBee62

When title is transferred, the taxes are based on the assessed value which is the purchase price less exemptions.

Not exactly... Prop 13 makes no reference to the price paid... it is very specific in that it says the value at the time of transfer... also only a homeowner can claim the $7500 exemption and they have to file for it.

I bought a home that needed work... it was listed and stayed on the MLS for several months... the assessor came up with a value 40% more than I paid... I appealed and we went back and forth and had several assessor visits... in the end... we both agreed to a stipulated value that was 7% higher than my purchase price.

The home had flood zone problems and while it looked great... all the nearby comps sold for a lot more because they were not in the flood zone and a flood zone that had flooded this home twice!

[LoriBee62]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Just ran the number on my tax for a modest home in Oakland California and my rate is a little over 1.6%... and I pay a little over $9,000.

I had no idea Texans are paying over almost a 3.333 tax rate.... scary because that would mean my 598k home with Texas rates would be $18,000

UPDATE****

I just checked and the average Texas Property Tax Rate is 1.81% which is slightly more than my rate of 1.63%

Texas Property Taxes By County - 2015

Here is a listing for a home for sale in Austin. If you click on the "Property History" tab, it shows you the actual tax history on the property, including the assessed value and the taxes paid. Based on this, your original estimate of $18,000 is closer to reality. If you want to live in and around Austin, that is. That's the only area in Texas we had seriously looked into a number of years ago. I can't speak for other parts of the state which may be cheaper and thus bring the average down.

http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...62-10706?row=2

There's currently a property tax thread on the Retirement forum right now which is rather interesting.

[LoriBee62]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Not exactly... Prop 13 makes no reference to the price paid... it is very specific in that it says the value at the time of transfer...

I did not know this. I've owned three homes in California, two of them were new construction which is probably why the purchase price and the assessed value were equal. Didn't pay much attention to the 3rd, I admit.

[TR95]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Just ran the number on my tax for a modest home in Oakland California and my rate is a little over 1.6%... and I pay a little over $9,000.

I had no idea Texans are paying over almost a 3.333 tax rate.... scary because that would mean my 598k home with Texas rates would be $18,000

UPDATE****

I just checked and the average Texas Property Tax Rate is 1.81% which is slightly more than my rate of 1.63%

Texas Property Taxes By County - 2015

But as you know living in the good school districts is going to cost you more. Typically 2.2-2.5% in the Dallas area. In suburbs of Houston it is over 3%, plus they have MUD taxes which are similar to the Mello Roos in CA. 1.81% would be on the lower end in TX and 1.63% is on the higher end in Ca.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by TR95

But as you know living in the good school districts is going to cost you more. Typically 2.2-2.5% in the Dallas area. In suburbs of Houston it is over 3%, plus they have MUD taxes which are similar to the Mello Roos in CA. 1.81% would be on the lower end in TX and 1.63% is on the higher end in Ca.

I do think Oakland's 1.63 is on the high side for California... seems the voters in my city and county are very generous when it comes to approving new taxes on property owners.

From the link posted... it does mention the 1.81% is the average for all of Texas.

I have friends in Austin and outside of Tyler... the ones in Austin are very vocal about how much they pay and the one in Tyler pays surprising little for his ranch... as in acreage, barns, corrals and two homes.

When it comes to good school districts it does get complicated in my Oakland CA city... the reason is Oakland has both top rated public schools and bottom rated schools... really the full spectrum, all in the same school district and under the same leadership...

My friends that live 15 minutes away in unincorporated county in California pay about 1.15% so another way to look at it is I pay a 50% premium on my property tax for the privilege of living in a big city like Oakland with part of that tax going to support the Oakland A's and Oakland Raiders and Oakland Warriors...

[mateo45]

^ ^ Interesting perspective. Having relocated from a large urban area to semi-rural Butte County, I definitely appreciate the lower taxes and homeowner's insurance here. Although nuthin's free, and it's easy to forget that we still 'pay' for that thru the lack of certain civic 'amenities", like proper sidewalks, street signs, and a more 'professional' level in local law enforcement.