[lookingforsanity]

We currently live just outside of St Louis and are looking to move to the Indian Harbor, Satellite beach area. I have been searching for houses on the net and the taxes are out of sight. I have read several things about how the tax situation is being debated and looked into by Fl government. Does anyone have any insight on how long before there is a tax reform there and what that might entail?
Also, We are looking for a quiet, low crime area. My wife is disabled and is retired now. I am semi-retired but we are only in our 40s. No kids and we don;t want close to schools. Beach side really is a plus but a covered, heated pool is a must!
Any help of which areas to avoid would also be appreciated. We are white midwesterners and where we currently live does not have much diversity for ethnic groups. There are a few latinos and blacks in our area, but for the most part it is white. We are not against culture rich areas, as long as they are safe. My wife was a victim of a horrendous violent crime and she is border-line agoraphobic.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by lookingforsanity

We currently live just outside of St Louis and are looking to move to the Indian Harbor, Satellite beach area. I have been searching for houses on the net and the taxes are out of sight. I have read several things about how the tax situation is being debated and looked into by Fl government. Does anyone have any insight on how long before there is a tax reform there and what that might entail?
Also, We are looking for a quiet, low crime area. My wife is disabled and is retired now. I am semi-retired but we are only in our 40s. No kids and we don;t want close to schools. Beach side really is a plus but a covered, heated pool is a must!
Any help of which areas to avoid would also be appreciated. We are white midwesterners and where we currently live does not have much diversity for ethnic groups. There are a few latinos and blacks in our area, but for the most part it is white. We are not against culture rich areas, as long as they are safe. My wife was a victim of a horrendous violent crime and she is border-line agoraphobic.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Thats a good area, I think it has exactly what you are looking for.

[lookingforsanity]

Thank you. How come some of the houses there have low taxes $1200-$1500 and yet smaller houses in the same zip have taxes in the $5000 plus?

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by lookingforsanity

Thank you. How come some of the houses there have low taxes $1200-$1500 and yet smaller houses in the same zip have taxes in the $5000 plus?

It probably has to do with the Save our Homes amendment. I don't really understand it that well, to tell you the truth. The taxes are actually not that bad in Bervard County compared to a lot of the state. You picked a great area to look into.

FL Dept Rev - Property Tax Guidelines
FL Dept Rev - About the Property Tax Administration

Just to warn you, this is NOT the time to buy in Florida. Look at rent.

[lookingforsanity]

Thank you for the links. My wife is eligible for tax breaks where we live now. I'll check out the links and see what she is eligible for there. We are paying cash for a house, and do not want to rent at all. I know the market is out of sight there, but the real estate will always increase in value. Even if it stands still for a short time, it will increase in the long run.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by lookingforsanity

Thank you for the links. My wife is eligible for tax breaks where we live now. I'll check out the links and see what she is eligible for there. We are paying cash for a house, and do not want to rent at all. I know the market is out of sight there, but the real estate will always increase in value. Even if it stands still for a short time, it will increase in the long run.

I guess that MIGHT be true, but I am telling you, the decline in price will be major. This is really not a time to buy. You are looking at a fantastic area, though, and once you get there, you may want to stay forever anyway .

[lookingforsanity]

This will be the only move we make. My wife will take quite a while to adjust to it and she is wanting to move where she will be for the rest of her life. We have visted FL many times and like the State overall. There is a different air to people in Fl and we like that. She needs serenity and peacefulness and I'm hoping to find that in Indian Harbor.
I have a lawn care company in MO and will be moving my equip with me. I'm hoping to pick up just a few accounts there to keep me busy. Nothing major, just spending money.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by lookingforsanity

This will be the only move we make. My wife will take quite a while to adjust to it and she is wanting to move where she will be for the rest of her life. We have visted FL many times and like the State overall. There is a different air to people in Fl and we like that. She needs serenity and peacefulness and I'm hoping to find that in Indian Harbor.
I have a lawn care company in MO and will be moving my equip with me. I'm hoping to pick up just a few accounts there to keep me busy. Nothing major, just spending money.

Sounds like a good plan to me. You will still find what you are looking for in Indian Harbor/Satelite Beach, and wish the best of luck into your journey .

[JstLookin]

The reason for the big tax difference on houses is that the longer you have lived in the house the lower your taxes will be. When the big boom came along we could have sold our house (Satellite Beach)for over $300,000, but then where would we live?? After researching and looking for a new house I figured out the tax thing so I decided to stay where I've been for the past 15 years. Don't forget about the price of insurance beachside. Mine just went up to $3200 a year. But if you can afford that and can deal with an occasional hurricane this is a great place to live.