[daytonadewd]

Originally Posted by jpicard

I think it would be like I do now since I already stock up food and supplies. I also have no use for mail since all my bills are paid online. As for taxes I am using the Tax Foundation to search for the lowest property tax counties
The Tax Foundation - Property Tax on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Property Taxes Paid*, 2005-2007 Average

My county, Rockland in NY is ranked #7 highest in the nation. Where as
Hardee County ranks #1438
Desoto County #1318
Manatee #463
Collier County #302
Lee County #303
Sarasota #370

Back in the late 90s in Rockland county homes I was looking at were in the 120k-150k range with taxes around 2k range. These same homes are still hovering between 350k - 500k with taxes now around 10k. I had considered Putnam County (now ranked #11) back then for the ruralness and lower taxes that were around $1500. But I am seeing tax rates up there around $15000 now. (The tax foundation numbers are averages).

The taxes are really just crazy up here. But if I buy a house in Lee County for 100k my taxes would be around $2000. If I brought the same size house up here it would cost 500k and my taxes around 10k. So this really is a no brainer.

Of course my concern would be the same tax creep we had up here after 10 years with the continuing advance in this country of big government. My other choice was therefore Arkansas which tends to lean more fiscally Conservative therefore delaying that advance. But the weather is not as nice there and no beaches, so my preference is Florida.

K. Fair enough. Doesn't NY have "homestead exemption?" (Florida does which caps your annual rate hike)

[daytonadewd]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

So where's the eye-rolling smiley at the over-hyping and exaggeration?

So are you just slumming for a stand-up audience or just trolling?

Also, when you go through a Cat 5 like I have, just let me know how that goes 4 U!

[annerk]

Originally Posted by daytonadewd

K. Fair enough. Doesn't NY have "homestead exemption?" (Florida does which caps your annual rate hike)

They didn't when I lived there.

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by daytonadewd

So are you just slumming for a stand-up audience or just trolling?

Also, when you go through a Cat 5 like I have, just let me know how that goes 4 U!

Cat 5 would have to be either Andrew or Camile, and I'm guessing Andrew, which caused a massive reorginizaton of how the state of Florida handles hurricanes. The state actually learned a lot from that mess and really significantly improved its emergency operations to the point where they're infinitely better than they were in 1992. I was very impressed with the state's responsiveness to issues involving Ivan and Dennis, especially when compared to how much MS and LA thoroughly botched Katrina response a short time later. (First responders on the ground for Katrina in a lot of MS actually ended up being the Florida National Guard instead of the locals)

It's one of about four things that state government actually does surprisingly well.

[jpicard]

So I have an idea of some rural areas. I should mention I am considering homesteading so looking to do som farming on a few acres. With that added requirement what areas can I find the best soil? This seems like a challenge since everything I look at seems to be very sandy.