Feedback from Newly settled in VB area

[BusiBee]

Originally Posted by Erma

Busibee....Gurnee, Illinois?

I have lived in Waukegan, which is next town north of Gurnee. Currently I live in Island Lake IL, next to Barrington 8500 people so I am 20 miles Southwest of Gurnee.

[BusiBee]

Originally Posted by beach kat

Hello. We are very happy with Virginia Beach and the schools are fantastic. We live in the Kempsville area. We moved here from Pennyslvania two years ago and are happy about our move. We did rent first and looked for a place once we learned about the area and could find a decent neighborhood. I recommend renting at first. There are plenty of apartments and you can look them up online. Good luck!

Thanks Beach Kat, thanks for the information.

[BusiBee]

Originally Posted by Erma

I don't come from a big city. Grew up in a town of 12,000 and everyone knew everyone. I don't like big cities, I travel to them alot and feel like the people all act like robots going nowhere in a hurry with no personality. Here, we do have people from all over. I am ex military and still work with the military. I don't think the cost of living is as high as others claim it to be. My only complaint is the personal property tax. I think money can be raised other ways than paying taxes on a vehicle you need for your job to pay other taxes. But from what I understand, the New England states are the same. I like the strip malls. Little family owned businesses and coffee shops that aren't franchises. Gives it a little bit of down home vice all the hype.

When you say personal property tax on your vehicle I am not sure what you mean? Cars are taxed every year or town stickers? Thanks

[Erma]

Originally Posted by BusiBee

When you say personal property tax on your vehicle I am not sure what you mean? Cars are taxed every year or town stickers? Thanks

We did away with the city stickers, they just tacked on the 25.00 to our vehicle registrations. You pay taxes on your vehicle every year. They have a certain taxation for year, model and make of your vehicle. We paid 237.00 this year on the truck. We got the little Ford Fusion not too long ago and they hit us up for 211.00 on that one. Needless to say, if you own a boat, camper, RV and anything else recreational, you will be taxed on that as well. That's my only complaint.

[stacylee926]

I moved here from Northern Virginia (DC area) 4 years ago. This area is a world of difference - mostly all positive. Cost of living is cheaper, really! Traffic is much better, really! The tunnels are definitely the biggest issue, but the traffic slows down and usually moves right on thru. We have 4 major tunnels to deal with and the worst is definitely the HRBT with the downtown tunnel coming in a close 2nd.

You will definitely find mosquitos here . While house shopping, try to stay away from ponds/lake areas and it will be a teeny bit better. This would be a problem anywhere that is close to water.

I love the weather here, because I really dislike snow. I rarely wear my heavy winter coat anymore - just sweatshirts and lighter jackets.

I live in Portsmouth which is much more 'small town'. It is close to the country of Suffolk and Isle of Wight, yet far enough away from the touristy areas.

You should not have a problem finding a job in collections here. There are a number of companies in the area. I work in admin for a drywall company. New housing has definitely slowed down, but commercial has picked up. Do your research and DH should find a good job too. This area still has alot of open spaces and has many, many years of building potential. However, most of that will be in areas like Chesapeake, Suffolk and Isle of Wight.

Good luck!

BTW - the main thing I miss from NoVa is the shopping. Most of the stores I liked are here somewhere, they are just spaced out and I have to drive further.

[BusiBee]

Originally Posted by Erma

We did away with the city stickers, they just tacked on the 25.00 to our vehicle registrations. You pay taxes on your vehicle every year. They have a certain taxation for year, model and make of your vehicle. We paid 237.00 this year on the truck. We got the little Ford Fusion not too long ago and they hit us up for 211.00 on that one. Needless to say, if you own a boat, camper, RV and anything else recreational, you will be taxed on that as well. That's my only complaint.

I have never even heard of taxes on cars and other vehicles. I pay $78 for yearly car sticker and $25 for town sticker. I find the vehicle tax very odd and a rip off, but I guess they are going to get us somehow.

[BikesareBetter]

We also have a Food Tax here 2.5%.
What the crap is that?? Sure didn't have that in Maryland. Goood Grief!

[Erma]

Originally Posted by BikesareBetter

We also have a Food Tax here 2.5%.
What the crap is that?? Sure didn't have that in Maryland. Goood Grief!

Oh, go out to Seattle! Wholly cow, there is no set tax on grocery shopping when you get rung up. Everything you buy is taxed differently. Health & Beauty, Meat, dry goods etc. etc. Shampoo I buy here at my hair dresser for 8.50 is 16.99 there.

coming from the midwest and other places, I never heard of vehicles being taxed either and figured out it's a commonwealth state thing. Mass. pays what they call an excise tax (personal property). CT and other eastern states as well.

[stltova]

We paid taxes on cars (boats/trailers) in Missouri. When we moved over to the Illinois side, there was no tax on cars, but personal prop. tax was much higher. ya, they get you either way!!!
Plates (registration fees)are about the same cost here compared with Illinois (we transferred our plates from IL to VA last summer). Vanity plates are much cheaper here though!!!! I had a vanity (personalized) plate in IL and it was twice the cost as here!!!

[novanwbie]

Originally Posted by stltova

As for schools, if you choose public, look for VB to offer more public schools with great test scores. Chesapeake has some good districts too (search for High Schools- Hickory, Great Bridge and Grassfield in Chesapeake). In VB search for homes under the High Schools of Cox, First Colonial (high priced homes), Princess Anne and Kellam. These are the top rated high schools. Kempsville and Ocean Lakes are not bad, but they are usually not ranked as high as Cox and FC. Even with the good public school system in VB, we chose parochial school for our youngest.

If you don't mind -- what Parochial school do you recommend? Thanks!