Idaho vs Washington (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Athol: sales, crime rate, credit)

[jeeptrix]

I am in Coeur d'Alene checking out the area. I see advantages of living in Idaho as opposed to the rural Spokane area but am wondering what the board thinks are the pros and cons of each area.
Washington: high sales tax and high property tax but no income tax.
Idaho: lower sales tax, moderate property tax but it has an income tax and higher priced homes.
Any thoughts?

[Haakon]

Washington is all but run by very liberal King County (where Seattle is), that's reason enough to choose CDA over Spokane if you have a choice.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

Originally Posted by Haakon

Washington is all but run by very liberal King County (where Seattle is), that's reason enough to choose CDA over Spokane if you have a choice.

I agree. The "progressive" laws coming out of Seattle are enough to keep me over on the Idaho side of things.

[Greensleeves]

If you've spent any amount of time in both Eastern and Western Washington, you'd notice a huge difference between the two.

Have no fear; the good ol' boy system is alive and well in the Spokane area. Having spent a lot of energy trying to help get legislation passed, I speak from experience.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while Idaho is a Right to Work state, Washington is not. You would do well to do some research in that regard.

The CDA and Spokane area is all sort of a mosh anyway. There's got to be a way to get the best of both worlds, eh?

[Sage of Sagle]

One more thing to keep in mind...which I researched before moving to this area as a retired cop...

Spokane's property crime rate is off the charts high, auto theft rate rivaling Los Angeles, anything not bolted down is carried off by tweakers. That alone was enough to keep me away from even the outlaying areas like Liberty Lake or Spokane Valley, although those aren't as bad.

Of course CDA/Sandpoint was where most retired guys I knew from the force had moved, so this was my first choice by default, but when comparing the two, that should be a factor in your thinking...

[jeeptrix]

Arizona is a Right to Work state which is not a good thing. It keeps wages very low.

My wife is also a retired cop. We have been looking in the Athol area but just read about a possible mine opening in the area that has the residents worried. I want to know more about that issue before deciding.

We have considered Liberty Lake, Mead and Corbet in Washington. We want rural with 5 or more acres so that is what is drawing us towards Athol and that area.

Anyone know about the Hauser Lake area? Found some nice areas in the foothills above the lake.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by jeeptrix

Arizona is a Right to Work state which is not a good thing. It keeps wages very low.

Just so you're aware, Idaho is a right to work state as well

[jeeptrix]

I just found out that both Idaho and Washington expect you to pay sales tax on your own vehicles when you register them in that state. Washington is raising the sales tax as of October.

Washington also has an excise (sales) tax of 1.7% or more when you sell your own home. Washington has lots of taxes.

I think it is Idaho for me. I have to get out of the heat of Arizona.

[Greensleeves]

You do not need to pay a sales tax in Idaho if you paid sales tax in your home state. Of course, you will need to provide proof that sales tax has been paid and you have owned the vehicle for more than 90 days.

I believe the same is true in Washington. Did this information come from DOL?

I'm thinking specifically of RCW 82.12.035, which allows a credit for taxes paid on tangible items purchased out of state.

[Sage of Sagle]

We bought our last car before leaving SoCal, but went to register it in Idaho. I waited to get to ID, since getting a car titled in ID was much cheaper and registration was only a fraction. Probably saved about $400 by waiting an extra couple weeks to title the car in ID...

But yeah, almost every state has a "use tax" and in theory you're supposed to keep track of your receipts for purchases made out of state (upon which you were not charged sales tax by the state of origin) and pay a use tax to the state in which you reside. Yeah....lots of folks love that one...