Want to Relocate from Tennessee (Belfast, Charlotte: sales, rentals, vehicle registration)

[bean1965]

My husband and I have been talking through all of the pros and cons of leaving TN for the northeast for about a year now.(more pros than cons) We LOVE Mid-Coast Maine. One of the questions I have is how we get 2 kids, 3 cats and an old golden retreiver from Memphis to Maine? Any and every tip would be greatly appreciated! Another is the taxes. I try to read through all of the posts but I'm more confused now than before. I wonder if taxes are so high that it could be a deal breaker.

[corgis]

Hello bean and welcome to the forum - we are in WV and travel to Maine each Spring with 3 dogs, two adults and an 89 year old father in a Toyota Matrix. As far as moving, we are renting a Penske truck.

I know that a lot of Mainers think they're taxes are way too high, but the taxes in Maine are far lower than WV - Sales tax at 5% in Maine, 6% in WV - Property tax on our house there is almost $500. less a year than here for virtually the same square footage - Personal property tax (some call it Excise tax or vehicle tax) is higher here than in Maine. All in all, I'm pleased to be paying lower taxes in Maine.

[bean1965]

Where do you stay the night on the drive up?

Our sales tax is over 9% but we don't have state income tax or personal property tax.

What are winters like in WV and have you been through a winter in Maine yet? Our friends keep telling us that we are crazy for even considering the move because of the winters but the reality is I don't get out here in July or August because it's so hot. Seems like a good trade off to me!

[corgis]

bean - I think we are planning on staying at a pet friendly motel in Vernon, CT this trip. We have to stay in pet friendly's because our three corgis are never left behind here. I am up in Maine this year from May to November. We have already bought our retirement home and the Penske truck will be bringing some of our better furniture up so we can start downsizing stuff here since hubby will be retiring in 2 years and we will be selling this house and moving to Maine.

[corgis]

Winters in WV are temperate, moderate - much like Tennessee. Not a lot of snow, wish there was a lot of snow - but I'm originally from northwestern Ohio near Lake Erie and I know about snow and wind and bad winters.

[arzachena]

Welcome Bean,

We currently live in the Memphis area, but am from Belfast. We are moving back to Belfast, Maine in 29 days!!!
We have traveled from Memphis to Maine a few times and each time with dogs and children. This time will be a one way. And with a uhaul trailer so the trip will be longer.
I would be happy to help in any way I can.

[lgrandst]

Hi Bean,

I move 1 1/2 yeas ago from Maine to Charlotte NC with 2 kids 2 cats. We stayed on the New York/Connecticut line at exit 1. Lots of inexpensive hotels. The next day it was only about 7 hrs to Maine.

I much perfer the winters here but Maine is beautiful and will always be home. My whole family still lives there. Good luck with your move.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by bean1965

Our friends keep telling us that we are crazy for even considering the move because of the winters but the reality is I don't get out here in July or August because it's so hot. Seems like a good trade off to me!

You will not be able to avoid a Maine winter like you do the heat in the south by staying inside for a few months.

You really do have to enjoy a long cold winter. The first thing I noticed here was when I took my son out for halloween and we were freezing and kids were wearing a costume over their snow pants. I've lived in warmer climates in va and fla. There are always avantages to dealing with heat than cold imo. The cold will cost a LOT more in energy bills.

[forest beekeeper]

We lived in Ct for three years before moving to Maine.

For us the move to Maine lowered our cost-of-living, a great deal.

We have experienced a drop in our vehicle registration fees and taxes.

We still have the property in Ct it is hard to compare the two. Our Ct property is 1/4 acre in a city and has multiple rentals, it's property taxes are ten times more than our Maine home's property taxes. Our Maine home has 42 acres with 1/4 mile of river frontage.

Our Ct home's neighborhood sees: shootings, rapes, burglaries, murders, gang activity, and child abductions. Some months maybe only half of these things, while other months that one neighborhood says all of these things and more.

Our local newspaper here in Maine has a police log which talks about: reports of drunks walking on sidewalks, stray dogs, and folks at the bowling alley bowling nude.

Comparing these two states, shows a massive difference in taxes and attitudes.

[Acadianlion]

Originally Posted by bean1965

My husband and I have been talking through all of the pros and cons of leaving TN for the northeast for about a year now.(more pros than cons) We LOVE Mid-Coast Maine. One of the questions I have is how we get 2 kids, 3 cats and an old golden retreiver from Memphis to Maine? Any and every tip would be greatly appreciated! Another is the taxes. I try to read through all of the posts but I'm more confused now than before. I wonder if taxes are so high that it could be a deal breaker.

The real question for most people is, "what are you going to do for a living here?"

There was a post a day or so ago somewhere on this forum that described how those people lived. They both had jobs, one was teaching and one was secretarial, I think, and they had a mortgage and a car payment. They said that they bought whatever they needed and paid cash, and if they couldn't afford to buy whatever it was, they didn't. They also took a vacation every year out of winter, and basically felt that they wanted for nothing. They appeared very happy and satisifed with their life here in Maine, and were not super rich.

Taxes are not a problem for most people in Maine, if their living expenses are under control. The real big challenge will come along next year, if fuel oil prices spike above $4.00 per gallon and stay there.

If you understand what the economy in the area that you want to move to is like, and there is a job waiting for you, you will find it little different financially here than elsewhere. If you juggle credit card debt, and car payments on top of paying rent or having a mortgage, you may find it tough sledding.