Hometown Mississippi Retirement program (Hattiesburg, Tupelo: 2015, low crime, house)

[tamaralj]

This seems to be a program unique to Mississippi. I don't know of a program like this in other states. The only information I can find is from this site

Hometown Retirement | MDA

I tried to email the contact but email bounces back. I then went to the cities I was interested in and individually emailed the contacts for those. I've read a few posts where people have used this program and found it helpful. Could you please tell me how it works, or how it worked out for you? Were you able to make a better decision on where to retire using this program? Did you get a personal guide to meet you and show you around? I think it would be helpful especially if you have not been to the areas, or don't know anyone there.

The cities that peak my interest are:
Laurel (which I did post asking about)
Corinth
Tupelo (which is ranking very high right now)
Hattiesburg

So far that is my short list. We will be moving in about 3 years, and hope to do some exploring in the mean time. Targeting, MS, TN and GA mostly. My husband would be retired and I will probably work at least part time. We enjoy outdoors, walking trails and things like that. Just like everyone seems to want, we would like friendly, low crime, low cost of living areas. We don't know a soul in Mississippi anywhere. It came up on the radar partly due to the affordability and warmer climate. I'm drawn to historic neighborhoods, with the tree lined streets...again, this seems to be what a lot of people are drawn to. A place with a nice community of people. We'd be looking for a house under 200,000, like well under. If it's a fixer upper it would have to be way low on the price to afford the improvements. Maybe on a quarter to a half acre land. Good medical care.


Thank you!

[David A Stone]

VISIT MISSISSIPPI/RETIREMENT


Lots of info there.


I relocated to Ozarks of north Arkansas in 2012 from Minnesota.
I had researched TN,AL, MS,AR extensively for years prior and had been in contact with several of those Certified Retirement Cities.


I can't emphasize enough how impressed I was with the program and how helpful everyone was.
One of my favorites at the time was Brookhaven, but I received info on nearly every city on their list.
I .....presume...the program today is similar to when I utilized it


Why didn't I choose MS ?


Nothing against MS, but as moving got closer my wife was diagnosed with ALS but still wanted to fulfill her dream of moving to a warmer place down south.


North Arkansas was directly south of MN so we could get the farthest south with fewest miles . Family was in MN.


We moved January of 2012. She got to pick out her house and she died November 2013.


I was her caregiver with help from Hospice the last 4 months.
My family made the 850 mile trip down often.
Others couldn't understand our move.
Our kids did, however.


I still have high regards for Mississippi and will tout Mississippi Certified Retirement Program as I believe they are #1 in promoting retirement relocation and use real criteria for cities on their list.

[tamaralj]

Originally Posted by David A Stone

VISIT MISSISSIPPI/RETIREMENT


Lots of info there.


I relocated to Ozarks of north Arkansas in 2012 from Minnesota.
I had researched TN,AL, MS,AR extensively for years prior and had been in contact with several of those Certified Retirement Cities.


I can't emphasize enough how impressed I was with the program and how helpful everyone was.
One of my favorites at the time was Brookhaven, but I received info on nearly every city on their list.
I .....presume...the program today is similar to when I utilized it


Why didn't I choose MS ?


Nothing against MS, but as moving got closer my wife was diagnosed with ALS but still wanted to fulfill her dream of moving to a warmer place down south.


North Arkansas was directly south of MN so we could get the farthest south with fewest miles . Family was in MN.


We moved January of 2012. She got to pick out her house and she died November 2013.


I was her caregiver with help from Hospice the last 4 months.
My family made the 850 mile trip down often.
Others couldn't understand our move.
Our kids did, however.


I still have high regards for Mississippi and will tout Mississippi Certified Retirement Program as I believe they are #1 in promoting retirement relocation and use real criteria for cities on their list.

I am so sorry you lost your wife. I know that must have been a very difficult time for you. It sounds like you made a good decision based on those circumstances. I'm glad that your kids were supportive.

Well I am hoping the Hometown program gets back to me. It will for sure make it easier to do the research.

I am an airforce brat so have been a lot of places. My parents retired out of Alaska, and I stayed behind for a total of 21 years. My daughter still lives there, so I get back when I can. Too expensive and cold to go back there to live. So I have always wanted to go to a warm climate. I live in KY now in the northern part, and although a lot warmer than Alaska, it doesn't feel like the south where I am.



One other question I wanted to ask to those who live in MS, is how expensive is it to register your cars each year? I know MS like KY has a personal property tax imposed on registration. Here I will be paying close to 400.00 this summer when my tags are due. It's a new car. But my 2008 truck was 218.00 this year to renew. I know it depends on the city and county, but just trying to get an idea. Since the cost of living is much lower there, it could offset that anyway.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by tamaralj

............One other question I wanted to ask to those who live in MS, is how expensive is it to register your cars each year? I know MS like KY has a personal property tax imposed on registration. Here I will be paying close to 400.00 this summer when my tags are due. It's a new car....

Depends an awful lot on the age of your car. I wouldn't be surprised to find that KY and MS are pretty close to the same.
But we paid 30/year for my old truck until it became an "antique". Then it's free.

[tamaralj]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Depends an awful lot on the age of your car. I wouldn't be surprised to find that KY and MS are pretty close to the same.
But we paid 30/year for my old truck until it became an "antique". Then it's free.

It goes by the value here. I know it's expensive though. That's why we hesitated on buying a new car now.

[jhadorn]

Originally Posted by tamaralj

It goes by the value here. I know it's expensive though. That's why we hesitated on buying a new car now.

I bought a 2015 Mustang GT in 2016 with 16,000 miles. The tag is about $725 yearly, but goes down a little every year. I felt like I was robbed at gunpoint.

[tamaralj]

Originally Posted by jhadorn

I bought a 2015 Mustang GT in 2016 with 16,000 miles. The tag is about $725 yearly, but goes down a little every year. I felt like I was robbed at gunpoint.

Wow that does seem high. Mine will be close to 400.00 I think when I renew this summer. I read that KY taxes based on 100% of value. But reading about MS, it seems they tax on 30% of the value. However from you post that can't be right? My car is valued at 22,000, so not sure what a Mustang's value would be to compare. That's was one thing I was trying to avoid with a new move.