Relocating, help! :)

[Mark-faf]

Originally Posted by rocknrollgirl

My boyfriend is really stuck on moving to the New England area over the midwest. But he has never been to either so there's really no better way of deciding than seeing it for ourselves. My main push for the midwest is the lower cost of homes but I'm being told that the property taxes are high.

I've never been to Wisconsin so I can't help you there, but it's going to be tough to find house for under 200K in a good school district in NH. The property taxes are MUCH higher in NH that anyplace else except NJ. As for proximity to airports, there are lots of places within an hour of Manchester and between Dartmouth Coach and Concord Coach Lines there is excellent bus service to Logan Airport/Boston.

In the interest of affordability, you might consider Newport and Claremont. These are blue collar cities that have seen better times, but there are many nice spots in the area. The schools are not rated as high as some, but still may be a step up, depending on your current situation.

NH is lovely but affordability isn't it's strong suit. With high real estate prices and property taxes, at least for me, that overrides the lack of sales/income tax. Best of luck!!

Mark

[Palmetto Native]

I will be honest, I have neither lived in NH or WI, but having lived in ME, CT, & upstate NY...and visited the Midwest (in winter) I will offer up an outsiders opinion.

I live in SC, raised on the Charleston coastline, but lived up and down the eastern seaboard (living up north for about 7 years total).

NH would be my pick. Overall its got that whole "New England" charm you see and read about. Covered bridges, beautiful foliage, ski areas, ocean front...to me its screams family feel. I just visited VT/NH and all the other New England states in August. It was awesome, and I missed being up there.

Your pricing isn't a bad target, obivously its not dream house budget, but I am right there with you. I have been looking at properties online for a couple months now, and there is plenty in that range all over the state. Of course there is a lot of give and take...more house, more property...father away from the bigger cities.

I don't know the school districts in length, but I can assure you they are better than what we have down here...probably even in their worse districts (SC ranks 47th or worse every year). And depending on where you are in Cali, you might think the same. This website offers a lot of knowledge I have found in school sizes and area information.

WI and the midwest can be brutal during the winter. It is a lot flatter our there, and that means a lot less "buffer" from the winds. They tend to get plenty of snow and sub-zero wind chills, as anyone who spends time up there can tell you. I used to live in Maine for 2 years, and a week in Chicago in January was the coldest I have EVER been...and that isn't WI. Money can probably go alot farther in WI...lets face it...you don't hear alot of people screaming to go to WI

Airports can be a big thing, Boston will have alot of direct flights as its a much bigger hub, but connections through Manchester or Concord might offer more convinence and slightly higher prices.

As one mentioned property taxes I have found are alot higher than I am used to, but being from Cali, it might seem like a break from their taxes. NH has no State Income Taxes, so you save a little on your paychecks, but as many will probably tell you its a break even with the property taxes.

Towns like Keene & Peterborough (and surrounding areas) might offer more property and house and some lower property taxes (than some cities you will find), might be a good compromise.

Research is key...and from all the post I have read here before I signed up, the NH forum people are very helpful.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Palmetto Native

I will be honest, I have neither lived in NH or WI, but having lived in ME, CT, & upstate NY...and visited the Midwest (in winter) I will offer up an outsiders opinion.

I live in SC, raised on the Charleston coastline, but lived up and down the eastern seaboard (living up north for about 7 years total).

NH would be my pick. Overall its got that whole "New England" charm you see and read about. Covered bridges, beautiful foliage, ski areas, ocean front...to me its screams family feel. I just visited VT/NH and all the other New England states in August. It was awesome, and I missed being up there.

Your pricing isn't a bad target, obivously its not dream house budget, but I am right there with you. I have been looking at properties online for a couple months now, and there is plenty in that range all over the state. Of course there is a lot of give and take...more house, more property...father away from the bigger cities.

I don't know the school districts in length, but I can assure you they are better than what we have down here...probably even in their worse districts (SC ranks 47th or worse every year). And depending on where you are in Cali, you might think the same. This website offers a lot of knowledge I have found in school sizes and area information.

WI and the midwest can be brutal during the winter. It is a lot flatter our there, and that means a lot less "buffer" from the winds. They tend to get plenty of snow and sub-zero wind chills, as anyone who spends time up there can tell you. I used to live in Maine for 2 years, and a week in Chicago in January was the coldest I have EVER been...and that isn't WI. Money can probably go alot farther in WI...lets face it...you don't hear alot of people screaming to go to WI

Airports can be a big thing, Boston will have alot of direct flights as its a much bigger hub, but connections through Manchester or Concord might offer more convinence and slightly higher prices.

As one mentioned property taxes I have found are alot higher than I am used to, but being from Cali, it might seem like a break from their taxes. NH has no State Income Taxes, so you save a little on your paychecks, but as many will probably tell you its a break even with the property taxes.

Towns like Keene & Peterborough (and surrounding areas) might offer more property and house and some lower property taxes (than some cities you will find), might be a good compromise.

Research is key...and from all the post I have read here before I signed up, the NH forum people are very helpful.

Property taxes in Keene and Peterborough are extremely spendy.

[Palmetto Native]

Yes I have to agree that Keene and Peterborough have higher property taxes ($27.40/$1000 & $22.60/$1000 {2008} respectively), but some of the surrounding cities...2008 Numbers: Wilton ($18.00/$1000), Milford ($18.58/$1000), New Boston ($14.71/$1000), Mason ($18.50/$1000)...offer some lighter breaks and could present a compromise to living a little outside Peterborough or Manchester.

A quick google search for "NH Property Taxes" can offer you a detailed listing of most towns cost/$1000 and give you some ideas. This might help you as its helped me narrow my search grid on towns to key in on.

Of course pros/cons should be weighed on any town and perhaps a personal visit to your Top 5 one time might make your choice a little easier.

[wciarci]

Peterborough and Keene are higher in property tax but some towns around them are much lower. Check out Temple NH which is close to Peterborough and Milford, not too far from Manchvegas or Nashua. Isn't Temple part of the Conval School system? Excellent schools. Also look at Antrim or Bennington too. Hancock and Harrisville are pricey but beautiful.

As for property taxes in NH. Look at NY or CT. I pay a mill rate of 29.9 (nearly $5,000) for a small old house in need of repair in an isolated town in CT. Some towns in CT are at 34mils. NY and CA are even worse. Top that off with sales tax and income taxes and gas that is 20-50 cents higher a gallon. NH looks pretty good.

Wenderella

[NHForester]

Property tax does not give the full picture, as stated above.

Southwest NH may have several opportunities in your price range and specifications. Southeast is going to be pretty pricey. I grew up in Somersworth, which was a blue collar town of affordable housing. Now it seems to be very expensive housing there. We live by Newfound Lake, in the central part of the state. There are some very affordable towns around here as long as you have a way to make a living. Our house is assessed at just under 200K and we pay about 3K for taxes. Houses under 200K are readily available in many of the towns around the lake. Probably not Hebron, though.

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks everyone for all your help. We're planning a trip up there this spring to check out all the different areas. Any suggestions on a good central place with an affordable hotel to stay in while we explore NH?