I'm looking to relocate to North Carolina (Raleigh, Cary: sales, insurance)

[Carolina Wannabe]

Good day all

I am a native Floridian (yes, we actually do exist). My boyfriend and I want to buy a house of our own but our problem is that due to the hurricane rates here, there are several people loosing their homes over high insurance rates. Since insurance rates are soaring so too are our property taxes and home prices. At this rate, we will never be able to purchase our own home in Florida.

I am very tired of driving around and seeing only concrete. I have never seen 4 seasons as here in Florida we have just 2 - it's hot all year round except for the 1 month long winter. I long for a few acres (approx. 5) where I can have a garden and we can live a peaceful life.

We have been doing research and are looking for a place to live in North Carolina. We have pretty much decided on Asheville but I don't want to live in the city or a subdivision at all. We do not have children or plan to have them so schools are not important to us. I want to live in a rural community outside of Asheville but do not know where they might be or even what the names of some of these places may be that are outside of Asheville. We hope to find work in Asheville and don't want to live way too far from the city.

If you could give me some names of places I could check out, I would appreciate it. We plan to move in the next 1 1/2 yrs - 2 yrs and would like to visit several places before we actually put down permanent roots.

I'm also interested in tax information. We only have a sales tax in Florida and I've heard horror stories of North Carolina and the taxes. My father lived in Wake Forest for about 10 years and mentioned that since he lived in the city he had to pay both city and state income taxes. He said that he paid sales tax on everything (even food at the grocery store). We are not taxed on groceries - only on paper products and household cleaners, etc.

Thank you for your help

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Carolina Wannabe

Good day all

I am a native Floridian (yes, we actually do exist). My boyfriend and I want to buy a house of our own but our problem is that due to the hurricane rates here, there are several people loosing their homes over high insurance rates. Since insurance rates are soaring so too are our property taxes and home prices. At this rate, we will never be able to purchase our own home in Florida.

I am very tired of driving around and seeing only concrete. I have never seen 4 seasons as here in Florida we have just 2 - it's hot all year round except for the 1 month long winter. I long for a few acres (approx. 5) where I can have a garden and we can live a peaceful life.

We have been doing research and are looking for a place to live in North Carolina. We have pretty much decided on Asheville but I don't want to live in the city or a subdivision at all. We do not have children or plan to have them so schools are not important to us. I want to live in a rural community outside of Asheville but do not know where they might be or even what the names of some of these places may be that are outside of Asheville. We hope to find work in Asheville and don't want to live way too far from the city.

If you could give me some names of places I could check out, I would appreciate it. We plan to move in the next 1 1/2 yrs - 2 yrs and would like to visit several places before we actually put down permanent roots.

I'm also interested in tax information. We only have a sales tax in Florida and I've heard horror stories of North Carolina and the taxes. My father lived in Wake Forest for about 10 years and mentioned that since he lived in the city he had to pay both city and state income taxes. He said that he paid sales tax on everything (even food at the grocery store). We are not taxed on groceries - only on paper products and household cleaners, etc.

Thank you for your help

Hi Wannabe. There is much info on this board already about Asheville. Use the search feature above and you can access all threads concerning Asheville. Basically here's the scoop...Asheville has no real job market - you must be sure you have a job secured before you actually move there. Most jobs there revolve around the tourist industry or healthcare. Good luck!

[backtofla]

i'm a fla native too!!! but i moved back to fla. asheville is a nice little town, just not for everybody.

[friendnc]

Asheville's economy is good, but really limited (tourism/retirees). Very good area, though. Some nice rual areas around Asheville to look at would be Madison or Haywood Counties. Good luck!!

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Carolina Wannabe

Good day all

I'm also interested in tax information. Thank you for your help

State Sales Tax - 4% (Effective July 2007) http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sal...crease1106.pdf

County Sales Tax - 2.5% (Except Mecklenburg County which is 3%)

County & Municipal Property Tax - Varies by location. http://www.dor.state.nc.us/practitioner/property/

Income Tax - Depending upon your filing status and your taxable income, the North Carolina tax rate ranges from 6 to 8.25 percent. http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/individual/

Taxation of Food and Prepared Food - http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sal...notice6-06.pdf

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by Carolina Wannabe

Good day all

I am a native Floridian (yes, we actually do exist). My boyfriend and I want to buy a house of our own but our problem is that due to the hurricane rates here, there are several people loosing their homes over high insurance rates. Since insurance rates are soaring so too are our property taxes and home prices. At this rate, we will never be able to purchase our own home in Florida.

I am very tired of driving around and seeing only concrete. I have never seen 4 seasons as here in Florida we have just 2 - it's hot all year round except for the 1 month long winter. I long for a few acres (approx. 5) where I can have a garden and we can live a peaceful life.

We have been doing research and are looking for a place to live in North Carolina. We have pretty much decided on Asheville but I don't want to live in the city or a subdivision at all. We do not have children or plan to have them so schools are not important to us. I want to live in a rural community outside of Asheville but do not know where they might be or even what the names of some of these places may be that are outside of Asheville. We hope to find work in Asheville and don't want to live way too far from the city.

If you could give me some names of places I could check out, I would appreciate it. We plan to move in the next 1 1/2 yrs - 2 yrs and would like to visit several places before we actually put down permanent roots.

I'm also interested in tax information. We only have a sales tax in Florida and I've heard horror stories of North Carolina and the taxes. My father lived in Wake Forest for about 10 years and mentioned that since he lived in the city he had to pay both city and state income taxes. He said that he paid sales tax on everything (even food at the grocery store). We are not taxed on groceries - only on paper products and household cleaners, etc.

Thank you for your help

I don't find that tax burden to be bad...but compared to Florida, yes, it's higher.

This link has a ranking of each states tax burdern....NC is 28th (10%) while Florida is 44th. (9.2%)
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lis...005/index.html

From what I hear though....we have much better schools for example then Florida....so it's a trade off.

I do know, however, that I've lived in Wake Forest for the past 3 1/2 years and I've never paid a city income tax.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Desdemona123

I do know, however, that I've lived in Wake Forest for the past 3 1/2 years and I've never paid a city income tax.

I believe the original poster meant to say property tax instead of income tax. No county or municipality in NC has the authority to collect income taxes from their residents.

The Town of Wake Forest does have a municipal property tax, but only for residents living within the town's geo-political borders. In 2006, the municipal property tax rate for Wake Forest was 0.54 per $100 of valuation. I don't know what the current rate is.

Cities & towns with a municipal property tax in addition to the Wake County property tax:

ANGIER
APEX
CARY
FUQUAY VARINA
GARNER
HOLLY SPRINGS
KNIGHTDALE
MORRISVILLE
RALEIGH
ROLESVILLE
WENDELL
ZEBULON

[Desdemona123]

Originally Posted by mm34b

I believe the original poster meant to say property tax instead of income tax. No county or municipality in NC has the authority to collect income taxes from their residents.

The Town of Wake Forest does have a municipal property tax, but only for residents living within the town's geo-political borders. In 2006, the municipal property tax rate for Wake Forest was 0.54 per $100 of valuation. I don't know what the current rate is.

Cities & towns with a municipal property tax in addition to the Wake County property tax:

ANGIER
APEX
CARY
FUQUAY VARINA
GARNER
HOLLY SPRINGS
KNIGHTDALE
MORRISVILLE
RALEIGH
ROLESVILLE
WENDELL
ZEBULON

Yes, I do know about the property tax....but anytime you live inside a city limits you are going to be subject to that.

I have to go by what the poster said...which as income tax.....we'll have to see it was a mistake or not.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by Carolina Wannabe

Good day all

I am a native Floridian (yes, we actually do exist). My boyfriend and I want to buy a house of our own but our problem is that due to the hurricane rates here, there are several people loosing their homes over high insurance rates. Since insurance rates are soaring so too are our property taxes and home prices. At this rate, we will never be able to purchase our own home in Florida.

I am very tired of driving around and seeing only concrete. I have never seen 4 seasons as here in Florida we have just 2 - it's hot all year round except for the 1 month long winter. I long for a few acres (approx. 5) where I can have a garden and we can live a peaceful life.

We have been doing research and are looking for a place to live in North Carolina. We have pretty much decided on Asheville but I don't want to live in the city or a subdivision at all. We do not have children or plan to have them so schools are not important to us. I want to live in a rural community outside of Asheville but do not know where they might be or even what the names of some of these places may be that are outside of Asheville. We hope to find work in Asheville and don't want to live way too far from the city.

If you could give me some names of places I could check out, I would appreciate it. We plan to move in the next 1 1/2 yrs - 2 yrs and would like to visit several places before we actually put down permanent roots.

Thank you for your help

The further away from the City of Asheville you are, the better the price and availability of acreage. Since you said you want to be in the Asheville Metro Area:

Madison County

Mars Hill
Marshall
Hot Springs

Buncombe County

Black Mountain
Weaverville
Leicester
Fairview
Montreat
Swannanoa

Henderson County

Hendersonville
Mills River
Edneyville
Etowah
Zirconia
Fruitland
Mountain Home

Haywood County

Waynesville
Maggie Valley

[nitneylion]

Try Pittsboro, near Chapel Hill. My daughter is buying 12 acres there. Out far enough but close enough to what's happening.