My impressions so far (meant to be honest not to insult) (Raleigh: rental, insurance)

[mzfroggez]

[quote=MovingAloha;15755545]Do tell UPMINSTER!!
When I was checking on states that did not tax federal retirement, I don't recall seeing NC. Maybe I'm confusing state income tax. If that is so, then that's a huge check in the NC side for our relocation.[/quote]


quick note about this

- i believe the nc law on taxing federal retirement depends on WHAT YEAR you retired/

may be those who retired prior to 1986 were exempt from NC State income tax on that income.

Check that out carefully as I don't believe recent retirees are so blessed. Didn't want you to choose one place over another on misinformation!

(seriously, do find out what the provision is - i'm guessing on the year issue/could be a vesting issue or whatever but it is definitely not inclusive of all federal government retirements in NC.)

[MovingAloha]

[quote=mzfroggez;15761550]

Originally Posted by MovingAloha

Do tell UPMINSTER!!
When I was checking on states that did not tax federal retirement, I don't recall seeing NC. Maybe I'm confusing state income tax. If that is so, then that's a huge check in the NC side for our relocation.[/quote]


quick note about this

- i believe the nc law on taxing federal retirement depends on WHAT YEAR you retired/

may be those who retired prior to 1986 were exempt from NC State income tax on that income.

Check that out carefully as I don't believe recent retirees are so blessed. Didn't want you to choose one place over another on misinformation!

(seriously, do find out what the provision is - i'm guessing on the year issue/could be a vesting issue or whatever but it is definitely not inclusive of all federal government retirements in NC.)

Mahalo MZFROGGEZ, I will be checking. I don't object to paying my fair share of taxes to assist in making life easier for the whole, but I am not STUPID either, so if there are appealing locales that don't tax your retirement, I am very interested. I will check on this more!!

[Raleigh27612]

I am a North Carolina native, but transplanted to NY for 7 years for work and returned a couple years ago. Here's a few things that I found were dramatically different:

a) Auto costs: I commuted and was shocked but got used to my EZ Pass bill. My car insurance was significantly higher in NY. Gas was higher, too and maintenance was most costly. The salt also wreaked havoc on both cars. If I didn't drive, it was public transportation time. Taking the train from westchester or rockland isn't cheap, and you had to time it right. Working late in the city was bad idea if you had to take a train home at night.
b) Taxes-- I had village tax, town tax, and school tax, all based on property value. Of course I was able to get STAR credits and write off in part each year, it was still a big bite. The taxes - school especially, went up double digits each year. I check now just for curiosity and that trend is maintained. 16% up this year! WOW!I do miss the clothing tax exemption and the NYC deals. If you live in the city, there was the NYC resident tax.
c) golf/swimming club not likely for my family's wallet in NY. Membership fees were tens of thousands of dollars and the monthly was like a house payment. Here we can join and not break the bank. My kids take swimming lessons and are on the swim team.
d) daycare was about the same.
e) food depended on where you were and where you went, just like anywhere. There are super stop and shops in NY. There are also more specialty stores and you could get great deli food for a few bucks. Not so much cooking when living in the city, more about getting out and about.

One thing I do miss about NYC in particular is walking. My legs were in better shape in NYC when I would walk everywhere all the time.

[westcoastbabe]

I guess NC is for some people and for some folks..NOT...I am going to get frowned upon for saying this...but as a born and bred North Carolinian...I honestly can't stand it and have had it......Yes I can understand that when people move here from up north...they can't believe the cost of everything from taxes/food/property/etc..Yes..NC is a great place to raise a family..if you are in to that...That being said...really looking to relocate out west...preferably Denver or Phoenix....I think for a single person..it would probably be a little cheaper considering state tax rates for both cities and just plain more to do...Just my 2 cents....AGain..pls. dont jump on me for posting..Not AntiNC or anything like that..afterall it is my home...but just sayin....

[second right]

I moved down here 20 years ago so my kids could have a better life. I couldn't afford the high cost of living up there at the time, and couldn't afford to live in a town that had good schools. I guess things have changed.

I do miss, the Jersey Shore...AWESOME back in the days of Bruce Springstein and the Stone Pony...lived just one block from the beach and two blocks over from The Pony. Hung with Bruce all the time, before he made it big and even then, when he was in town, he was always around.

Grew up, for the most part in north/west Jersey. Ritzy town and as I get old as dirt I find myself reminiscing about those days.

I miss NYC, lived in Manhattan, before children, on 72 between West End and Broadway...but again just reminiscing.

I guess for the newer transplants it can be hard, but for me and my children in was a very good move.

I think in the long run, I just wish I was young and carefree again. Alas, I'm old as dirt.

[byebyenortheast]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

Real estate taxes are far less expensive than in NY state. Homes are less expensive than California.

But otherwise, it's North Taxolina.

I agree with the personal property tax in NC. I think it spreads it out better. In NJ it seemed all the tax revenue was generated through property tax and sales tax which led to some of the highest real estate taxes in the country.

My feeling is if you have enough money to afford a car(s), motorcycle, boat, etc. then you can afford to contribute your share of taxes. Not all of it should be levied on homeowners.

[zinner]

RTP is a good reason to move here, private sector jobs. I love how people focus on taxes or the cost of food. I focus on the feature prospects of this area.

I came to NC because there are good jobs, that pay well, there are other smart people, the weather is nice. Housing is a good value. Everything is nice and new.

And most of the north east is imploding under it's gov't burden and it's driving out large portions of the private sector.

[korben dallas]

Interesting thread.

Well said, zinner!

[RVAtoCNC]

What I don't understand is that all the folks in NY/Jersey made it what is today with their liberal beliefs, tax and spend crooked politicians and the like. Then, they don't like the results of their "good works" and want to move to another part of the county, but hauling their NE philosophy and values and try to ruin where they move to just like they did where they moved from (see Florida)
It's a free country and anyone is free to move anywhere, but please don't complain about where you came from, but on the other hand try to make this place the same as where you came from and complain about the southern way of life, the red necks, the lack of "sophistication" and "artsy stuff" and, OMG, "conservative" beliefs ........
.......but I guess that's why they invented Cary LOL.

[MarkCanWrite]

Yep, it's not cheaper in any appreciable aspect. If only that were true. Turns out that any place you move is going to be much like where you came from in many respects. There'll be good things and bad things, and in the end, it'll probably be a wash. If there was a perfect place to live, people would already be flocking to it. It used to be Florida, before the gridlock/hail-of-gunfire days. These days, who knows? The search continues, I guess.