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Well I'm not much on football but I will be really happy to be once more in a MLB city. Go Indians! And I can still support the Cubs since as well since I don't think there will be too much of a chance of their meeting up any time soon.
We were in Houston a few weeks ago - and went to the second MLB game we ever went to. It was a lot of fun. The "cheap seats" were about 5 bucks - a bargain for an afternoon or night of entertainment IMO (disclaimer - we didn't buy 5 buck seats - my eyesight isn't that great and I wanted to see the ball ). OTOH - the food and drink were ridiculously expensive and not at all good. Perhaps MLB teams have "family" or similar nights where you can get a hot dog and a soft drink for less than $15 (we have a minor league team - and there are many days/nights where you can get a box seat - a hot dog - and a beer/soft drink for about $12-15). It's not like people are tearing down the doors to get into these games (at the Houston game we went to - the ball park was only about 1/3 full - if that). Robyn
What are the differences between you and your wife? ....
I took most of the quote out to make it shorter.
Thanks Robyn I have FL on my list (short list). It isn't very high and I will explain. It is hot and humid and for a longer period of time. That is not a bad thing but we would like a slightly shorter HH climate. The more important goes to the differences between DW and me. She wants to have mountains in view. It is a Fung Sui (pronounce schway) thing. I am not sure it is spelled correctly but it the art of arranging your life. Setting your house to face a certain direction depending on your personal sign (the Chinese zodiac among others). My wife is Korean/American. She was born there and brought much of that with her. I encouraged her to keep her language and culture so this is part of that. Well in Fung Sui keeping three peaks be it mountain or large trees to the north will keep out a cold atmosphere. Trees work very good as they will block the coldest winds in fact so there is some practical application in there. But it kind of goes further back. Mountains are a large part of the Korean peninsular. So it goes back to that root for her.
I know she doesn't expect to live in the mountains but she does want to at least be able to see them with not much of a trip. Sort of a few miles away. So keeping that in mind I like the ocean being that I love swimming but I can take a large lake in lieu of that. So we can compromise there. So currently areas under consideration are Northern SC, Northern GA, Southern NC in the Charleston/Greenville area. We are also looking at Raleigh Durham area. Currently on the study list is the triangle area in TN between Nashville Knoxville Chattanooga. I know those areas are prone to some ice storms and even some snow.
I can give up some time for inclement weather and my coldest golf would be mid to upper 40's depending on a few other conditions. We are going to FL in the spring next year and I anticipate looking at real-estate there as well as other things. We are going to the Orlando area with some kids.
Out west is probably not on the card but SA TX was on my list due to military support. Arizona is a possibility but remote. We will probably visit every state during retirement as well as a great number of countries. We love to travel and we will do a lot of that early on so we are really just looking for a warm stable area that we can return to as a home base. Florida has an excellent tax structure for us as retirees and Northern FL and the panhandle area is one that might be an option. She has not travelled much of the country yet. I have. I have stayed in most zones of the country over time to cover all climates that region had except for the SW (TX, AZ, NM and CA). Other then that I have been there.
Still seeing as I know my lovely DW, I can point to the area in my second paragraph as a probable. We have family and friends still up here in the NE so that is also a huge factor in our decision. We might not move at all. I can always snowbird so that option is on the table too. So many things we have to consider and thankfully we have the time and resources and determination to do the homework, put together a list (you have that), and make an informed and thought out decision.
Thanks Robyn I have FL on my list (short list). It isn't very high and I will explain...
I have played golf with and know a woman born in Korea who married into a little deal famous golf family in these parts. Her name is Pong Mattiace. And she is about your wife's age (mine too). If you ever want to try to nudge your wife in favor in Florida - I'd be glad to try to get her and Pong together to talk things over . Robyn
We were in Houston a few weeks ago - and went to the second MLB game we ever went to. It was a lot of fun. The "cheap seats" were about 5 bucks - a bargain for an afternoon or night of entertainment IMO (disclaimer - we didn't buy 5 buck seats - my eyesight isn't that great and I wanted to see the ball ). OTOH - the food and drink were ridiculously expensive and not at all good. Robyn
I have been to several hundred MLB games. I must say that I have been avoiding the MAJOR league games in favor of the MINOR league games due to the prices and it is far more convenient for me to get to minor league games. Also, the atmosphere at a good number of the minor league games is far more entertaining than the major league games.
However, with the advent of Stubhub, you can get great seats at MOST parks for $5-15 depending on how the team is doing. It is sort of like a Priceline EXCEPT that you get to select the seat before purchasing.
As for the food at ballpark food ranges from the truly miserable (usually ARA Serv and Sportservice) to the sublime (San Francisco and the Levy Group). I will agree that it is ridiculously expensive.
When I head to Milwaukee's Miller Field, I plan to stop at a local restaurant that serves great food ***AND*** provides a FREE shuttle to the park so I can avoid the parking cost.
I found your discussion interesting, and I cannot say you are wrong. I would point out only that forecasting what's going to happen with real estate prices in a given market is a dangerous and uncertain game at best.
However, you did not address my main point, which was that local and state income taxes are NOT the main component of cost of living, but rather that housing costs are. Do you still maintain that state and local income taxes are more important than housing prices in the cost of living?
I have a slightly different take on this, maybe Ohio Pesant agrees, maybe not - anyway, if your house is paid for, however you managed to do that, what you paid for it does not make any difference to your COL as a retiree (or for that matter if you are still working but have paid off the shack, like me). But state income and (local) property taxes (and irrigation dues, for that matter) go on forever, so they are still part of your COL. If you are living on a fixed income, over time these taxes tend to go up (not in Cali due to whatever initiative that was that froze property taxes)
That said, some people live in states that only tax income above a threshold that they stay under (the wiley Submariner comes to mind, still thinking like a sub sailor as a retiree, stealthily sneaking under Maine's income tax...) and of course some states have income taxes, some sales taxes. Most don't have high income and sales tax (Cali I think does).
One person can't say for certain what another person's COL is going to be in a particular area. Depends on how well one adapts to the environment, and how willing they are to "think outside the box" and adapt.
I have been to several hundred MLB games. I must say that I have been avoiding the MAJOR league games in favor of the MINOR league games due to the prices and it is far more convenient for me to get to minor league games. Also, the atmosphere at a good number of the minor league games is far more entertaining than the major league games.
However, with the advent of Stubhub, you can get great seats at MOST parks for $5-15 depending on how the team is doing. It is sort of like a Priceline EXCEPT that you get to select the seat before purchasing.
As for the food at ballpark food ranges from the truly miserable (usually ARA Serv and Sportservice) to the sublime (San Francisco and the Levy Group). I will agree that it is ridiculously expensive.
When I head to Milwaukee's Miller Field, I plan to stop at a local restaurant that serves great food ***AND*** provides a FREE shuttle to the park so I can avoid the parking cost.
Yes - Stubhub would work for someone who lives in a particular area or knows his/her plans in advance. And - at least in Houston - there were "scalpers" on the street. Apparently they can buy up "cheap seats" from season ticket holders for $2-3 - and sell them for $5 (the seats are $7 at the box office).
Your "get a good meal before the game" is a sound plan - at least in Houston. My husband and I were most disappointed that the peanuts came in a sealed plastic bag - and tasted old and stale.
If you're ever in JAX during the season - catch a Suns game. We have a pretty new stadium - and it's really nice (although nothing compared to the Astros stadium in Houston - which has a retractable roof). Robyn
I have a slightly different take on this, maybe Ohio Pesant agrees, maybe not - anyway, if your house is paid for, however you managed to do that, what you paid for it does not make any difference to your COL as a retiree (or for that matter if you are still working but have paid off the shack, like me). But state income and (local) property taxes (and irrigation dues, for that matter) go on forever, so they are still part of your COL. If you are living on a fixed income, over time these taxes tend to go up (not in Cali due to whatever initiative that was that froze property taxes)
That said, some people live in states that only tax income above a threshold that they stay under (the wiley Submariner comes to mind, still thinking like a sub sailor as a retiree, stealthily sneaking under Maine's income tax...) and of course some states have income taxes, some sales taxes. Most don't have high income and sales tax (Cali I think does).
One person can't say for certain what another person's COL is going to be in a particular area. Depends on how well one adapts to the environment, and how willing they are to "think outside the box" and adapt.
We have something similar in Florida - the Save Our Homes amendment. The way it works is somewhat complicated. But the bottom line is it protects many homeowners from sudden large increases in property taxes that would otherwise kick in during periods when property is appreciating rapidly by capping the amount of allowed annual increases. OTOH - it doesn't prevent taxes from going up gradually over longer periods of time. There's more to it than that - but that's the gist.
FWIW - a potential sleeper in terms of home ownership costs is utilities. For example - a fair number of water utilities - including ours - have gone to tiered pricing (the more water you use - the more it costs you). Which means that water bills for many people can go up a lot. Our annual utility bills are now > our property taxes. Robyn
We have something similar in Florida - the Save Our Homes amendment. The way it works is somewhat complicated. But the bottom line is it protects many homeowners from sudden large increases in property taxes that would otherwise kick in during periods when property is appreciating rapidly by capping the amount of allowed annual increases. OTOH - it doesn't prevent taxes from going up gradually over longer periods of time. There's more to it than that - but that's the gist.
FWIW - a potential sleeper in terms of home ownership costs is utilities. For example - a fair number of water utilities - including ours - have gone to tiered pricing (the more water you use - the more it costs you). Which means that water bills for many people can go up a lot. Our annual utility bills are now > our property taxes. Robyn
There are lots of cost that differ based on locale even for a paid up house. Sell your house in one area for 600k and buy the same house for 300k and a number of insurance related variables come into play. Including as you know weather etc. Taxes change as does insurance.
Everybody should do their own analysis, counting all the things mentioned by the various posters.
If person A has a million dollar per year retirement income, then income tax is a big cost.
If person B only has social security income, then income tax is not a big cost.
Person C may own a large home with high property taxes, ultilities, etc.
Person D may rent an efficiency apartment with low ultility costs and the property taxes are included in rent (and likely small).
In my opinion, sales tax is not as big a factor as many people think. Typically (check your own) the amount spent per year on items with sales tax is much smaller than the income that is taxed by both the feds and many states. But a state/locality with high sales tax can drive the cost of a new car, some people keep a car for 10 years, others 2-3 years.
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. Robyn
