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Visited N. Georgia a couple of times and it's really a scenic, attractive area - lots of Floridians are leaving the state and retiring up there as well as Eastern N. Carolina/Tenn.
Visited N. Georgia a couple of times and it's really a scenic, attractive area - lots of Floridians are leaving the state and retiring up there as well as Eastern N. Carolina/Tenn.
We first moved from PA to a 55+ in SC, just south of Charlotte, NC, but have now moved to another 55+ in DE. There are many reasons, but suffice it to say that we much prefer DE over SC. The basic property taxes in SC were lower than PA, but what they don't tell you is that most of the Carolinas have a personal property tax on cars, boats and RVs. And the newer your car the higher the taxes. They are supposed to go down with with depreciation, but not very fast. I bought a 2011 GMC Terrain new and my PP tax was about $400/year, and it wasn't a fancy model....SLE2. When we left SC in 2015 it was still over $350/year. And you don't get your registration tag and card until you pay them. We had 2 other much older cars (1985 and 2003) and between the 3 we were paying about $500/year in PP taxes. Plus the 8.25% sales tax because of the 2% local tax added on to the state 6.25%, which is on a lot more stuff than in PA (like clothes).
Another thing is insurance. The entire state actually pays extra because of the hurricanes on the coast that keep damaging the large very expensive houses. Our house insurance was about $800/year for a $350K house (nowhere near the coast). But a hail storm came through in 2011 and the insurance went up to over $1100/year. That was State Farm, but everybody's went up and some more than that. We had been with SF for over 35 years, so we probably got a "break". Our house insurance in DE, based on the same $350K house with State Farm is $385/year. We have also found that our car insurances are also a bit lower than SC.
In DE there is NO sales tax and NO PP taxes. We have the same $350K house, 7 years newer, and our basic property taxes are less than SC. We live in an unincorporated area, so we don't have extra town taxes. There is an income tax but SS is not taxed and you have a $12,500 exemption for each person over 65 against all other retirement income. There is also a property tax reduction for seniors over 65 who have lived in the state for 3 years. (Although the last and current democratic governors are chomping at the bit to cut that.)
I'm not advocating for DE as we do have some cold weather and a little snow, but check out SC carefully as things aren't as rosy as they would like you to believe when it comes to taxes.
very true!!! I lived in NC and moved back NY and it is cheaper in NY people tell me oh no its cheaper in NC and SC no its not......like you said the property tax on cars, the water is very expensive , the electric very expensive
and if you live by water ins is hi... very happy where i am and the grocery Harris Teeter and Publix OMG crooks over priced!!!! I like my shop rite on LI.. Thank you
very true!!! I lived in NC and moved back NY and it is cheaper in NY people tell me oh no its cheaper in NC and SC no its not......like you said the property tax on cars, the water is very expensive , the electric very expensive
and if you live by water ins is hi... very happy where i am and the grocery Harris Teeter and Publix OMG crooks over priced!!!! I like my shop rite on LI.. Thank you
Wow; thanks for sharing this (insider) information. There's definitely a lot more to this process than finding your dream home on Zillow!
I have posted on this topic before,I would not live in south Florida,400 miles to drive out.
I did live in Lake City for nearly 30 years with no regrets,interstates at your door step.
We did enjoy our once a year visit to Biloxi at the Palace Casino Resorts in Feb.,roomrate $49 in a smoke free casino.
We lived tax free for the most part and because of age had to move to be near daughter.
We now are very unhappy putting it mildly living in a very uncomfortable state,CT.
"We now are very unhappy putting it mildly living in a very uncomfortable state,CT."
Why are you unhappy and why is CT uncomfortable?
I can throw in my 2 cents on this.....it's cold, the winters seem longer, the State is in financial shambles, taxes are ridiculous, COL is out of control.....compare this to NC /SC....we're heading South in retirement. Our Mil rate going up to$33.25 per thousand of value....thats all property, including cars.....own a $40,000 truck / car ?....yearly tax is over 1,000.....lowers as it depriciates though....own a home accessed at $400,000 ?.....you get the idea.
I can throw in my 2 cents on this.....it's cold, the winters seem longer, the State is in financial shambles, taxes are ridiculous, COL is out of control.....compare this to NC /SC....we're heading South in retirement. Our Mil rate going up to$33.25 per thousand of value....thats all property, including cars.....own a $40,000 truck / car ?....yearly tax is over 1,000.....lowers as it depriciates though....own a home accessed at $400,000 ?.....you get the idea.
And another state bites the dust!
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