Can there be huge tornadoes around Richmond

[Debra]

I forgot mention to dulland boring that you are so right about the property taxes in Nj. We'd also looked into Lancaster , PA and found that the taxes for the type of house we are looking for were about $1300-$2,000--fine by us! We're at a little over $6,000.00 but we have a "mother-daughter" house --two levels so I think that's reasonably fair . Hope you don't mind me talking numbers here--but it's really important for us to not get into a higher bracket than we are now. From your last paragraph, I don't think that'll be the problem. That quote of $12,000 that I'd given is quite common in the town next to us and even just a few mere blocks away from us in another developement! It's insane!! This entire area is overly developed , expensive and congested and we can't wait to get out!
The ONLY good thing about is good ole NYC!

[dmm]

If there is a hurricane, most of the people move from the beach areas and end up in Richmond.
I have been in the area from NJ for 7 years, and have heard of1 good tornado in the area.
You may get warnings and heavy winds. Just make sure the trees are trimmed.

[Debra]

Thank you dmm for your comment. Good to hear from sombody who is from NJ and can compare the weather from here!!

Appreciate your comments!

Debra

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Debra

I forgot mention to dulland boring that you are so right about the property taxes in Nj. We'd also looked into Lancaster , PA and found that the taxes for the type of house we are looking for were about $1300-$2,000--fine by us! We're at a little over $6,000.00 but we have a "mother-daughter" house --two levels so I think that's reasonably fair . Hope you don't mind me talking numbers here--but it's really important for us to not get into a higher bracket than we are now. From your last paragraph, I don't think that'll be the problem. That quote of $12,000 that I'd given is quite common in the town next to us and even just a few mere blocks away from us in another developement! It's insane!! This entire area is overly developed , expensive and congested and we can't wait to get out!
The ONLY good thing about is good ole NYC!

I have to admit that since I'm not on the market to buy a house, I'm not incredibly knowledgable about specific property taxes, just just the general nature of them (i.e. when they're going up and down, cities/states where they're more than others). However, I can say with near 100% certainty that your property taxes will be cheaper in Virginia than New Jersey. New Jersey's property taxes are just insane. I mean, $12,000 a year?! You have to put away $1,000 every MONTH just to pay property taxes! Crazy.

I actually just returned from a trip up to Jersey where I was visiting friends, one of whom is engaged and looking to buy a house and they're running into all sorts of financial issues just with hidden costs, and the property taxes (at least where they want to live) are a serious make-or-break issue for them.

[Debra]

My husband was just saying that today as we were driving through one of the "$12,000" neighborhoods--We'd have to put aside $1,000 a month just foor taxes even if we didn't have a mortgage! I have a friend in France who can't believe what some people pay in this state--her taxes in Evain are about $500.00 a year!! Quite a difference!!!
I really feel for your friend. It is extremely difficult here. We built on top of my parents house because we simply couldn't afford anything in this area except a really old ,tiny house which we didn't want and we'd wanted to stay in the area because of our jobs .
I sent away for a package about Virginia that I saw advertised on TV--it's more of a touristy thing but I want to get an idea of some different areas. Thought maybe it would help.

[MaryBB]

Hi Debra,
I saw your post and mention that you loved the mountains. I haven't been there but friends of ours moved to Abingdon, VA and love it. http://www.city-data.com/city/Abingdon-Virginia.html

It looks very pretty, historic and remember she said it has much less heat and humidity than Richmond. It's also in an astoundingly beautiful area- I think highest point in VA is nearby. Roanoke and Johnson City TN are nearby, not big towns at all but still lots there.

I'm a native (NY)LI-er and I have to say there are things I miss up there, but most of all I don't miss the seemingly never ending winters.

[Debra]

Hi Mary BB!
Yes, I do love the mountains and would love to live near them more than anything! My husband loves both the mountains and the ocean so Virginia is looking more and more like the place we want to be.
We want to try to get out there in the spring when he gets his spring break from teaching so we'll definately check out Abingdon!

Thank you--we really appreciate your suggestion!

By the way--anyone familair with Charlottesville at all? A friend of ours recently brought up the name. Said they were there a long time ago but absolutely loved it. We love anything historical too by the way and Virginia seems loaded with wonderful history!

[MaryBB]

Charlottesville is very pretty but housing is inflated compared to other areas. A friends daughter is going to UVA now, said little shacky houses were 250K- that's a lot for VA, maybe not NY, NJ, but here you can get more house for way less.

People say it's snobby because of UVA, but I love Sherando Lake which is pretty close by. And the downtown mall is nice and Monticello pretty.

[Debra]

Hi Mary BB,
The housing market is off the roof in NJ as compared to Virginia --a small single family house in this neighborhood can cost $500,000 and upward. And thy're all squashed together! Horrid I know--that is why we want to get away from this area. I did a little search and found some [compared to NJ] reasonably priced single family homes in Charlottesville. It sounds like and looks like quite a beautiful area but we will keep it in mind and keep searching around a bit. Will definately see Abingdon !