Things I have learned in SC (York, Lugoff: new house, property taxes, living)

[anonymous]

We do have 24-hour grocery stores and 24-hour convenience stores. And they do sell burritos. Or you can go to a Waffle House at 3:30AM; whatever suits your fancy. You can get your internet, cable and telephone on one bill here - that isn't anything special. Greenville just happens to have a very lame cable provider. And no, our grocery stores are not stocked with a great selection of Italian foods. That's because there aren't very many people here of Italian descent. But I guarantee there are things here that I won't find in a NYC "supermarket". Anyway, if you want these things, go find a Fresh Market or an Earthfare, and quit shopping at Bi-LO.

It's not the Congo, it's South Carolina.

[Racelady88]

Originally Posted by anonymous

We do have 24-hour grocery stores and 24-hour convenience stores. And they do sell burritos. Or you can go to a Waffle House at 3:30AM; whatever suits your fancy. You can get your internet, cable and telephone on one bill here - that isn't anything special. Greenville just happens to have a very lame cable provider. And no, our grocery stores are not stocked with a great selection of Italian foods. That's because there aren't very many people here of Italian descent. But I guarantee there are things here that I won't find in a NYC "supermarket". Anyway, if you want these things, go find a Fresh Market or an Earthfare, and quit shopping at Bi-LO.

It's not the Congo, it's South Carolina.

Dude, you are too funny.

Even here in little old Aiken we have a 24 hour Wal-Mart, 24 hour McDonald's, etc.

I wouldn't trade the peace and quiet and respectful way people treat each other here or the ability to leave my house & car unlocked for a gas station burrito. If I want indigestion, I will go sit down & have it served to me with a nice tall cold glass of sweet tea.

[CottageFlourishings]

Ditto, Anon & Evey

[GJM]

Laura -

We are moving to SC for the reasons you listed for moving from NY. We are in NJ and are having a house built in SC. I know there is alot I will miss from NJ - but we will be able to pay for our house in SC and have no mortgage, we pay about $5,200 for property taxes which is considered low for Bergen County.

I have lived my whole life in NJ, but we know this will be better for us. My husband and myself have both worked full time, so this will give us the opportunity for me not to work or work Part Time while our son goes to school. And yes I have received my list of all the supplies I need!

My husband can't wait - he LOVES Waffle House!

[dawn193]

laura, you say between $1000-1600 for property taxes. I am from NJ and was hoping property taxes were lower than $1000! I thought through my research I have seen more like $700-800 a year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong because that is what I am counting on for a house around $135,000-140,000.

[RCL]

Originally Posted by New_Yorker

Thanks Laura, you gave me 10 more reasons not to move. Let me give you some reasons to move back:

1. 7-11's... need a Slurpee at 3a.m., No problem.
2. Want a chicken parm hero... 4,287 places to get it from.
3. Go food shopping? Forget it. Just call in your order, have it delivered.
4. Run out of gas? Push your 10 feet to the next gas station; pick yourself up a burrito while you're there.
5. Phone, Internet, Cable TV: one bill.

OMG!!!!! Here in Southern Utah it's HOT as blazes and there are NO 7-11's to be found!!! You can get an Icee if you go to the movie theater, but good luck finding it anywhere else (and the theater is a bit of a haul across town!).

How I miss a 7-11 Slurpee on these 105-110 degree days of summer in Southern Utah!!!

[Laurasnuthouse]

Hi.. the houses we looked at were in the price rang of $185,000-$220,000....so you're probably right for your price range : )

Originally Posted by dawn193

laura, you say between $1000-1600 for property taxes. I am from NJ and was hoping property taxes were lower than $1000! I thought through my research I have seen more like $700-800 a year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong because that is what I am counting on for a house around $135,000-140,000.

[tismekll]

Originally Posted by dawn193

laura, you say between $1000-1600 for property taxes. I am from NJ and was hoping property taxes were lower than $1000! I thought through my research I have seen more like $700-800 a year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong because that is what I am counting on for a house around $135,000-140,000.

(broken link)
If you find a house on the web you can check the taxes on this website. It will give you a good idea of what taxes are in the Greenville area.

[dawn193]

tismekll, could you email me or personal message that website with the taxes. Why would they delete that?! I thought you just couldn't put a businesses website or something personal. Oh well, Thanks

[RCL]

Originally Posted by tismekll

(broken link)
If you find a house on the web you can check the taxes on this website. It will give you a good idea of what taxes are in the Greenville area.

You probably know this but you may also want to find out what the state/county actual formula is for determining tax values each year and how much of an owner-occupant exemption you get. You may not always be able to go by the previous owner's tax. Here's why I say that.

Example: In CA they have rate locks in place that may go way back in time (anywhere from 1976 on). That is based on the infamous Prop. 13 of 1978. In CA, the annual prop. tax is based on the value as determined by the last selling price. The statewide tax rate is 1% of the market value from last sale (allowed to adjust upward by 2% per year max.) So, someone who bought a house in 1980 for 50 thousand may be paying about 700 a year in taxes by now...HOWEVER, if you were to buy that house today for 500 thousand, your starting tax rate would be 1%, or 5 thousand per year to the state. On top of this you have anything extra that your particular county may add on, which could be .10-.25% additiona. Hence, in most places the tax basis starts at between 1.15% and 1.35% of the last selling price...and as I mentioned, the value is allowed to adjust upward by 2% per year after that.

So you're not buying a home in CA, but the info may be pertinent because since California passed prop. 13, I know that a few other states have passed similar guidelines, although I don't know which states.

Other states (such as Indiana, to name one) have instituted new guidelines for assessing property. Starting this year (2006), instead of assessing each house individually based on the info they have on record, they are now using what's called "trending" where each property's tax is readjusted and based on the median value in an area. So, if your area median price is 90 thousand, but your house may only be worth 60 thousand due to size or condition, then you still get stuck paying the higher rate unless you contest the assessment in writing within 45 days and have an independent appraisal done (at YOUR expense). And even then, the county can deny it.

My understanding is that "trending" is starting to be a more widely accepted means of assessing values and more states are expected to start adopting it in the future.

It's these little gotcha's that can "getcha" ... so I would be sure and check with the assessor for any property you are looking at (...or, if you are using a buyer's agent Realtor, they should also be able to help you).