Property tax question (Rapid City: pine, palm trees, shingles)

[Jammie]

Yup, we do. You just rant away.

Now you have to change your location and status message cause you're one of us now. I hope that's not scary for you. LOL

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by AJTucson

Hi Jammie. Just to make sure I am reading you correctly. You said you pay between $500-600 per year for two vehicles (so that is your price altogether? annually?)!!! OMG - I would love that. We are paying $800 per six months or $1600 per year here (total for two vehicles). If I have this right - then we would drop our insurance rates in more than half. That is so very exciting!! Thanks to you for the info!

OOOPS!!! I kind of mislead you. This was just kind of in the back of my mind and I just couldn't remember the amount. I just checked and our premium is $424.34 every six months. Sorry.

[AJTucson]

Hi everyone - greetings from one of the states (I think there are five total) who is not going to have a budget deficit resolution and at midnight we will just be out of state services (just super in a border state). All we need to do is hand out IOUs and we will be CA! My husband told me not to rant too often (thinks we won't be allowed to live in SD - I told him we'd skulk in under the cover of darkness ) - so that is it rant-wise for me today. Anyway, thanks so much for the info on the insurance. Either way, from what I have read I will be saving about or almost half - great news.

So, that (and reading the other thread regarding the call center coming to Rapid City with 300 jobs) has brought up another question. How do all of you feel about those of us running like mad to your state from the insane areas we live in? Bear in mind, I have not seen anything on this forum (or any thread) that would lead me to believe that people are not honest in their desire to live in SD (be in SF or RC or where ever).

Having said that, seeing the absolute destruction in the form of creating an urban island (our lows at night are now in the 80s) and the living on postage stamps (land is a premium) and everyone wanting their own way, all the time (ya, never works) that the city we live in has become, how do residents of SD feel about an influx? I don't mean those of us (and I can honestly include us) who really love the four seasons (had many, many great years of that experience) and respect clean air (never did until I lived here), etc. I guess what I am saying is do you all have concerns about becoming like CO (where I understand there is a well worn trail from CA)?

[Jammie]

AJ, you're funny. But to answer your question~we're pretty accepting here. We realize that there are so many people in different parts of the country who are hurting because of this economy and we welcome them. We're not out recruiting, but any legal citizen who likes it here is welcome. Even those of us who were born here don't feel that we own this state.

I honestly don't see us as having so much of an influx that it will ruin our state. Many areas of the country that have been ruined had residents (some are former residents by now) who were so full of greed that they also contributed to the mess. Of course, they weren't alone in it by any means, but they still had a hand in it. Now they complain that their state just isn't like it used to be. Imagine that.

If you find a house for sale for 150,000, they won't double the price on you just because you're from out of state and willing to buy. We've already seen what a disaster greed can bring. We're actually happy to have newcomers. Maybe we'll hit 800,000 some day.

Besides, only the hardy souls would put up with our winters.

[DannyBanany]

I love the fact that SD is getting a large influx and that people from other states are interested in SD. However, I'm more progressive in my thinking. I am sure there are some that hate the influx of people from larger cities, more populated states, etc.

A family friend moved to the Black Hills from Colorado because Californians kept moving in and building condos near her home in Estes Park. She said "Colorado isn't Colorado anymore, it's California". I can understand how that could be frustrating and I hope SD sees positive growth and PLANNED growth instead of a boom. I'm sure we will though. Most people from the coasts that I've met don't even know WHERE South Dakota is!

[ashnat]

car insur for us is $125 a month for 2 cars. One car less than 3 years old, the other car 4 months old. The older car has the best insurance possible as it is used for lots and lots of work travel (50,000 miles per year).

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by ashnat

car insur for us is $125 a month for 2 cars. One car less than 3 years old, the other car 4 months old. The older car has the best insurance possible as it is used for lots and lots of work travel (50,000 miles per year).

OH yea, I forgot about that. I think 15 miles from work is the cutoff point and then you do pay more for insurance. We both drive well under 15 mi. to work so we don't have that added cost on ours.

[AJTucson]

Great points. You know, there was such a "oh my gosh, 350 days of sun" attitude to moving here that I think that added (with greed - I completely agree) to our current situation in this state (charming ). However, you could ask how many people really say that they are moving to SD (or ND, or MT, etc.) without knowing what cold, cold winters feel like and without a real appreciation for the outdoors. Our area is built on shopping, swimming (that is actually a good thing - great exercise), dining out (you know - seen and be seen - yuk) and oh yes, shopping and more shopping (you get the drift here). Thus, we had an influx of people who have those as their top priorities (not everyone, but many).

Know I am rambling (sorry - it is just so darned hot here), but the bottom line I am at now is that maybe not as many people as I think will be flowing into your great state. Plus, if your local governments learn the lessons of CO (and their influx from CA and the results) and keep with planned growth (with priorities remaining to open areas and nature) then you're right - it should be just fine.

[DannyBanany]

I don't think South Dakota has nearly the hedonistic attitude that AZ, CA, and coastal states have. We're all pretty laid-back and I feel fine wearing jeans and a tee pretty much anywhere. However, when I do go to other cities or the coasts I like being able to dress up a little without sticking out like a sore thumb.

Oh and by the way, the average sunshine for Rapid City is something like 275 days per year.

[AJTucson]

Hey Danny - thanks for the info. I honestly didn't think RC would have that much sun (for some reason - I really have no idea why I thought it was less). Granted it is not as much as the above-quoted 350 days we have here in AZ. However; that much sun (and accompanying heat) is overrated and then some. I will take the 275 days and be very happy to do so .

I was looking at the pictures on (forgot the exact name) the thread that has like 40 plus pages (which is how we started getting interested in SD). Such a gorgeous place/state. Towards the end there was a post with quite a few homes shown. I was so surprised how similar they were to the older areas of Waukesha, WI (where we originally lived). Just great - I have not seen homes like that in a long, long time.