Retirees, where are you? (West: home, taxis, income)

[mrgoodwx]

Just Lookin... my parents are retired in College Station, Texas. I'm retired in New Mexico. The main complaints my parents seem to have are: (1) Too hot and humid. It can still hit 90 degrees into October in most years. (2) Property tax bill is about $7000 or more for their $300k house. Of course, Texas doesn't have a state income tax, but I find my New Mexico property tax + state income tax together is a little less than my parents' property tax bill. If you are over 65, I believe you can freeze your tax bill and they have done that. Since you mentioned floods, they can happen just about anywhere. Texas does get plenty of "weather," so...anywhere you choose, you need to make sure you are not buying in a flood zone. If you decide to live anywhere near a creek or river, I would check out the floods of record for that particular stream. You seem to like the idea of east Texas, so you would be more in the pine trees and higher humidity. Vegetation transitions into more arid types as you head west from the middle of the state.

I don't know how much it costs to live in Apple Valley, but perhaps you can get a "cost of living index" for your local area and compare it to different places in Texas. There are a number of "retirement places" books that have cost of living indices for various cities. Good luck!

[JamesAbilene]

Originally Posted by ripley

My parents lived in California, Florida, Texas, California again, Texas again, Indiana, and California yet one more time. When retirement came, they visited many areas of Texas and chose Tyler. Tyler fit their criteria the best and has proven to be a wonderful place for them.

Their main criteria;

1. Relatively low taxes.

2. A college with active opportunities for entertainment, education, and arts related activities (sports, plays, concerts, musicals, etc.)

3. Higher quality medical services.

4. A variety of churches to choose from.

5. Community and/or church related volunteer opportunities.

6. A variety of dining & entertainment (movie theaters) options.

7. Relatively close to family, and

8. The one they didn't know they would even have an interest in ... 3 Starbucks to choose from!!!!!!

With the exception of number 7, I believe most small to mid-sized metro areas in the state fit those requirments: Tyler, Longview, Midland, Odessa, Wichita Falls, Abilene, San Angelo, Victoria....etc.

[Rathagos]

Just Looking,

I'm semi-retired from the Navy and am living in San Angelo (about 1 1/2 hours southwest of Abilene). It's a nice town, and including the outlying areas (Grape Creek, Cristoval, etc.) we are about 100,000 people. We have all the major amenities (2 hospitals, a Sam's, 2 super Walmarts, Big Lots, a one-story inside shopping mall, Best Buy, Lowes, Circuit City, etc.). I currently work on the local Air Force base, but if I chose to, I could live off my retirement penion from the military.

There are plenty of things for younger retirees (I'm 43) as well as older ones. Crime is low, but normally contained to certain geographical areas of the city.

We have a couple lakes and a state park.

If you want, need more information, let me know. And good luck on your search.

[Bowie]

My bro-in-law's mother has retired to a Del Webb community north of Austin. She likes it just fine. I know that there is also a fairly new Del Webb community here in San Antonio.

[Just Lookin]

Thank you all for the great information. That is a good point mrgood, about the trees making it more humid. I didn't think about that. The cost of living is also a good idea. Those taxes for $7000 would kill us. Of course we only want a house around $100 with a little land.

Rathagos, I will take a look at that area. Thanks so much. We do need to be out in a county because of the dogs we are bring. 9 doggies don't belong in town.

[teatime]

I'm medically retired and moved to Abilene last year. It just had everything I was seeking -- low cost of living, lots to do, very friendly people, good medical facilities, and it's rather centrally located in Texas. Also, while the summers are hot everywhere in Texas, Abilene isn't anywhere near as humid as south and east Texas. I also like having "seasons."

Abilene is very tax-friendly for elderly and disabled folks. In addition to the homestead and disability exemptions that take tens of thousands dollars off property tax values, Abilene and Taylor County freeze the tax rate for the elderly and disabled. My property tax is ULTRA low.

As for last year's flooding, very few parts of Abilene actually flooded. Brownwood and Eastland got hit hard. Just don't live on a lake or creek and it's all good. I live in Northeast Abilene and the water didn't rise at all.

[Just Lookin]

Teatime, do you get lots of snow there? I don't care for snow that much. If it is only a foot or so that wouldn't be bad. What is the weather in the winter and summers?

Thanks

[JamesAbilene]

We rarely get snow in Abilene. When we do, it melts quickly and is gone.

Summers can be hot but not as humid as the eastern and southern parts of Texas.

Last year, we had quite a bit of rain--more than normal. We are normally pretty dry most of the year.

I don't know if this is true, but based on my observations, it seems that Abilene is at a boundary of a couple of geographic and climate zones. East of us are small rolling hills, more rain, more humidity--more like the DFW area. North and west of us are flat plains--more like the Lubbock area. North of us gets more severe summer and spring thunderstorms than we do. South of us is desert and mesas. From year to year, the weather in Abilene proper can match any of those zones depending on where the dry line settles.

[TChapman]

If you're looking for someplace with cheap taxes, I just paid my taxes in Hico, TX and they were $17.00 for 15 acres... (Ag exempt, of course)

[Just Lookin]

WHAT? Did they forget you TChapman? Sounds like you must be really out there. What happens when you put a house on that land?

I think it's great if that is what you are paying. Where is Hico. Didn't I hear something about that town somewhere?