Texas locations to retire (Houston, San Antonio: houses, purchase, schools)

[ArtVan15]

I recently retired. Wanting to move from Wisconsin to Texas. Wondering what the best place would be. Would like to be around good health care. Need to purchase a house. Are there certain areas/cities that have lower property taxes? Please recommend.

[ChristieP]

What's your budget?
Do you want urban, suburban, or rural?

[SugLandDAd]

A general response to these kind of questions is a small town in the vicinity of San Antonio, where you could drive in to a hospital there for treatment.


Texas in general has high property tax to make up for the lack of income taxes. When you are working, its kind of an even trade off, when you stop working, and have no income, you lose the benefit of having no income tax, but still have to deal with the high property taxes. You can avoid higher property taxes somewhat by sticking to smaller towns.


You would have to provide more information about your likes and dislikes in order to get any usable advice.


Looking for beaches?
Lakes?
Fishing?
Horseback riding?
Hiking?
VA hospital?
Arts and museums?
Live music?
Forests?
Desert?
Tolerance to Heat/Humidity?
Sports?

[ArtVan15]

Thinking probably suburban since I don't want to be real far from good hospital and from stores. I am in a wheelchair and just need to escape the cold weather of Wisconsin. My budget for house would be between $200k-$250k. Don't have much for likes or dislikes. I do enjoy biking and can tolerate heat/humidity over the cold. Do not want to be in a place where I need to evacuate for hurricanes. Understand that since I am not working I would lose benefit of no income state tax. So was looking for place where property taxes would be less if there is such a place.


Not sure how housing prices compare from Wisconsin to Texas. Currently pay property taxes in Wisconsin at $2,600 per year for house, garbage, sewer on a 150k house in suburban area.

[SugLandDAd]

https://taxease.com/lowest-property-...xas-by-county/

[ArtVan15]

I did check out those lowest property tax counties earlier. Those look pretty rural with not a lot of population in the counties so not sure they would have good health care near by.

[katiev111]

So I live in belton (up and coming area and Baylor Scott and white healthcare is headquartered in temple, so no shortage of healthcare)...my home was 175k and we pay 4300 a year. Sooooo property taxes here are high. But we’re close to any major city and pretty good weather

[SugLandDAd]

The closest you could likely get to San Antonio with lower taxes would likley be Karnes County. There is a hospital in Karnes City, and its about an hour to San Antonio for wider healthcare choice choices.

Maybe Gonzales County.

Karnes City Community Chamber of Commerce - Tourist Attractions

https://www.gonzales.texas.gov/


I like Seguin, its close in to San Antonio, but taxes are likley higher


Victoria is actually a pretty little town, closer to Houston


https://explorevictoriatexas.com/

[ChristieP]

Be careful about the rural hospitals, such as the one in Karnes City mentioned above which is only licensed for 20 beds, and is only a level 4 trauma center. Many small rural hospitals have trouble getting good doctors, and are often financially shaky. Many rural hospitals have closed in recent years due to financial difficulties, so you'd hate to move somewhere and have the only hospital close.

Segiun would be a much better choice since they have a bigger hospital, and it isn't as far from new Braunfels and San Antonio.

[ArtVan15]

Looked at some houses on realtor.com. Looks like you pay a lot more in property taxes. Looks like double. You must pay a lot for schools. Wisconsin was supposed to be ranked just under Texas for some of the highest property taxes in the country. That doesn't look to be true.