Do Retired Texas move out of state due to high property taxes? (Austin: appointed, sale)

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by 1979

I don't understand why you would want to leave FL? Especially for TX?

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes, Taxes and Homeowners Insurance. What's wrong w/ Texas? Never been? Some of us like Texas and would never dream of living somewhere like say......... Boston

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by 1979

I don't understand why you would want to leave FL? Especially for TX?

I do. I'd choose some parts of Texas any day over most of Florida, but we all have different likes and dislikes. I wouldn't even want to vacation in Florida. There is just something about that state I do not like.

[Lakewooder]

Florida is too humid.

[changeofpace]

We compared Ft Lauderdale FL to Corpus Christi TX regarding cost of homes, taxes, cost of living, homeowners and car insurance and saved approx. $3,000 per year by moving to Corpus. We left MN to retire to TX and saved over $7,000 when we compared the same costs.

[teatime]

You really have to check the tax rates, exemptions, etc. for each town and county because it can vary widely. I got HAMMERED by property taxes in the Rio Grande Valley because a bunch of agencies had their hands out. Not only did we have to pay the usual city, county and school taxes, but we also had to pay taxes to UT-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, the Brownsville Port Navigation District, and the South Texas ISD. Brownsville school taxes were high because the district had to build AT LEAST one school every year to keep up with enrollment (many of whom were illegal immigrants, grrrrrrr). DO check how many "taxing authorities" will be collecting revenue from you in the areas you like.

I'm getting a much better deal here in Abilene, paying just the usual city, county and school taxes. Plus, Abilene and Taylor county freeze the tax rate for elderly and disabled folks, meaning my taxes won't go up. The disability and homestead exemptions knocked something like $25,000 off my assessed value so I'm a pretty happy camper! Plus, the elderly and disabled are allowed to pay their taxes in quarterly installments over the year with no fees or penalties. I don't usually do that but it's a nice option to have.

[Lakewooder]

I have a lake cabin on three lots (waterfront) where the taxes are less than $1,000.

[catman]

The property taxes are hideous in Ft Worth, but there is no state income tax.

I certainly wouldn't want to live in Florida. The climate is not to my liking, and it's just sitting there waiting for hurricane season. I saw it referred to as "God's waiting room". It has its good points, but I don't care for it much. (The feeling may well be mutual, and I don't care!)

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes, Taxes and Homeowners Insurance. What's wrong w/ Texas? Never been? Some of us like Texas and would never dream of living somewhere like say......... Boston

I've never had the opportunity to visit Boston but my native Texan nephew, his wife, and two kids vacationed there. They fell in love it and said they'd live there in a heartbeat if it were possible.

One of my uncles was raised there and my cousin visited it often as an adult. She loved it as well.

[TexasHorseLady]

My Native Texan son lived in Boston for a year. He loved it, but the winter weather was not so great.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I've never had the opportunity to visit Boston but my native Texan nephew, his wife, and two kids vacationed there. They fell in love it and said they'd live there in a heartbeat if it were possible.

One of my uncles was raised there and my cousin visited it often as an adult. She loved it as well.

I've visited a ton of places around this country and the world that I deeply loved. Some you even dream of living there or even having a second home there. Doesn't mean it is "all that" as they ALL have their downfalls and no place is perfect. You might get there and think you found your nirvana and find you can't stand the place one bit. Happens all the time. One reason why my Texas born family moved back from Florida after 2 years after they retired there. Young retirees and came back saying, "everyone is old there and they just sit around".