Stevens Point? (Milwaukee, Wausau, Weston: real estate, assessors, house)

[Homewardbound66]

Can anyone tell me what Stevens Point is like? Do they have good schools? I have checked out the internet and found some information, but would like some information from someone who lives or has lived there. Thanks alot.

[politikally]

Stevens Point is one of Northern Wisconsin's larger Cities. It's just south of another even larger city/area - Wausau (Wausau/Schofield/Weston Metro).

Stevens Point actually has decent schools, but I would argue that the attention you'd get in those schools is reduced because Stevens Point has SPASH. SPASH = Stevens Point Area Senior Highschool - It is Wisconsin's LARGEST highschool. Thus I think student to teacher relation is somewhat reduced.

As for the rest of Stevens Point, UWSP (University of Wisconsin Stevens Point) is in town and it provides many of the jobs in the area. Thus Stevens Point comes across as a smaller "College" Town. Drinking is a VERY large activity on the weekends (Thurs-Sunday for college students) and downtown is full of drunk college students I've partied there myself and I didn't even goto school there.

All-in-all Stevens Point is mainly a "college" town in my humble opinion.

I don't mind Stevens Point, but I think there are better and far more scenic places to live if you move to the State.

[Homewardbound66]

Thanks for the information. We would not live right in Stevens Point because we prefer the rural areas. My husband "may" work there if an interview goes well. As far as the highschool is concerned, my son is 4 years old and so we have a few years before we have to worry about that. Can't you in Wisconsin choose your school? In other words, if one lives in a certain area, but would prefer the school in another area can't they do that? I'm sure the transportation must be provided by the parent, but I seem to remember hearing this by some people from church that lived in Walworth and their kids went to Lake Geneva or something like that.

As far as the college in Stevens Point - great!! I like the college towns and always have. We wouldn't live in Stevens Point and so wouldn't be bothered by the partying. By the way, I grew up outside of Syracuse and that of course, has Syracuse University and with the football and the bars I'm accustomed to it.

There's a children's museum, right? I want to take some classes at the college if we move there and I saw they have a planeterium, which is really cool. Thanks again for the information. If anyone has anything to add I would appreciate it. Also if you can answer the school question that would be great too.

[politikally]

I think it would depend on the particular districts policies regarding that. As a general rule no - especially in the rural areas. School districts are big on making sure that the students in their districts goto the schools in their districts to maintain school funding per student.

The only School Choice program I'm aware of in the State is in Milwaukee where they have a voucher program which is extremely popular.

The only other piece of advice I have: Prepare for sticker shock regarding Taxes in Wisconsin. Property Taxes in particular are likely double what you are used to paying.

[Homewardbound66]

I really don't get the comment on the taxes. I see it a lot on this board. We live in Illinois and have a ranch that is 1250 sf and we pay $3500 in taxes. I'm not seeing that on the real estate I've found up there. Thanks again for your input. I REALLY appreciate it. Our school here charges students to be in their sports program. $200 per student for the 1st sport, $100 for the 2nd sport, ect. I bet Wisconsin doesn't do that and I'm willing to pay more in taxes if they are more because I think more is included in those prices. We have a lot of extra charges even with our taxes in the amount they are.

Thanks again.

[politikally]

Originally Posted by IMISSNY

I really don't get the comment on the taxes. I see it a lot on this board. We live in Illinois and have a ranch that is 1250 sf and we pay $3500 in taxes. I'm not seeing that on the real estate I've found up there. Thanks again for your input. I REALLY appreciate it. Our school here charges students to be in their sports program. $200 per student for the 1st sport, $100 for the 2nd sport, ect. I bet Wisconsin doesn't do that and I'm willing to pay more in taxes if they are more because I think more is included in those prices. We have a lot of extra charges even with our taxes in the amount they are.

Thanks again.

$3500 is cheap!! My parents paid nearly $6000 in property taxes last year for their home and property, and they live in a pretty rural area. Anyway, Taxes in Wisconsin are very high. Wisconsin was ranked 6th in the nation for tax burden (I read that in the Milwaukee Journal about a year ago). Illinois was ranked in the 30's somewhere.

As for schools charging for sports programs - no. That's very unusual. When I was in highschool in the early 90's the most we ever had to pay was for our name to be put on the back of our football jersey which was like $30.

[Homewardbound66]

Okay, I'm looking at a house in a rural location and its on 10 acres. According to the Remax, the taxes were $1482 in 2005. The house is between 1501 - 1750 square feet. Now I know taxes go up with the sale, but would they go as high as $6000?! That might scare me a little bit. Please let me know because I'm basing the taxes on what I'm seeing on the realtors' websites and I don't understand how they might jump to as high as you've said.

[Homewardbound66]

By the way, we're originally from upstate New York and were considering moving back, but check out the real estate taxes there! New Jersey and New York State have the highest property taxes in the U.S. This was published at the beginning of this month. I'll take Wisconsin!

[politikally]

Originally Posted by IMISSNY

Okay, I'm looking at a house in a rural location and its on 10 acres. According to the Remax, the taxes were $1482 in 2005. The house is between 1501 - 1750 square feet. Now I know taxes go up with the sale, but would they go as high as $6000?! That might scare me a little bit. Please let me know because I'm basing the taxes on what I'm seeing on the realtors' websites and I don't understand how they might jump to as high as you've said.

Property Taxes are extremely difficult to calculate in Wisconsin.. I couldn't even hazard a guess for you.

It depends on what kind of taxes are leveled against your property by the Township, City, County, and/or School District you live in.

I will say that areas are better than others. If I were you I wouldn't rely on the realtor's assessment of the taxes, because that tax could have been based on your property's previous value. When the house sells the house will have a new market value for that year and the taxes will likely increase.

The best thing you could do is call the County Assessors office and tell them you are buying X property for X amount and you want to get an estimate on the property taxes for 2007 using the local millages and other assessment data. I don't think they use square feet as a marker in this state for property taxes. My understanding is it's the market value of your home, times all the local tax assessments. So the more expensive the home the more you pay in taxes. Most of the people I know with a 120k+ house pay $3000-$4000, though most live in cities where taxes are higher. My parents pay more because they have a bit more property than your average bear.

If your property taxes are in reality as cheap as that realator says they are, I'd buy the house in a heartbeat.

[Homewardbound66]

Thank you very much! You have provided a lot of very usual information. IF my husband gets the job I will definitely pursue your advice. I hope everyone I meet is as friendly and helpful as you.