[MrTudo]

Originally Posted by pianogal

Where do you live that you pay 3% of the sales price on property tax? I haven't heard of any this high in Florida? Also, property tax is not based on sales price, but assessed at value.

....Right!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

I must be an idiot, but some things you just don't pay attention to.

I just saw that Florida has no income tax, but there is a state sales tax (which sounds reasonable).

What EXACTLY am I not paying in FL that I pay in VA?
My current paycheck has:
Federal withholding tax
Social security
VA state tax

It sounds as if the state gets extra taxes for it's tourism (hotel tax etc) that reduces the actual taxes the residents pay.

This may be a really dumb question - but I honestly don't pay attention because Virginia has really high taxes (specifically where I lived in Fairfax County before).

Well, Fairfax County is definately a high tax area. I believe you get nailed by pretty high local tax from the county on top of the state tax there as well (though not taken out of your paycheck). Also you won't have to deal with yearly vehicle inspections and bi-annual emission inspections. However, it comes back on you in car insurance (I moved the other direction from Florida to Virginia) as my car insurance was nearly cut in half.

You'll certainly love no state tax coming out of your paycheck. Certainly a nice aspect of Florida that they make the tourists pay for everything..

[stacylee926]

Thanks VAFURY!
Wow - no vehicle inspections? That alone is priceless - nothing I hate more than waiting in line for a car inspection. The emissions test is only done in the Northern VA area, not here in Tidewater.

I keep reading that Florida is so expensive, but living in Fairfax County has got to be much worse. In 2 1/2 years my mortgage pmt went up over $250 a month due to taxes. I couldn't afford it anymore so I had to leave and came to the VA Beach area where I had family. The traffic - the 2nd reason I left. The cost of living is less here, but crime is worse. Every night the news is either about murders or the weather.

The main reason we want to move (other than hubby's job opportunity) is the lifestyle in South Florida. I lived in big city suburbs for 41 years, and mid city beachy suburbs for almost 4 years. We are getting closer to the quality of life we like, but aren't there yet.

[TeeJayMaJay]

Hang on until JAN 08 - see what happens to the PROPERTY TAXES. Florida is gonna get bit, I am sure!!!!!

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

Thanks VAFURY!
Wow - no vehicle inspections? That alone is priceless - nothing I hate more than waiting in line for a car inspection. The emissions test is only done in the Northern VA area, not here in Tidewater.

I keep reading that Florida is so expensive, but living in Fairfax County has got to be much worse. In 2 1/2 years my mortgage pmt went up over $250 a month due to taxes. I couldn't afford it anymore so I had to leave and came to the VA Beach area where I had family. The traffic - the 2nd reason I left. The cost of living is less here, but crime is worse. Every night the news is either about murders or the weather.

The main reason we want to move (other than hubby's job opportunity) is the lifestyle in South Florida. I lived in big city suburbs for 41 years, and mid city beachy suburbs for almost 4 years. We are getting closer to the quality of life we like, but aren't there yet.

Yeah, people that lived in the DC surrounding areas have every right to laugh when they see Floridians complain about real estate as though it's unique to there... Florida got a major real estate shock too in the last few years and people are none too happy about it there either, but the median home prices tend to be more affordable than NoVA....

Good luck to you.