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I would move. First I know nothing about NY and am assuming that this is a ruralish area, so ignore me if I am completely wrong. I spent 11 years in rural MD, so I get what you are saying about people not wanting to visit you. The land was nice, but even with my own family the isolation and lack of activities led us to live a pretty dull life. We moved closer to an urban area 5 years ago and are so much happier.
If rural life is for you, embrace it and find someone who also loves that lifestyle. If rural life is not for you, cut your losses and move on.
Best of luck to you.
Last edited by Pooks1976; 01-29-2019 at 10:07 AM..
Convert to Judaism and starting going to synagogue as Rockland Country as the highest percentage of Jewish folks in the country. Find a nice Jewish girl.
Part of your problem is that it sounds like you have probably vastly overimproved the home for what the local market will bear. You've developed the property to your lifestyle and tastes.
It doesn't sound like you'll get anywhere near your $200k that you have into it back out. Add on the property tax issue and you're going to have a slow moving property.
Of course you do. You just don't like it.
Sell it this season for the best price you can get, eat the loss and move on.
Write it all up as lessons learned.
#1 lesson? Live somewhere for some while before buying there.
#2 lesson? remote areas can be great to go to WITH someone... but not to find them once there.
If I were you I would see a real estate lawyer about those taxes.
Even with your improvements, the taxes shouldnt be going up THAT much. Especially if you didnt significantly raise the value of the house.
My Dad did that and got a big chunk taken off of his taxes, in Bergen County, back when the taxes were around 10K for the house.
21K is ridiculous.
Also, you should look up town functions in your area. There will be women to meet there, and in neighboring towns. Those are good ways to meet people. Those ladies will appreciate your house. Otherwise you'll have to move someplace like Morristown NJ to find young social life. (Definitely dont move to Bergen County).
Challenged the taxes multiple times and lost. The increase was due to the tax case the utility won against North Rockland School District. Effectively, the current residents are paying back the over taxed payments to the utility company.
Well. You have a $900K house. Considering your tax rate is 2.38%
You should have some appreciation to capitalize on, since values are up in that area.
Most real estate agents say I'll get less than what I paid. The real estate prices in North Rockland are depressed due to the high school taxes. No one expected them to be be this high after the tax case.
Look around and you could find an area to live and a house that will be much closer to a city, but yet still be rural. And there are parts of your region where real estate prices and taxes would be much lower. But take your time and make a good decision, so you get everything you want and avoid what you don't want. There's no reason why a single guy like you, can't have things the way you want them.
Just a dumb move on my part to move here. Feel completely stupid in doing so.
we had bought a 2nd home in the poconos back in 2007 which we thought we would retire to..
after all it was just 2 hours to nyc and it was beautiful ...
well years later when we thought about retiring there we had different views once our retirement hats were on .
if i could not drive there was no public transportation and everything requires a drive .
there were few choices in hospitals , specialists , medical facilities .
winters were long , cold , and icy with nothing to do .
if i wanted to work a bit in retirement there were only low wage jobs .
the list went on and on and we realized rural may be nice when you are younger but it may not be the best idea as you age so we sold and don't regret it at all . we retired right here in queens ny where we lived .
I feel you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by twingles
Where do your friends live that this is such an issue? I had many friends in college that lived in North Rockland. It wasn't that much in the boonies 30 years - can't believe it's any worse. Plus you're pushing 40 - what kind of friends are these and where do they live that your place is too far for them?
You need to think about where you want to be in your life because you kinda sound all over the place. Is marriage and kids something you desire? You need to find a way to find like minded women, trust me there are plenty your age who would love to be married. They don't care where you live, you're still less than an hour from NYC.
As far as the taxes, if you did that much work and they are $21K, your house cannot possibly be worth only what you paid - even in NY where they go up every year no matter what. I get it, our taxes tripled in 10 years on LI and have gone up more since we left. Talk to a realtor about what you can get for the house if you really want to move and take it from there. What do you do and where do you do it for a living? I'm thinking if you are stuck in the NYC metro for a job, you must be making decent money by now??? If not, why stay???
They are all in the city, Westchester and NJ. I have no issues going to them, but they never want to come to my place. Saying it's too far. Great friends, I know. I've called a few realtors and they'll be coming by this week.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonyafd
Your taxes are confiscatory. I'm willing to conclude that some neighbors are defaulting already. Isn't there a cap in New York State regarding rises in property taxes. If that's true, get the appropriate attorney. If there is a train line into Manhattan, you are on prime real estate. In Yonkers the politicians and real estate developers worked hand in hand to cause white flight. I wouldn't be surprised if they are not playing a variation on that game in Rockland.
As far as women are concerned you should be willing to drive to Westchester.
Here is a quote from the NYS Comptroller's website: DiNapoli: Tax Cap at Two Percent for 2019
Property tax levy growth for local governments with fiscal years that close on Dec. 31 will be capped at 2 percent for the 2019 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This figure affects the tax cap calculations for all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages.
"For these local governments, allowable levy growth will be 2 percent for the first time since 2013," DiNapoli said. "Despite the possibility of increased tax revenue, municipal budgets will still be vulnerable to rising fixed costs and potential federal funding cuts. Local officials should proceed cautiously when crafting their spending plans for next year."
The tax cap, which first applied to local governments in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with some exceptions, including a provision that allows municipalities to override the tax cap.
During the 2014 through 2018 fiscal years, municipalities with a fiscal year ending on Dec. 31 had their levy growth capped at less than 2 percent.
For a list of allowable levy growth factors for all local governments, visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/pdf/inflation_allowablegrowthfactors.pdf
Find out how your government money is spent at Open Book New York. Track municipal spending, the state's 145,000 contracts, billions in state payments and public authority data. Visit the Reading Room for contract FOIL requests, bid protest decisions and commonly requested data.
There have been a few foreclosures due to the higher school taxes. I am concerned about that as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wherewhatwho
Do you work in the city? Do you socialize primarily with women and friends who live/work in the city? I think it's time to move closer, if so. Even suburban NJ would have a shorter commute than that.
I agree. Heck, I can move to Greenwich and pay less. lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rickcin
First thing I would do is to enlist a firm to do an analysis of your current taxes and many such firms do it on a contingency basis where they get a portion of the savings for the first year. I lived in Rockland, the Chestnut Ridge area and was able to substantially reduce my taxes for a period of time. We were paying about $12K in 2017 for a house valued at $475K for full assessment.
Also, you house is marketable for most of all that you have out into it but not for the typical house buyer. Your house has a smaller more select group of potential buyers. That being the case, you can list it with a decent sized Rockland realty firm, kind of a long term listing that might have appeal to a certain buyer over a period of time.
Meanwhile you continue to live there as things appreciate, slowly as may be the case, with the eventual possibility that a potential buyer might emerge.
I may consider this. Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooks1976
I would move. First I know nothing about NY and am assuming that this is a ruralish area, so ignore me if I am completely wrong. I spent 11 years in rural MD, so I get what you are saying about people not wanting to visit you. The land was nice, but even with my own family the isolation and lack of activities led us to live a pretty dull life. We moved closer to an urban area 5 years ago and are so much happier.
If rural life is for you, embrace it and find someone who also loves that lifestyle. If rural life is not for you, cut your losses and move on.
Best of luck to you.
Rural life isn't that bad, but it's just run it's course for me, I think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CortezC
Convert to Judaism and starting going to synagogue as Rockland Country as the highest percentage of Jewish folks in the country. Find a nice Jewish girl.
Have you thought about getting a roommate or two?
Yea, that's only Pomona, Monsey and Wesley Hills. We're all Catholic here. lol.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serious Conversation
Part of your problem is that it sounds like you have probably vastly overimproved the home for what the local market will bear. You've developed the property to your lifestyle and tastes.
It doesn't sound like you'll get anywhere near your $200k that you have into it back out. Add on the property tax issue and you're going to have a slow moving property.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JonahWicky
Rockland county has gone to crap. Sell and get out while you still can.
Updates were needed as it was a foreclosure and had a lot of work needing to be done. Nothing crazy.
Make sure you do the math on selling. Realtors fees, title transfer taxes, lawyers.
I would just stay for now and try to make it work unless you want to make a big move to a totally different area of the country. I can't see selling just to move to NJ which is so close by. And what will you get there? High property taxes.
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