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I live in Orange County CA in a 55+ community with a 27 hole golf course, several 9 hole golf courses, several club houses, several pools and spas. Also only about 6 miles from Laguna Beach and within close range of Newport Beach, etc. Cost is important but so is location. Average price in this area is over $700,000. You can buy a 2 bedroom / 2 bath 1,100sf place here which has been completely redone for less than $200,000. My association fee and taxes here run about $650 per month. Taxes are a consideration in Calif., but si is weather, utility costs, location,overall costs, etc.
I grew up in Orange County and love living here. Personally, I wouldn't consider a place to retire to with hot weather(Phoenix), cold weather(notheast) or humidity(Florida, Texas, etc.). But everyone has different ideas. To each his own with their choices in life. Cost of utilities here are very nominal due to the general warm weather. Personally, I haven't used my heater here for several years. If I get cold(around 60) I put a sweatshirt on. If I really get cold (40 or 50) I put two sweat shirts on.
Everyone here has different as to what's important to them.
Your property taxes are $6.38/sq ft.
Here in 'high tax' New England property taxes on my house $0.25/sq ft.
Your taxes are more than 25X our taxes.
Huh? Maine property tax is higher than the National average. Here's the data from 2013: The statewide median rate is $14.30 for every $1,000 of assessed value. At the median rate, the tax bill on a property assessed at $100,000 would be $1,430.
The Democrats have discovered a way around Prop. 13 in Calif. Bonds and parcel taxes. This last election a couple of weeks ago there were 3 that passed in LA. Its that way every election. They are added to your property tax.
Nothing new about that and it is not specifically a 'democratic' thing. Even in republican majority areas of California voters routinely pass infrastructure and school bonds. The way to avoid part of that is to check the history of tax increases for the area in which you are considering buying a home.
Huh? Maine property tax is higher than the National average. Here's the data from 2013: The statewide median rate is $14.30 for every $1,000 of assessed value. At the median rate, the tax bill on a property assessed at $100,000 would be $1,430.
I WISH. I grew up in Orange County but could never afford to retire there. My childhood home, bought for $30,000 in the 60's, sold for 1.2 mil. Prop 13 saved my folks. We used to go to Laguna Beach regularly, and if not for the traffic there, it would be my #1 choice. Oh, and the cost
"Pageant of the Masters" is my favorite memory!
I have come to really appreciate SoCal weather after having lived all over the place. In Mission Viejo, we never used heat or air conditioning. On the beach, neither one. A little further inland you need a/c though.
I never appreciated the lack of humidity until I left CA.
If cost were not a factor and I could live on the beach there, I would in a heartbeat.
Oceanside is more affordable, being a military area and not as upscale. I loved the beach there.
^^^Oakland is like this climate wise... never have lived in a home with A/C and the only time the heat was ever on is around the Holidays when the Great Aunts and Grandparents would be over...
As OCHomepro noted, both Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are close by here. I also like Dana Point Harbor, especially for quiet early morning walks with my dog.
We love the Santa Cruz area and my brother lives there. Each time we consider CA, I back off because of the cost of real estate and the taxes. It especially concerns me that income I get for rental properties would be taxed if I lived in CA. But over time I start thinking perhaps I should reconsider. Soooo....if you left a cheaper State and retired to California I'd love to hear your story and how its going.
Life is too short to retire to some place you do not want to live just because it is cheap. Those places are cheap for a reason and too many of those "best places to retire" place a very high rating on lower taxes and lower housing costs. They do not consider things like quality of life or being near world class medical care. They also do not consider ease of access to social services. These things are all probably more important than saving what is really only a few dollars in taxes. Millions of retirees live in California. If it was so bad so many would not remain there. Only you can decide where is the best place for you to retire. If you think it is California then go for it. I am sure you will feel it is worth it. Jay
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