Why do Property taxes vary so much in VA?

[VA Yankee]

I'll ask again where are you currently is sounds like the NY metro, there is no school tax here and depending where you settle you may pay a town or city taxes with your property taxes but to give you and example:

1960's era tri-level on Long Island current sale price $600k taxes including school & property around $12k a year (will vary with town/schools). Same house in Henrico County outside Richmond, average price $250-300k, taxes $2175 - 2610 (tax rate is $8.70 per 1k assessed.)

[RubyandPearl]

Property taxes and public services are related.

In most communities in Virginia schools are financed by home/commercial property taxes. Residents who rent do not pay property tax, even if they have children in school.

My question would be: are you moving to Virginia just to avoid the high property tax you're now paying?

Economics really isn't a good reason to move somewhere. Have you visited Virginia? Do you know anything about it?

How do you know the state will be a fit for you?

If you are paying $16,000 in property taxes a year you are probably in the NJ/NY/lower New England area.

There are a lot of public services in that area with very generous retirement packages for public employees. A friend of ours from NY receives his full pay as a retired high school principal. Full pay in retirement. Somebody's got to pay for that and that somebody is you if you live in NY.

Or if you live in NJ, NH, CT, etc. and own a home.

Property taxes are much lower in Virginia not because the schools are bad they're actually good, but because Virginia doesn't have the same extensive network of public services the northeast has. That northeasterners voted for because they wanted them, use them and many people have become very dependent on them. Those services don't come free.

You wont have these services to the same extent in Virginia, are you willing to live without them just to have a lower property tax?

[artistherapy]

We lived in Maryland for years and my husband commuted to Virginia, We have visited most of the historical areas of VA. We found it to be beautiful. Now we are retiring so yes taxes and especially property taxes are a very big reason to move.

[elizabeth224]

I know MD taxes vary by county too. The one thing we had to consider about VA is the personal property tax on cars and boats and the fact there is a 2.5% tax on food. We do love the area near New Kent and Williamsburg but for us it would be very similar in taxes after adding things to the VA property tax that are not taxed in MD. Plus, the sales tax in Williamsburg in 7%. Now, we will have to wait and see what happens everywhere after the COVID expenses. I have a feeling taxes will rise all over.

[RubyandPearl]

Originally Posted by elizabeth224

I know MD taxes vary by county too. The one thing we had to consider about VA is the personal property tax on cars and boats and the fact there is a 2.5% tax on food. We do love the area near New Kent and Williamsburg but for us it would be very similar in taxes after adding things to the VA property tax that are not taxed in MD. Plus, the sales tax in Williamsburg in 7%. Now, we will have to wait and see what happens everywhere after the COVID expenses. I have a feeling taxes will rise all over.

Good advice and important information as well.

Moving to try to escape taxes is not possible. All states have taxes, some states raise taxes in different ways. Taxes are spent in different ways too. If the OP is indeed from the NE and used to lavish public services, there will not be the same level of services in either Maryland or Virginia. Will this be acceptable to quality of life for the OP?

OP, since you've spent a good amount of time in Maryland already, maybe consider moving to Maryland. Virginia is just across the river and easy to visit. Both states are beautiful in a similar way.

Since you're retiring, why buy such an expensive house? Unless you're wanting to live in some of the nicest neighborhoods right in DC, very nice houses can be had for $350,000 or much less in some areas. Your property taxes would be much lower with a less expensive house. $450,000 will buy a lot of house anywhere outside of NoVA.

[elizabeth224]

Thanks. It took us a long time to figure all of this stuff out. LOL.