The True Cost of Living in MD: Some Basic Facts (for sale, real estate)

[cry_havoc]

Originally Posted by vicnice

The problem is if you dont use state benefits, you are paying for something that you dont recieve.

Are you using Welfare? Nope
Food Stamps: Nope
Public Housing? Nope

Then tell me again, why you are paying 40-50% more in taxes? If paying money for social services makes you feel good, then its still a better idea to move to a cheaper state and pay more into a charity of your choice.

You pay the same roughly.

MD housing is cheaper. Why pay 40-50% pay on your house?

At the end of the day for the same lifestyle they cost the same, but MD offers benefits that VA doesnt.

[vicnice]

Originally Posted by MrRational

The numbers (and our values) will work out how they do for each of us.
If (when) the net of the net dollar amount is significant... then our values play a larger role.

The point however is to actually know what YOUR real net of the net dollar amount is.
Few do. Most seem willing to to cling to one element or another in preference to the totality.

And thats exactly it, you are right that each scenario is different but the basic facts are the same. Maryland can actually be more expensive than NOVA purely due to tax (especially about the 100 or 200K joint scenarios). People just say Maryland = Cheap, and that is absolutly not true in total cost (even in housing).....you have to leave the beltway these days to get a deal or go down to PG.

And if in PG you are paying for private school, AND you have a 400K home (which is very easy to do both in PG) you are paying above NOVA prices.

[JavaChip3]

Originally Posted by vicnice

And thats exactly it, you are right that each scenario is different but the basic facts are the same. Maryland can actually be more expensive than NOVA purely due to tax (especially about the 100 or 200K joint scenarios). People just say Maryland = Cheap, and that is absolutly not true in total cost (even in housing).....you have to leave the beltway these days to get a deal or go down to PG.

And if in PG you are paying for private school, AND you have a 400K home (which is very easy to do both in PG) you are paying above NOVA prices.

Sorry, but you're reaching with that one. Most people in PG county are not buying 400K houses.

And even if the overall costs (house in PG + private school) were similar to a home in VA, the 400K home in PG will be substantially nicer than the 500K home in NOVA.

[slowlane3]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

D.C. has a 10% sales tax.

Wrong (sorry). DC's general sales tax is only 6%, except for restaurants which are 10%, and groceries which are exempt.

And don't forget that VA taxes motor vehicles, annually, which MD and DC do not.

Governor McConnell has also proposed raising VA's sales tax to 5.8%, while eliminating the state gasoline tax (although that's only a proposal).

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by vicnice

The problem is if you dont use state benefits, you are paying for something that you dont recieve.

Are you using Welfare? Nope
Food Stamps: Nope
Public Housing? Nope

Then tell me again, why you are paying 40-50% more in taxes? If paying money for social services makes you feel good, then its still a better idea to move to a cheaper state and pay more into a charity of your choice.

Are you saying that you do not benefit when you help others? Welfare, food stamps, and public housing actually accomplish more than charity does. Ideally, charity would be enough, but where, in this entire world, has it ever been enough?

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by slowlane3

Wrong (sorry). DC's general sales tax is only 6%, except for restaurants which are 10%, and groceries which are exempt.

And don't forget that VA taxes motor vehicles, annually, which MD and DC do not.

Governor McConnell has also proposed raising VA's sales tax to 5.8%, while eliminating the state gasoline tax (although that's only a proposal).

So it's evident that I only go to eat in DC. So, I'm not entirely wrong.

[molukai]

I don't know about all this, but I just know that my builder has the same house that I bought in Fort Washington, Maryland also in Alexandria, VA. Whereas the one in Alexandria was in the most undesirable spot and a bare bones basic model, my house was semi-customed by me so that it was decked out with all sorts of amenities (i.e. 23 in-ceiling speakers, central vac, home automation, advanced security and surveillance sensors/cameras) and also overlooks a beautiful hillside that can see the Masonic tower in Alexandria in the distance (to give you an idea of its scenic spot, during July 4th, we could see 5 fireworks launch points from MD to VA to DC from our house). The cost difference between the basic house in VA from my house was that my house is half a million dollars cheaper. It doesn't take a genius to know that I made the right choice in picking Maryland, financially or otherwise.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by molukai

I don't know about all this, but I just know that my builder has the same house that I bought in Fort Washington, Maryland also in Alexandria, VA. Whereas the one in Alexandria was in the most undesirable spot and a bare bones basic model, my house was semi-customed by me so that it was decked out with all sorts of amenities (i.e. 23 in-ceiling speakers, central vac, home automation, advanced security and surveillance sensors/cameras) and also overlooks a beautiful hillside that can see the Masonic tower in Alexandria in the distance (to give you an idea of its scenic spot, during July 4th, we could see 5 fireworks launch points from MD to VA to DC from our house). The cost difference between the basic house in VA from my house was that my house is half a million dollars cheaper. It doesn't take a genius to know that I made the right choice in picking Maryland, financially or otherwise.

That's what we learned as well. Also, MD has plenty of great schools. Why is this argument always NOVA vs PG County (which has nice areas too). Howard, AA, Frederick, Montgomery and even much of PG have plenty of good areas to choose from with good schools and houses that are half what they are in NOVO with less traffic and closer to DC because traffic is better. Not to mention you are closer to the bay and baltimore and ocean city.

Maryland any day.

[vicnice]

Originally Posted by JavaChip3

Sorry, but you're reaching with that one. Most people in PG county are not buying 400K houses.

And even if the overall costs (house in PG + private school) were similar to a home in VA, the 400K home in PG will be substantially nicer than the 500K home in NOVA.

And that's great. I am one that invests in family and good neighborhoods vs big houses. I would pick a small house in a great neighborhood/area any day of the week. And again the point is, it's not that drastic. People act like you are going to pay 2x the amount to live across the river and that's just a poor assumption (hence the thread).

Looking on Realtor.com right now and it's a mistake to think that you get even 30% more house for the price difference (including tax at 150K of income).

[JavaChip3]

Originally Posted by vicnice

And that's great. I am one that invests in family and good neighborhoods vs big houses. I would pick a small house in a great neighborhood/area any day of the week. And again the point is, it's not that drastic. People act like you are going to pay 2x the amount to live across the river and that's just a poor assumption (hence the thread).

Looking on Realtor.com right now and it's a mistake to think that you get even 30% more house for the price difference (including tax at 150K of income).

That assumes you cannot find a good community AND a nice/modern home in MD. I have no dog in this fight anyway as I live in DC, but I think most people would find it difficult to find even a decent sized home in NOVA for $500K in a good school district and less than an hour commute to the city.