Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
#31
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Water - all charges are for 2 months.
Fixed 'sanitation service charge' of $102.00
Fixed 'readiness to serve' charge of $25.34
Actual water used is around $40-$90 depending on time of year. There is a punitive charge if you go over your allocated 'water budget' (based on lot size, not family size, not logical if you want to encourage people to water the yard less )
Ironporer, your water bill does sound on the high side but again watering for 'a few hours' sounds quite a lot.
Fixed 'sanitation service charge' of $102.00
Fixed 'readiness to serve' charge of $25.34
Actual water used is around $40-$90 depending on time of year. There is a punitive charge if you go over your allocated 'water budget' (based on lot size, not family size, not logical if you want to encourage people to water the yard less )
Ironporer, your water bill does sound on the high side but again watering for 'a few hours' sounds quite a lot.
#32
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
[QUOTE=AmerLisa;8820239]
What upkeep costs do you pay that a renter doesn't pay other than repairs when things go wrong? Most rental properties haven't been repainted, updated or been properly cleaned for years, if you don't do it yourself the landlords certainly aren't going to do it. We pay the costs of upkeep because we want to live in a nice home rather than a hovel.
I understand the HOA costs, but thats a choice to move into a HOA.
I understand the HOA costs, but thats a choice to move into a HOA.
#34
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Yes both property taxes and interest on mortgage are 100% deductible. However, you have to exceed the standard deduction ($11,500 for married filing jointly) with your total deductions before you would see any benefit. If you are in a state and/or city with income tax, you can also deduct those taxes as well as personal property taxes (car, etc.) from your income when filing your federal tax return. If your state doesn't have an income tax, you can deduct your sales tax.
#35
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Yes both property taxes and interest on mortgage are 100% deductible. However, you have to exceed the standard deduction ($11,500 for married filing jointly) with your total deductions before you would see any benefit. If you are in a state and/or city with income tax, you can also deduct those taxes as well as personal property taxes (car, etc.) from your income when filing your federal tax return. If your state doesn't have an income tax, you can deduct your sales tax.
As a rentor it is highly unlikely you would ever meet the $11.5k so overall you pay more out throughout the year when you include taxes.
Sorry, I know that's worded really crap, I know what I mean
#36
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Some scary numbers back there.
~1,500 square feet, 2 people:
Water-sewage-garbage-recycling: $50
Electricity: ~$60 (A/C not needed in northern NM)
Gas: ~$10 in the summer, up to ~$150 in the winter.
When I owned a place here (similar size), property taxes were $1,450 for the year.
~1,500 square feet, 2 people:
Water-sewage-garbage-recycling: $50
Electricity: ~$60 (A/C not needed in northern NM)
Gas: ~$10 in the summer, up to ~$150 in the winter.
When I owned a place here (similar size), property taxes were $1,450 for the year.
#37
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
So possibly you could be better off paying $1k a month property tax than a lower rate that wouldn't meet the $11.5k threshold.
As a rentor it is highly unlikely you would ever meet the $11.5k so overall you pay more out throughout the year when you include taxes.
Sorry, I know that's worded really crap, I know what I mean
As a rentor it is highly unlikely you would ever meet the $11.5k so overall you pay more out throughout the year when you include taxes.
Sorry, I know that's worded really crap, I know what I mean
I had previously paid off my mortgage and only had property taxes and state income tax as deductions on a fairly large salary so I was able to itemize to pay less taxes. Since I retired, my state income taxes were very low (due to the fact that social security benefits are only taxed on part of the benefits - could be as little as none of the benefits are taxed if your total income is below about $35,000) so usually itemizing is not beneficial.
In my case, the standard deduction is only $8,400 (single) but I only have about $3,500 in property taxes (about 1/2 what it should be due to California prop 13 and prop 90).
Last edited by Michael; Sep 2nd 2010 at 5:44 am.
#38
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Some of the monthly utility bills on this thread seem pretty low compared to ours
2,400 sq ft house, 3 people living in it
water=$50
elec=$300 (only paid summer bills so far, hoping it goes down next month)
Gas=$50 (will go up a little in Winter, but not much)
Internet-$45
cable=$90 (dropped this service this month, so no more cable )
renters ins', 2 autos=$100
rent= $1600
garbage=$45 every 3 months
On our house in IL, we pay $150 for HOA, will go up next year.
Property taxes=$3,700 per yr, also going up next year.
property agent fees=$80 pm
home warranty=$50 pm
2,400 sq ft house, 3 people living in it
water=$50
elec=$300 (only paid summer bills so far, hoping it goes down next month)
Gas=$50 (will go up a little in Winter, but not much)
Internet-$45
cable=$90 (dropped this service this month, so no more cable )
renters ins', 2 autos=$100
rent= $1600
garbage=$45 every 3 months
On our house in IL, we pay $150 for HOA, will go up next year.
Property taxes=$3,700 per yr, also going up next year.
property agent fees=$80 pm
home warranty=$50 pm
#39
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
[QUOTE=N1cky;8820211]
It is tax deductable which is a break and Texas has no state tax on income so we make up some there as well but still writing those cheques in January makes me cry .
#40
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
[QUOTE=N1cky;8820290]
What upkeep costs do you pay that a renter doesn't pay other than repairs when things go wrong? Most rental properties haven't been repainted, updated or been properly cleaned for years, if you don't do it yourself the landlords certainly aren't going to do it. We pay the costs of upkeep because we want to live in a nice home rather than a hovel.
I understand the HOA costs, but thats a choice to move into a HOA.
I think I was pointing out what a owner pays....and somehow it all got lost in the translation and at this early in the morning I have no idea what I meant....
What upkeep costs do you pay that a renter doesn't pay other than repairs when things go wrong? Most rental properties haven't been repainted, updated or been properly cleaned for years, if you don't do it yourself the landlords certainly aren't going to do it. We pay the costs of upkeep because we want to live in a nice home rather than a hovel.
I understand the HOA costs, but thats a choice to move into a HOA.
#41
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
My wifes uncle and aunt own a rental place and they take very good care of the tenants. If something breaks, they fix it and when people move out they always do one or two major rejuvenations, new carpet, new appliances, new bathroom, painting, etc. They are not large places and not high end by any stretch of the imagination either. Not all people in the rental game are hands off!
#42
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 381
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
People pay 2 grand a month property tax?
Here for a nice house in a nice neighborhood it is around $700 a YEAR.
Surely it can't be $24,000 a year?
Well praps it is and some people just earn a lot of money. Fair play.
Glad to see a summer electric AC bill of around $150 a month is common. This is about what it is here. Money well spent - having AC rules. Just makes the summer so much more enjoyable. You can go out in the heat but know you can get out of it by going indoors. Bliss.
Here for a nice house in a nice neighborhood it is around $700 a YEAR.
Surely it can't be $24,000 a year?
Well praps it is and some people just earn a lot of money. Fair play.
Glad to see a summer electric AC bill of around $150 a month is common. This is about what it is here. Money well spent - having AC rules. Just makes the summer so much more enjoyable. You can go out in the heat but know you can get out of it by going indoors. Bliss.
#43
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
My wifes uncle and aunt own a rental place and they take very good care of the tenants. If something breaks, they fix it and when people move out they always do one or two major rejuvenations, new carpet, new appliances, new bathroom, painting, etc. They are not large places and not high end by any stretch of the imagination either. Not all people in the rental game are hands off!
#44
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,059
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
Property tax is one of the most varied expenses across the country. They are high where I live. I just did a quick lookup of houses for sale in my area... check out number 16300 South Park Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH. MLS number 3105469. Nice looking place, taxes are $28,770.
#45
Re: Bills- Sewer/Water/Gas/Electric/Garbage...how much do you pay?
EDIT: Above house is in the "different county"
Last edited by Duncan Roberts; Sep 2nd 2010 at 2:48 pm.