janeth8711

Hi Everyone,

Ok so we move to Florida just over 2 years ago.
We choose Florida for family reasons but are now looking at moving to another state.
Our property tax has tripled in 2 years and we want to move somewhere less stressed, more scenic, and a different climate instead of hot and hotter!
Hubby works self employed so job is not a problem.
We have looked at a few states such as texas and colorado.
Anyone with any suggestions on where we can look would be appreciated

Janet

Bob

If you want humid hot and freezing cold, which if you're considering Colorado, you might want Maine too. Tax is low, though compared to average salary there, is considered a bit high, depending on where in the state.

Over all, low cost of living though and if you're in the Portland area, close enough to Boston, for easy airport access to travel all over and it's got a nice quality of life, certainly scenic and a nice pace of life.

Cheap and similar would include New Hampshire and Vermont.

janeth8711

Thanks for your suggestions Bob,
I never even thought of new Hampshire or Maine.
Having goggled they look alot like England, very green and scenic.
My family are a mixed bunch, my eldest daughter and i love the heat, but my hubby and 2 smallest like the seasons, which i admit so do i.
Were wanting to buy a home with some land , not too much an acre or 2 and not be within 6 feet to our neighbours!

janet

Bob

Land is cheap in Maine....and they do have seasons...5 of them.

Portland and southern Maine can be a bit pricey though, but it's a big state, plenty of nice towns in the lakes area, or along the coast.

thinbrit

Does your hubby's business factor in to this? Is it preferential he is in a certain time zone, have access to a hub airport, etc?

Are you looking for the burbs or a rural retreat?

The cost of living, and hence quality of life, here in the DFW area of Texas is good.

Steve_

Florida has about the lowest overall tax burden of any State (with the exception of Alaska), so moving on that basis is not a good idea. Are you not able to claim the homestead exemption? It's usually people who aren't LPRs or US citizens that have this problem with property tax.

Texas is hot and dry, Colorado is cold and dry. Can't honestly think of anywhere less stressed really either. Texas is actually hotter than Florida as it doesn't have the subtropical climate.

Ummm.... Reno maybe? Low taxes, more scenic, not much hotter during the summer and it has a winter.

Steve_

If that's what you're after I'd say Vermont or upstate New York or various parts of Ohio or Pennsylvania. Don't know what people do for a living in Vermont though, not much there. Vermont has no sales tax. New Hampshire is also a low tax jurisdiction, that's the main reason people live there. But the winters are pretty severe, bear in mind they border Canada.

robin1234

Same as what they do in the rest of rural America. Work for the government. That is, teacher, police officer, corrections officer, highway department, social services etc. etc. Or, part time work in retail or fast food.

Although Vermont also has artisanal bread, artisanal sheep and goat cheese, artisanal microbrews, artisanal hard cider etc.

kins

I'm curious to know what you pay in property tax.

My property is valued at $350k for tax and I pay over $7k a year - might help if you're thinking about Maine. I do live in an excellent school area but even in cheaper areas I'd be paying $6k+.

nethead

Vermont does have a state sales tax it's 6%.

I love all of New England, and feel very settled and at home in Vermont.

rpjs

And it has a bit of a burgeoning tech hub around Burlington. If they do bring in single-payer healthcare I can see VT beginning to attract companies from NY and MA.

Bob

No sales or income....they make up for it in property taxes and having some of the crappest public infrastructure ever.

Though you don't need to wear a seatbelt or have car insurance...which is the trade off

scrubbedexpat091

Good reason not to buy a house, how can anyone afford to own with taxes like that, boggles my mind.

dunroving

What's the fifth, and where does it sit? (fill in the below)

Winter ... spring ... summer ... fall ...

Bob

Mud season.

No, I'm not joking.

Between winter and spring, when the snow starts to melt, the whole place turns to mud for a few weeks and folks that work in the woods aren't able to.