Burn1911

hello hello - its been AGES since I visited BE.. hello everyone hope this finds you all well and happy and healthy!

So anyway I am after some info - I think EnglishTart might be my lady, seeing as I believe she is in SC.

Hubby has not been happy in work for a while, and having been here in WA for 9 years we are up for another challenge.. thinking about relocating to SC.. with work same company he is with now.

We know it will be different, in ALL aspects, and are SO up for that challenge and change and turning our lives upside down, I was just wondering what the general concensus is about SC.

Is there sales tax, what sort of % property tax, I have looked at Zillow and house prices are lower than here in WA, we have heard that the people there are very friendly (as they are here) we are prepared for different political views etc..

I guess I just thought BE would be a good place to start a discussion on the pro's and con's etc..

TBH I think we are going to go for it anyway - I mean what is the worst thing that can happen!! But I know someone out there has an opinion!!

civilservant

So he works for Boeing then

(I only know because I'm an aviation buff, and they've run opened a second production line in Charleston )

No advice to offer, but just to tell his he's a lucky guy, I'd love to work in the aviation industry.

Beaverstate

Management or union /now non union. More helpful your heating bills will be less, however AC goes from zero to ???

civilservant

SC sales tax is 6%, looks like property tax is 4% for primary residence.

Although we're currently in GA, have been to SC a fair bit (wife grew up in Anderson SC, frequently visit Myrtle Beach) and it always seems like a fairly pleasant place.

You are certainly correct about the differing political views, my assumption is that WA is mostly Dems.... SC certainly isn't. 2 of the 12 sitting Congressman are Dems, and both of the Senators are Republicans.

Along with obviously moving to the middle of the Bible belt, with all that entails.

Pulaski

4% of what? Surely not $4k pa on a $100k home?

civilservant

http://www.sctax.org/Tax+Information...html#assratios

You interpret

Pulaski

Holy cow! ..... No wonder house prices are low in SC!

Englishtart

Hi there Burn!

Yes, we are in Charleston SC, just down the road from Boeing, in fact they share a runway with the base and Charleston Airport.

I can't tell you much about the property tax, we haven't bought here, but you can look that up easily enough. It is a very pretty State, lots of stuff to do indoor/outdoor, the beaches are great, people friendly (on the whole) Some really good school districts for families, housing prices are reasonable, you can get a new build home in a nice area from around $125.000 up too whatever you can afford! We have friends that love it here, couple other Expats live in this area too and really like it.

For me, the biggest con is the weather, the Winters are nice and mild, rarely get snow, but the Summers are brutal!! temps up in the high 90's regularly (can be higher quite often) I can take the heat (to a degree) but the humidity is just ridiculous! I hate taking a shower and then within minutes of being outside you are a soggy mess! I hibernate indoors for most of the Summer and lots of others I know do the same. If you don't mind humidity, this area is pretty near perfect.

PM me if you need any specific info, I love doing research!

Burn1911

THIS ^^^^ is the sort of info I was after, real time up to the minute news.. I knew you would be the girl to help - I will take you up on the pm offer if/when it becomes a reality.

I figured about the political and religious difference, WA being very liberal, (we just legalized pot donchaknow) but maybe that is why I want to move there, try on a different pair of shoes

YES he works for Boeing, he is currently union and will be non-union in SC, the unions are really screwing it up for Boeing up here and TBH I think they are looking to move ALOT of stuff out of state to non-union states. We have heard that people in SC are REALLY happy working for Boeing down there.

The weather is obviously a HUGE difference, again, why not? it might be hell somedays but other days it might be nice - no snow

It would only be for about 8 yrs as then he is planning to retire, so we figure we need to try this out before then, take then opportunity etc.

THANKS everyone for your help, and EnglishTart, I am sure I will be in touch with more questions

SarahG

I am also in SC. I am in Mount Pleasant so just along the road a bit from Englishtart. If I can help with anything let me know. We have only been here since February 2012 so are still getting the lay of the land.

Last summer was pretty hot but I spent much of it at the beach as I am very close to Isle of Palms and the gorgeous beaches there. I was told to stop posting pics on my FB by some friends back in the UK as they were getting a bit pissed! (All if jest, I assumed of course!)

Burn1911

I will be joining you at the beach and here in my world we don't stop posting pretty pics because it makes FB friends jealous ha ha...

do you own property? we are trying to figure out property tax etc.. TBH it looks and sounds really pretty and amazing!

General concensus - ITS PRETTY!!

SarahG

At the moment we do not own as we are waiting for our GC to come through. It hasn't stopped me looking to see what is out there though.

I also haven't stopped with the beach pics on my FB! In fact I made sure I posted a few on Christmas day! Granted we were wearing jeans and t-shirts but we were still on the beach and not losing feeling in our extremities!

My in-laws came over to visit last summer for close to 3 weeks and we went all over the place with them and they loved it here and said they were very glad that we were here. My OH works for one of the other big employers in the area, Blackbaud.

Burn1911

Hubby is on Zillow now looking at Mt Pleasant I think I will be ok with the heat, it is him I worry about. Do you know much about St John's Island?

What is traffic like over there? Bugs? and beasties?

I think we would get a whole new load of visitors, everyone will want to come and see somewhere new.

Its really a no-brainer, if he gets the job we should go for it, nothing to keep us here except the rain and snow

Bob

I knew someone that did some coding for landing systems...he did targeting missile systems before that. Knew him from doing AI work in games...he didn't know his arse from his elbow though.

Ever since, I've been terrified

Anyway, good luck OP!

AmerLisa

Wondered what ever happened to you! Thought maybe you went camping and never came out!

I don't blame you for wanting to try something different. I can imagine the summers would be horrible, but if the winters, etc were half way decent that would surely make up for it! The winters here seem to drag on forever!! We have to hide out until we have a nice weekend (which was wonderful last weekend, wasn't it?) and then we try and get everything done at once! Gardening, sun worshiping, etc! lol

Hope you have fun planning your new adventure!!