O/T Your local taxes / Land value around the count

• Tax burdens by state can be found here

Durango, CO- house 1 acre- paid $69,000 in 2006 worth $260,000 today taxes- $650

The answer is not to move away, but to join together and fight this craziness called TAXES !!!

It's getting about high time Americans take back America instead of trying to "fix" the rest of the world.

NO sales tax. My property worth 500K taxed at $2300/year, county + school. We do have a substantial income tax but for most retirees that is not a problem.

Unfortunately over the last 10 or 15 years, many of the new houses built around here have been really large, fancy places. And some of them have recently changed hands, at ridiculously high prices.

Last year I paid nearly $5000 in property taxes on my property and fairly modest, 10 year old house. Last week, I got my reassesment notice: it is about 1/3 higher than last year!!! I did add a nice concrete ramp in front of the garage last year that cost $4000, but all the rest is inflation of value, caused by the prices people have got for the mansions they have built around me.

I grew up on this property, and I had hoped to live on it the rest of my life. But those taxes are SCARING ME!

I live in Georgia. I have friends that live in Alabama and Wisconsin and other places. Yes, Alabama does have low property taxes, but look at their income taxes (will will affect you less, since you are retiring) and the price of gasoline, groceries, etc., and see which area comes out ahead. Weather certainly is another factor.

Pulling up stakes and heading across the country to somewhere strange to finish out your life is a daunting challenge and ALL aspects need to be closely considered.

I would narrow the search to a half a dozen or so areas, and spend months doing research on the taxes, government, codes and laws that might affect you in some adverse unexpected way. Look at everything, consider the weather, resale (yes, you will sell to go in a nursing home or your heirs will sell, or you might not be happy and want to sell and move again, got to look at it)

I sit on my counties Board of Assessors (property tax) where I live in Georgia. Its very interesting, and should my present job "go south" I may get into property tax apprasial full time. In most states, the value of property, and the millage rate of the taxes on it, vary considerably from one locale to another. Want to live cheap? there are many places in rural Georgia that have low taxes, few hassles, and the comfortable rural small town feeling everyone wants. Problem is, few jobs. If you don't need a job, then have at it. There are small towns in Iowa where you can waltz in and buy a real nice little, older house for $20K or so, again no jobs, and oh yes, it snows in the winter.

Charles

Slowpoke

Charles

Not to mention that we also pay personal property taxes on vehicles as well - This year's bill will be almost $3000., on top of a 6% sales tax, State income tax, real estate conveyance tax, State fuel tax, luxury tax, etc., etc..

I almost forgot: A neighboring town has, get this.....a View Tax! If you have a nice view from your home, you pay extra.

It won't be long before we will be just like Europe. The Founding Fathers must be spinning in their graves after seeing what a mess we have made of their beloved nation.

If it wasn't for our family, we would have left CT years ago.

Good luck with your search.

Scott

I believe the current rate is 22 Mills. Part of it I'm sure is our local below-average income levels...we get pretty high reimbursement rates from the State for schools

Which means my small house on 12 acres with an assesment of $120,000 pays about $2,600 in taxes.

Re-assements used to by physical, once every 10 years...or when you sold, which ever came first.

To help minimize large, sudden shifts, I believe the current re-assesment schedule statewide is a physical assesment every 12 years, but with a statistical assesment in years 4 and 8 between the 12 year visits. And of course when sold or you apply for a building permit :)

George

George