What’s HJTA?
When I was looking to relocate I had a fantasy small town in mind, much like in the movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also wanted to live extremely close to water. The location hunting started with property tax rates - being under Prop 13, I wasn’t paying a heck of a lot (I owned my house 20 years). Texas was extremely high…
When I was looking to relocate I had a fantasy small town in mind, much like in the movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also wanted to live extremely close to water. The location hunting started with property tax rates - being under Prop 13, I wasn’t paying a heck of a lot (I owned my house 20 years). Texas was extremely high in my opinion, it got nixed- next was New England and I gotta tell you, they were unbelievable (9 x what I was paying), keeping the riff raff out I suppose. My last two choices that were doable was NC & AR. Considering I had 15 or so generations from NC & my father lived there, I flew out & found a home near Lake Lure & Chimney Rock - close to him. My wicked stepmother squashed that real quick & #2 became enticing. I found a 3,000 sq ft custom built log home on 11 acres with an RV garage (no RV), a oversized double garage, and a large workshop - under $200,000. City girl moves to country, loses everything from theft, and discovers “she” definitely didn’t do enough homework. Downsized & now own a little house by the lake - the largest in the USA made by Civil Engineers. Property taxes here include personal property taxes (cars, boats, outbuildings etc), remain stable by homesteading and are low. The roads are horrible (no engineering skills), and for heaven’s sake don’t forget anything at the grocery store - not just down the road. Good olé boy Sherrifs & when I reported a robbery of all my jewelry 😡 & my beautiful Harley, they arrested me 😡😡. No explanation either. Water bill may be the only redeeming factor- runs $13.00/month.
I priced condos in SD this past year & couldn’t believe my eyes. Reverse look at what I could afford led me to 1960’s single wide trailers in the boondocks 😂😂. Hell no!!! Last place I looked was in Virginia Beach (by the beach) for 55+, townhome with balcony overlooking a lake & close shopping - perfect 👍. Not. Cost was almost $2,800/month not including utilities. Plus, don’t know anyone there (like here) & looks can be deceiving. I’m so screwed.
My thought was, if the world’s going the way it’s going, at least I can enjoy the ocean, great food & not have to figure out how to take care of a home (needs repairs & oh yeah, three contractors/handymen have been paid & just left without doing/finishing the jobs. It’s apparently not a crime!!!!
Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association. They have a lot of good stuff on their site, but most useful is the property tax calculator - for you. Voting recommendations you don't need now. You certainly had great thoughts and hopes!!
I think about Wisconsin (family was from there) or Montana (same)but am sticking it out here since I am now legally blind in one eye (thanks to the lockdowns) and very arthritic. I also hate to give up on what was my family's dream, escaping the Chicago weather....and Chicago corruption...only to the fact that it's here ..now. Sad.
Family has gone to Northern California and Idaho - so far. I might consider Arizona, because friends moved there from here and loved it. She was a computer scientist, he a teacher. Long ago friends moved to North Las Vegas and loved it. But their house was built like a cracker box. I guess if you don't have quakes, that's not a worry. ?
I have friends in Vegas & there’s no way I could live there. It used to be affordable to buy a home, made up for in air conditioning cost. I lived in Phoenix in the 70’s & that heat was horrible too. Sedona is really nice, unaffordable though. Champagne taste, beer budget. The weather in SD was just right.
I had 3 surgeries up in St. Louis a couple of years ago (doctors here are idiots) & I suffer the consequences (think there’s problems). I refuse to drive by myself up there. This Twilight Zone BS has had a pretty bad effect on me for unknown reasons.
After I saw how poorly that house was made, I gave NV a pass. That was in 2000, when the NV boom started. I haven't been back. In fact, no traveling now, since the arthritis is bad (hoping to avoid replacements like my late Mom had to do) and the vision issue. I totally "get" the Champagne taste, beer budget! Our family, too. Take care.
And you know that my heart is there 😂😂. Reality says it’s not like it was 20 years ago. Just wanted to make sure you’re hanging in there. Been busy doing my research all day, every day. It’s a shitshow!
What’s HJTA?
When I was looking to relocate I had a fantasy small town in mind, much like in the movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also wanted to live extremely close to water. The location hunting started with property tax rates - being under Prop 13, I wasn’t paying a heck of a lot (I owned my house 20 years). Texas was extremely high in my opinion, it got nixed- next was New England and I gotta tell you, they were unbelievable (9 x what I was paying), keeping the riff raff out I suppose. My last two choices that were doable was NC & AR. Considering I had 15 or so generations from NC & my father lived there, I flew out & found a home near Lake Lure & Chimney Rock - close to him. My wicked stepmother squashed that real quick & #2 became enticing. I found a 3,000 sq ft custom built log home on 11 acres with an RV garage (no RV), a oversized double garage, and a large workshop - under $200,000. City girl moves to country, loses everything from theft, and discovers “she” definitely didn’t do enough homework. Downsized & now own a little house by the lake - the largest in the USA made by Civil Engineers. Property taxes here include personal property taxes (cars, boats, outbuildings etc), remain stable by homesteading and are low. The roads are horrible (no engineering skills), and for heaven’s sake don’t forget anything at the grocery store - not just down the road. Good olé boy Sherrifs & when I reported a robbery of all my jewelry 😡 & my beautiful Harley, they arrested me 😡😡. No explanation either. Water bill may be the only redeeming factor- runs $13.00/month.
I priced condos in SD this past year & couldn’t believe my eyes. Reverse look at what I could afford led me to 1960’s single wide trailers in the boondocks 😂😂. Hell no!!! Last place I looked was in Virginia Beach (by the beach) for 55+, townhome with balcony overlooking a lake & close shopping - perfect 👍. Not. Cost was almost $2,800/month not including utilities. Plus, don’t know anyone there (like here) & looks can be deceiving. I’m so screwed.
My thought was, if the world’s going the way it’s going, at least I can enjoy the ocean, great food & not have to figure out how to take care of a home (needs repairs & oh yeah, three contractors/handymen have been paid & just left without doing/finishing the jobs. It’s apparently not a crime!!!!
Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association. They have a lot of good stuff on their site, but most useful is the property tax calculator - for you. Voting recommendations you don't need now. You certainly had great thoughts and hopes!!
I think about Wisconsin (family was from there) or Montana (same)but am sticking it out here since I am now legally blind in one eye (thanks to the lockdowns) and very arthritic. I also hate to give up on what was my family's dream, escaping the Chicago weather....and Chicago corruption...only to the fact that it's here ..now. Sad.
Family has gone to Northern California and Idaho - so far. I might consider Arizona, because friends moved there from here and loved it. She was a computer scientist, he a teacher. Long ago friends moved to North Las Vegas and loved it. But their house was built like a cracker box. I guess if you don't have quakes, that's not a worry. ?
I have friends in Vegas & there’s no way I could live there. It used to be affordable to buy a home, made up for in air conditioning cost. I lived in Phoenix in the 70’s & that heat was horrible too. Sedona is really nice, unaffordable though. Champagne taste, beer budget. The weather in SD was just right.
I had 3 surgeries up in St. Louis a couple of years ago (doctors here are idiots) & I suffer the consequences (think there’s problems). I refuse to drive by myself up there. This Twilight Zone BS has had a pretty bad effect on me for unknown reasons.
After I saw how poorly that house was made, I gave NV a pass. That was in 2000, when the NV boom started. I haven't been back. In fact, no traveling now, since the arthritis is bad (hoping to avoid replacements like my late Mom had to do) and the vision issue. I totally "get" the Champagne taste, beer budget! Our family, too. Take care.
Just checking in on you!
Hi - nice to see you and thanks! Still here in "hell" (L.A.) with no concrete plans to leave, but my heart tells me to GO.
And you know that my heart is there 😂😂. Reality says it’s not like it was 20 years ago. Just wanted to make sure you’re hanging in there. Been busy doing my research all day, every day. It’s a shitshow!