Where is the Best Places to retire

[Ed-Sommers]

Originally Posted by Velroc

I would would like some feed back on where to retire based on Taxes, Friendliness, and Modern Churches and all the other good things. Many people say Florida as long as you have lots of money.

Bob

My question is - do "Modern Churches" have Modern Gods?

Ed

[SeeTheUSA]

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers

My question is - do "Modern Churches" have Modern Gods?

Ed

Your question doesn't seem to help the OP. Maybe I'm reading it wrong.

[Scottybdivin]

I think "modern chuch" means non denominational and less "fire and brimstone". Seems like most of the protestant churches around here are going that direction.

[laj]

Originally Posted by Scottybdivin

I think "modern chuch" means non denominational and less "fire and brimstone". Seems like most of the protestant churches around here are going that direction.

yep, candy coated truth. don't want to offend anyone, cuts down on the income. hard to find a community with all the op's desires. as meatloaf said, 2outa 3 ain't bad.

[wa8yxm]

There are four states that I know of, and possible a 5th coming.

Texas
Nevada
Florida
South Dakota
(Georgia may or may not join this list).

In these states the residency requirements are basically non-existant, SD for example requires one night when you renew your license. And they will accept a hotel or campground reciept as proof of residency.

NV.. Some counties registering a motor home is kind of costly, at least the initial registration.

The other states I can not tell you details BUT Escapees has a Texas facility and they can tell you how to become a Texan and quite possibly only visit one time.

As to the best place to retire... IF there is a photo attached to this post anywere (Avatar, sig, whatever) that's where I retire to.. a 38 foot class A

[hooverbill]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

...There are four states that I know of, and possible a 5th coming.

Texas
Nevada
Florida
South Dakota
(Georgia may or may not join this list)...

I have only one problem with SD...if you're actually going to "retire" and live there...winter!

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Superslif

Here is a good link to compare taxes in a state by state ranking The Tax Foundation

You have to look at:

~Home prices
~Property taxes
~Income taxes
~Cost of Utilities
~State Sales tax
~vehicle registration fees
~vehicle plate tag fees
~insurance costs (home & vehicle/RV)
~will your health care coverage in retirement apply there
~Any HOA fees
~Crime
~Weather (some of us like the change of seasons)
~

I've generated a spreadsheet listing those items above to do a state by state comparison. Fl, TX, SD and AL look real good.

Then I added another criteria labeled "living there year round". One day travelling in the MH will come to an end. So could I live there year round. High subjective but you need to consider it. FL, TX and SD don't look so rosey anymore.

[datrbone8]

Originally Posted by myredracer

By comparison, anyone wanting to retire to the Greater Vancouver area in BC, Canada's banana belt, we are faced with:

- 2nd highest housing prices in the world, behind Hong Kong.
- average detached home price in Vancouver over $1 million.
- average home price in areas just outside Vancouver, $550K-ish
- property taxes in the $4,000 - $7,000 range.
- prop. transfer tax when you buy, 1% to $200K & then at 2%.
- average income tax in of over 40%.
- sales tax of 12% on just about everything (PST + GST).
- highest gas taxes in Canada, approx. $1/US gal.
- tax freedom day currently June 1 in Canada.
- all taxes combined on average, 50% of person's income.
- and if I've missed anything, they will tax that too.

Clearly not a place for retirees to move to...

Here's what you get for $1.7 million in the City of Vancouver:

http://http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/06/vancouver-housing-bubble-absurd-prices_n_2822178.html We bought our first house near this in '79 for $74K but moved away in '81. Shoulda kept it I guess, would have been worth maybe $3 million now.

Many people in and around Vancouver simply bail out and move well away when they retire. I'd move to the US in a heartbeat if it weren't for the fact we'd lose our medical coverage. Sounds like almost anywhere in the US would be way cheaper than here. I like Oregon a lot, not too hot and not too wet & cold..

I don't think there is anyone in BC right now. They're all here in Mexico

[SeeTheUSA]

JohnT:

So what is your subjective criteria for FL, TX and SD not looking so good?

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by SeeTheUSA

JohnT:

So what is your subjective criteria for FL, TX and SD not looking so good?

Our decision to move from “very costly to retirees in Oakland county Michigan” to a more financially favorable location also includes “what if” we have to live there full time. Once we retiring from travelling we’ll need to live full time the S&B. The cost of ownership, medical facilities, and housing although important, drops a couple of positions. Now the year round weather / climate becomes ”key” in the decision process.

These states are very financially attractive and Great to visit. But do we want to live there forever in their unique climaste's?

So in reverse order:
SD in January??? I can’t find my golf ball after I hit it.
Texas – a pretty big state and usually 100*+ for months at a time. (Just the opposite of SD in January)
Florida – humidity and temperature is high most months. My parents retired from Fulltiming and live outside of Stuart for 18 years. After 3 successive hurricanes, they moved to Dallas.

We’re still researching and travelling. Someday we might find that “right” place.

[RustyJC]

Originally Posted by JohnT

Texas – a pretty big state and usually 100*+ for months at a time.

As you said, Texas is a pretty big state, and your assumption of 100 degF temperatures for months at a time is not true for all parts of the state. Example:



Rusty

[smlranger]

In the article noted early in this thread, Tennessee was rated as the #1 place to retire due to most of the criteria..... low taxes, low property values, good health care, moderate weather, low crime rate, etc. Virginia, where we now live, was rated #6 in the top ten locations. Where we are in VA (central/SW) taxes are pretty low, we have excellent health care, people are friendly, low crime rates, weather is moderate.... extremes are rare and usually short duration. Plus we have, much like TN, a good mix of flat land, mountains, lakes, small towns and larger cities. If you like the ocean, you can get to Virginia, NC and SC beaches in a day or less.

Now that I've plugged Virginia, when I retire next spring, we plan to 'shop' for places to land but think we will likely continue to homestead in Virginia and travel to other places we find desirable. We love Tennessee and really want to discover more about Texas, especially the Hill Country.

[coffeeman]

Originally Posted by Gadget63

If I may add my two cents, We lived most of our adult lives in NYC. Retired to the Golden Corner of SC and absolutely love it. We still get four seasons of weather, but winters are short and usually snow free. The summers although long, are no worse than NYC (most likely due to the higher elevation here). Real estate taxes are a joke compared to NY, as is home and auto insurance. In NY I paid 2400.00 a year for full coverage on one car (Cadillac). Down here I pay 1300.00 for a 2011 Ford Expedition, 2012 KIA RIO, and a 2004 Bounder MH! It's true we have an Ad-Velorum tax on real property, but it's deductible come tax time. Housing is cheaper, gasoline is cheaper, the general cost of living is cheaper. When I turn 65 (I am only 57) my school tax will be gone, personal income tax will be lowered, and property and Ad- Velorum will be cheaper too! In conclusion I am so happy to be here and cannot see being retired anywhere else.

Live up the road from Gadget and agree this is a low cost area. We also just purchased a RV lot in Choestoe, GA . The HOA fee is $350 a year for water, wifi, trash and lawncare, which is cheaper per month than my water bill. This has us seriously thinking of renting our house as we just put a fifth wheel on our lot for permanent living for 8 months of the year. Our monthly expenses on the lot would be well under $300 per month.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

As you said, Texas is a pretty big state, and your assumption of 100 degF temperatures for months at a time is not true for all parts of the state.

Rusty

Thanks Rusty.
The frost time line is similar to Michigan. We're looking for "Frost Free". If that's possible with global warming.
That's why we looked at South Alabama. Still have more places to research.