Sweet Spot, Living Where Low Taxes

[imoldernu]

It was a long time ago, but back in the 1980's my business took me from Chicago to CA for about three years. Many times, instead of flying home for the weekend, I'd drive the mountains of CA... Placerville was a favorite stopping place, as one of my district managers lived there. We spent lots of time exploring within 150 miles. .
It was on my very short list of places to retire.
Very fond memories. I

[golfnut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by imoldernu Depends... no complaints here... http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...ml#post2107909

Different strokes for different folks. For me, the politicians here in Illinois are slimeballs, the state is on the brink of bankruptcy and the weather (from Dec. thru much of March) is depressing. Also, RE taxes are high. I would move in a heartbeat but wife won't budge.


One good thing - Illinois does not tax retirement benefits or ss . Given it's financial issues, would not surprise me this scenario changes very shortly.

[Teacher Terry]

When we go to Placerville we leave on Wednesday and return home on Monday to avoid the traffic. We have a motor home and a very nice KOA is there. They are getting expensive as well with us paying between 63-73/night depending on the day of the week.

[WyomingLife]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySucks And snakes and fireants... Anyone on here from Wyoming? I like the Tetons and Medicine Bow areas. How does Wyoming 'get ya'?

Wyoming native here.

The State routinely makes lists of "best places to retire" for a variety of reasons -- e.g., low tax burdens, quality of life, etc. https://money.cnn.com/gallery/retire...ent/index.html. Wyoming is also a tax-friendly jurisdiction. https://smartasset.com/retirement/wy...tirement-taxes.

It isn't for everybody though (and we like it that way), and these decisions are highly personal, of course. But if you like the outdoors, prefer pronghorn antelope to people, can cope without having a shopping mall within 240 miles, and can cope with the occasional -40F day in winter, it's wonderful. We love it.

[Another Reader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skipro33 We live in the Placerville area and it's become nuts every fall during 'Apple Hill' season. When our kids were young, their soccer games were on weekends and it was impossible to get through the bay area traffic coming to experience the country livin'. Many games were forfeited when a team could not be assembled to take the field. That was 20 years ago. It's steadily gotten worse after a brief reprieve during the recession. Being retired, I go up to High Hill Ranch mid week in the morning for my apple fritter and a cup of coffee. The town government won't stand for a bypass of Hwy50, the major interstate that runs through town with 3 stop lights. This is a huge part of the problem. If there was a by-pass, wouldn't be nearly so bad, but the merchants on Main St. will never allow that to happen. Sunday afternoon/evenings are worst as the bay area crowd returns from Tahoe. The area is also growing fast in the wine industry, which I actually live closer to; Shenandoah Valley in the south county area of El Dorado. Steady traffic on Hwy 49 all weekend long with most of it loud Harley motorcycles and weekend wanna-be bikers.

IIRC, you lost your last house in a wildfire. Living in that area, do you fear another fire? I have never been to the Shenandoah Valley area, but it is very pretty. Looks very peaceful, except for the traffic. No idea it was full of wineries. What about the distance to services? Hospital? Grocery stores?

[johncasey37]

the property tax on that property in Georgia / gwinnett county would be about 3,200....

[johncasey37]

KOA is too expensive. First look for state and federal, then private campgrounds. We only stay in a KOA (always near the expressway) out of necessity not choice.

[daylatedollarshort]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another Reader IIRC, you lost your last house in a wildfire. Living in that area, do you fear another fire? I have never been to the Shenandoah Valley area, but it is very pretty. Looks very peaceful, except for the traffic. No idea it was full of wineries. What about the distance to services? Hospital? Grocery stores?

You might want to checkout the crime rate, since that seems to be a priority for you (Placerville is around average for the state):


California Crime Index City Rank

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet But isn't there a significant amount of "voting with their feet?" Especially by retirees?

That is pretty much what I did.

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbet But isn't there a significant amount of "voting with their feet?" Especially by retirees?

That's exactly what we did, moving from near the Washington, D.C. area to WV. The idiots in the state and county legislatures kept allowing more building without adequate infrastructure to support it so traffic was getting worse and worse. And we thought the area was starting to generally decline. I retired July 1, 2002 and by mid-September we were in WV.

About six weeks later I had to take DW for a doctor's appointment on the other side of town and we got out about 5:00 PM on a Friday afternoon. Not yet knowing all the back roads, I took a route straight through downtown. All the traffic lights were green (okay, that was a fluke, doesn't happen often) and we were home in 10-15 minutes. I thought "I have died and gone to heaven!" The same distance drive at the same time near D.C. would take 45 minutes to an hour.

[Another Reader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by daylatedollarshort You might want to checkout the crime rate, since that seems to be a priority for you (Placerville is around average for the state): California Crime Index City Rank

My questions was directed to skipro, and was not about crime.

Relying on statistics can be dangerous. I prefer to talk to people that live in the area, check the security measures taken by residents and look at the shopping centers and the cars in the lots to get a good idea of the local issues.

[Teacher Terry]

John, we use public campgrounds when camping but private ones on vacation where we don’t want to be dirty. Maltese have hair so the dirt gets in their hair and then we are all dirty. The private ones have grass or cement usually.

[Teacher Terry]

Plus they have pool, hot tub, store and cheap breakfast on the weekend)

[retired1]

Can't hide from Taxes... they get you one way or another. In northern IL/WI border, you can go to WI for shopping & pay ~2-3% lower sales tax. Many live in WI and work in IL to save $s.

[Teacher Terry]

Many people work in Chicago and live in Kenosha due to the lower cost of housing.

[RobbieB]

I live in the central valley and worked in the bay area, brutal commute!

But now I'm retired with a free house, close to the delta, the gun club, sporting clays, Reno and still only a half hour from the "Bay Area" which is Livermore as the realtors sold it -

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry When we go to Placerville we leave on Wednesday and return home on Monday to avoid the traffic. We have a motor home and a very nice KOA is there. They are getting expensive as well with us paying between 63-73/night depending on the day of the week.

Whoa! No wonder you were complaining about campground prices! Although KOAs have always been way more expensive than most RV Parks.

[Teacher Terry]

Since the area is so popular in October the prices are higher every year.

[RobbieB]

I looked. For a hundred fifty I can stay at a B&B with an excellent breakfast.

[Teacher Terry]

I can’t do that with 2 Maltese and a 80lb shedding machine)