Go ahead, rub it in! Might as well pour on some salt while you're at it.
No State income tax in Texas though, so you don't have it all bad
Go ahead, rub it in! Might as well pour on some salt while you're at it.
That’s quite a purchase process. Good luck finalizing it and also with the kitchen.
I have heard in Europe it is common for the sellers to move with the kitchen. Cabinets & all. Is that what you mean by looking for a new kitchen? Or are you redoing the kitchen?
Congratulations on your new place, I hope it all goes through as planned.
The "property" tax on our place here, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 stories detached house works out to ~0.7% which is also a whole lot lower than where we lived in Texas. Here the houses are put into "bands" depending on various criteria including size and location, and classified A through H and then the local council tax is a fixed sum regardless of the actual value of the house. Our house is band E.
Update:
Closing costs amount to 8.6% of the transaction amount (I have to pay those costs) and the realtor fees amount to 5% of the transaction amount (the seller has to pay those fees). The annual property tax on my new condo will be pretty low (about 0.4% of the purchase price).
Congrats on finding a place & making an offer!
That’s significantly higher than in the US. Are there costs/fees for additional things or, is it the same list of items as in the US but just higher cost for them?
... In my case, the kitchen needs a complete overhaul.
Nice to hear everything is coming together nicely for you. It seems many things are quite different in comparison to the US. You were raised in France, but you lived in the US for many years, correct? Are you feeling any kind of re-entry shocks at all? Or everything seems all new again and nice? Just curious if you want to share.
Will you be doing another DIY project?
I read that Bricomarché is the largest DIY chain, but never thought of nor had time to visit one to see how it compared to Home Depot in the US.
No State income tax in Texas though, so you don't have it all bad
Update:
Things are a bit slow at the moment. I was sick with the flu for a week but, thankfully, I did not have to put my travel health insurance coverage to the test. I did not go to the doctor or to the hospital, I just got some basic medicine from the pharmacy and waited it out. Next month, I become eligible for the French national health insurance scheme.
I am still waiting for the movers to deliver my stuff. It has been more than 60 days since my personal effects were packed and shipped. My container has arrived in France but it has not yet cleared customs. I am also still waiting to close on my new condo (waiting for the town to wave its right of first refusal on the sale).
Otherwise, I am getting used to my new life in France. Life is actually pretty cheap here. I love that I pay 20 euros for my 20-euro cell phone plan (no hidden taxes and fees).
One thing that I did not foresee was the pressure to "fit in". At my age (44), being "retired" is completely unacceptable in this country. Actually, for most people, it is unfathomable that one could attain FI without having cheated, taken advantage of others, broken the law, or (worse in some people's mind) inherited money. I was facing a lot of push back for not working and not even looking for work. Even the local FIRE forum encourages its members to maintain some kind of paid activity until full retirement age. Everybody was trying to find me a job and it was becoming tiresome. So I have decided to create myself a cover "career" as an English/French translator. I created a website and printed some business cards and I tell people that I work from home. In reality, I don't advertise my services and don't plan on making any money from this career, but now people know what to make of me and they leave me alone.
So I have decided to create myself a cover "career" as an English/French translator. I created a website and printed some business cards and I tell people that I work from home.
That must have been miserable, and I am glad you are feeling better.Update:
Things are a bit slow at the moment. I was sick with the flu for a week but, thankfully, I did not have to put my travel health insurance coverage to the test. I did not go to the doctor or to the hospital, I just got some basic medicine from the pharmacy and waited it out. Next month, I become eligible for the French national health insurance scheme.
Sounds like everything is moving along, at a slow pace. That's a great deal for your cell phone.I am still waiting for the movers to deliver my stuff. It has been more than 60 days since my personal effects were packed and shipped. My container has arrived in France but it has not yet cleared customs. I am also still waiting to close on my new condo (waiting for the town to wave its right of first refusal on the sale).
Otherwise, I am getting used to my new life in France. Life is actually pretty cheap here. I love that I pay 20 euros for my 20-euro cell phone plan (no hidden taxes and fees).
I got the latter a bit, even here on the forum from one or two people. I had saved all that I would need for my retirement, as soon as my retiree benefits including health insurance kicked in; but then my mother died resulting in a totally unexpected inheritance that I received the year before I retired. Bad timing (although there is never a good time for one's dear beloved mother to pass away). Even though I didn't dip into my inheritance at all in order to retire, some people here on the forum have assumed it had something to do with my ability to retire when I did. Basically my attitude towards them is they are sourpusses who can kiss my royal … well, who should just think for a minute before posting, or simply ask instead of assuming.One thing that I did not foresee was the pressure to "fit in". At my age (44), being "retired" is completely unacceptable in this country. Actually, for most people, it is unfathomable that one could attain FI without having cheated, taken advantage of others, broken the law, or (worse in some people's mind) inherited money.
Good plan!Everybody was trying to find me a job and it was becoming tiresome. So I have decided to create myself a cover "career" as an English/French translator. I created a website and printed some business cards and I tell people that I work from home. In reality, I don't advertise my services and don't plan on making any money from this career, but now people know what to make of me and they leave me alone.
Update:
...
One thing that I did not foresee was the pressure to "fit in". At my age (44), being "retired" is completely unacceptable in this country. .........So I have decided to create myself a cover "career" as an English/French translator. I created a website and printed some business cards and I tell people that I work from home. In reality, I don't advertise my services and don't plan on making any money from this career, but now people know what to make of me and they leave me alone.
.... Statistically, my new "income" (what I withdraw from investments) puts me in the upper middle class here! I'd be just middle class in the U.S....
Statistically, my new "income" (what I withdraw from investments) puts me in the upper middle class here! I'd be just middle class in the U.S.
Update:
[snip]
So, I ran FIREcalc with my new numbers, and I decided to give myself a hefty raise. After tightening my belt for the past few months, while I got a handle on my new financial situation, I now have plenty of disposable income (lower-than-expected fixed expenses help a lot). Statistically, my new "income" (what I withdraw from investments) puts me in the upper middle class here! I'd be just middle class in the U.S.