My paternal grandparents’ house had a wood stove, a hand pump in the kitchen and one out back, for water from a well. Speaking of out back, there was an outhouse, supplemented by a chamber pot for nighttime business. Our town didn’t get a sanitary sewer system until the early 70s, and still doesn’t have a storm drainage system, other than piecemeal. But we did have what was lovingly known as “stink ditches”.
A couple of years back, I went to see the house my mom grew up in. It was gone. Just a bare lot in a tiny farming village. No idea what happened. My cousin who had lived there for many years had passed several years ago. I always thought the house was sturdy and well built. Certainly not a "tear down" nor was it in an area where anyone would tear it down to build something else. Maybe a fire?? So few relatives left and I visit even fewer, so I haven't heard the story.
I agree. I also live in Colorado. My house is valued just about 3x what yours is, and my tax bill is only about $200 more than yours.
I lived through snowy winters like that when I lived in CT on 3 acres in the country. Glad I don't have to deal with it anymore.
Any services I get are certainly not doubling. Last year, the genius voters approved a full 1% addition just to pave the streets. Don’t real cities pave streets first before everything else?
There are other places to live, of course.We have a nice, stable neighborhood but, with each local election, I’m becoming a grouchy old man at age 59.
We live in the state capital, where there is almost no industrial tax base and lots of government, nonprofit, church and college buildings that pay no taxes. That means homeowners do. My property taxes have doubled in 10 years to $10,000 on a regular 2,000 sf bungalow. At this rate, taxes will be $20,000 in 10 more years by the time I’m 69.
Our city also pays the highest sales taxes in the state at 9.88%
In 2023 the genius voters approved rent control of 3%/year. We’re within sight of two older apartment buildings, which could deteriorate and hurt my property’s value.
And the genius, caring voters approve every levy for schools and more that someone dreams up. They all pass.
It’s getting to be a bit much. Bah humbug.
How are your HOA fees there? I was just checking Honolulu condos on Redfin and sort of shocked at 1,700.00 a month seems average?
Yeah, HOA dues are out of this world. HOA dues are almost as much as our RE taxes (but that's dues per month and RE taxes are per year)! Our HOA went up to almost $1400 this year.
Well also cheaper as it has been "lovingly owned for more than 50 years".
That's about right. It looks like it may be within the Hilton Hawaiian Village. 50 years ago, our very first stay in Paradise was at the Rainbow Hilton Tower which you see in the background. Guess how you know?
