Disabled Veteran, Homeschool and Homestead friendly state?

AndSoMuchmore · #1 08/12/12, 07:49 PM

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this question and I know that I'm asking a lot but it's worth asking.

DH was injured in Iraq and we're still waiting on the lawyers to do their thing but his particular injury is rated at 100%. When the case is finally settled and the VA finally pays up (we're looking at 3+ years of back pay less the lawyers fees) we would like to buy a homestead and get away from everything.

We currently homeschool in Texas and enjoy the freedom to do whatever we wish without anyone asking questions. It's important to us that we're able to continue homeschooling.

As far as homesteading goes, we're both pretty new to it. We do have multiple income sources and will be able to live on store bought food until we can get everything in place. We're not going to be flat but we are pretty picky. DH writes computer code and will go insane if he doesn't have the ability to upload/download so some sort of internet is a requirement. We need a place that is cooler (it was 104 today) because the heat causes him problems. We've not been through extreme cold after his injury so we're not sure what to expect there but Texas winters do seem to be better for him.

The one perk of his decade in the military is that DH is a fantastic shot, so we'd like to be somewhere that's gun friendly and has places to legally hunt. I'm finishing up my education and plan to work for the VA/DoD once we're settled and the LO is grown. I'd like to be w/in an hour or so of a base.

Am I being too difficult?! Anyway, I'd love to hear some ideas. Our best guess has been Alaska.

fantasymaker · #2 08/12/12, 08:23 PM

Drop In On IL
Its the most insanely vet friendly state.
Parks are free or reduced vets preference in everything, Free higher education for vets and their kids.
All while the state is broke.

foaly · #3 08/12/12, 08:37 PM

Illinois is a homeschool friendly state too. Check out the link for friendly homeschool states.

HSLDA | Home School Laws

Look for green and yellow states on the map. Avoid the orange and red states.

Ceilismom · #4 08/12/12, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndSoMuchmore

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this question and I know that I'm asking a lot but it's worth asking.

DH was injured in Iraq and we're still waiting on the lawyers to do their thing but his particular injury is rated at 100%. When the case is finally settled and the VA finally pays up (we're looking at 3+ years of back pay less the lawyers fees) we would like to buy a homestead and get away from everything.

We currently homeschool in Texas and enjoy the freedom to do whatever we wish without anyone asking questions. It's important to us that we're able to continue homeschooling. I fill out a 1-page form, provide my child's birth certificate, get 2 witnesses to sign it, and mail it in to the School Board. Standardized testing in 2nd, 6th, and I think maybe 11th grades. The superintendent has called a couple of times to ask if we needed anything (books, manipulatives, etc.) and that's it. They leave us alone.

As far as homesteading goes, we're both pretty new to it. We do have multiple income sources and will be able to live on store bought food until we can get everything in place. We're not going to be flat but we are pretty picky. DH writes computer code and will go insane if he doesn't have the ability to upload/download so some sort of internet is a requirement. We need a place that is cooler (it was 104 today) because the heat causes him problems. We've not been through extreme cold after his injury so we're not sure what to expect there but Texas winters do seem to be better for him. Winters can be mild or nasty, depends on the year. This summer was really hot and really dry, last summer was just the opposite.

The one perk of his decade in the military is that DH is a fantastic shot, so we'd like to be somewhere that's gun friendly and has places to legally hunt. I'm finishing up my education and plan to work for the VA/DoD once we're settled and the LO is grown. I'd like to be w/in an hour or so of a base. Ft. Meade (VA), Ellsworth AFB. CCW permit is either $10 or $15, lots of walk-in for antelope, deer, turkey etc. in the western half of the state, and if you don't annoy the landowner, some will allow hunting on land that isn't Walk-in.

Am I being too difficult?! Anyway, I'd love to hear some ideas. Our best guess has been Alaska.

I am extremely rural, but due to chronic problems with the old underground phone lines, we now have DSL and fiber optic lines. It can be hit or miss with internet, and also cell phones. I cannot send or receive so much as a text message in my house.

nathan104 · #5 08/12/12, 08:51 PM

At 100% VA rating in Texas, you have no property tax on your homestead. That is hard to beat. Plus,
almost free vehicle registration,
free hunting/fishing license every year,
free state park admission,
free parking at DFW airport,
free drivers license renewal
Exempt from tolls on toll roads
Hazlewood act- free college for you, your spouse and your kids at any state college-- plus at 100% rating, your wife and kids get paid every month to go to college for free under Chapter 35 benefits!!
free veteran cemetary plot and burial
and, obviously no state income tax

There are some more but those are the bigger ones. Im not sure any other states do the 100% property tax exemption for 100% DV, if they do, Id like to know which ones.

I understand the heat issue, its been insane the last two years. But, will be hard to ,atch or beat the Texas DV benefits.

jessimeredith · #6 08/12/12, 09:00 PM

Missouri is good for homeschooling (it's green on the map, lol...and we had no issues when we homeschooled)...vet benefits aren't shabby either ( Missouri ) and finding fairly decent priced land near a VA or installation isn't a big issue either. You do get all the weather extremes on occasion however.

kasilofhome · #7 08/12/12, 09:08 PM

Texas seems to be a great state for you--Get AC.

Sonshine · #8 08/12/12, 09:21 PM

I agree with those that say Texas seems to be a good state for you. DH and I had talked of moving to Texas when he retires from the USAF in 3 years, but have decided to stay in Georgia because our DS has some great friends here and I love the Church we attend. There are many states that would work for you though, so weight out the pros and cons from those that meet your requirements.

Miss Kay · #9 08/12/12, 09:24 PM

Before you move north, I'd visit one of those places in the snow. Even MO can get to zero and seems the ice and snow can last forever some years. If he has issues with bones or injuries, it will hurt!! Come closer to the coast where the gulf keeps the heat down some. We never get as hot down here in the lower valley as they do in Dallas. Cost of living is great, building a brand new VA hospital/center in McAllen, and we love our farm.

Pony · #10 08/12/12, 09:25 PM

Ill-annoy may be homeschool and vet friendly, but I will tell you from experience that they are very 2A UNfriendly. And the taxes are horrendous.

I'm thinking that TX or AZ may be your best bets. We love MO: vet, homeschool, 2A friendly, but you do have to pay for your hunting/fishing licenses.

My daughter and other family are veterans. It's my understanding that every vet gets a free cemetery plot/burial; it's not state-specific.

AndSoMuchmore · #11 08/12/12, 10:42 PM

I didn't even know about all of those benefits. I do know that NTTA isn't free even at 100% (I'm firmly ANTI-NTTA) but I have heard that the other toll authorities aren't the same. I do love Texas (I'm a Native, DH moved here because I wouldn't leave) but his problems are related to the inner ear. It's difficult to explain but essentially an explosion screwed up the bones and fluid in his inner ear making him randomly black out and he had multiple concussions in the Army from trying to run after it happened. It's progressive as best we can tell (getting worse) and the heat seems to bring on the dizzy spells more. The best (private, he has a good job) specialist could only give him Valium and tell him that he needs to make sure he'll have a caretaker as it will get to the point where he has to be attended to so that he doesn't black out while the stove is on or something.

We're going to be doing some traveling this winter to see how he does in the snow (he was stationed in Germany but it was before and shortly after the injury) and now I'm going to go check things out in the McAllen area, I didn't know that there were cooler parts of Texas than the far north!

Thanks for all of the feedback!

sandsuncritters · #12 08/13/12, 07:51 AM

Please give your husband a <<<<<<BIG HUG>>>> from me and a big thank you for his service to our country

For what it's worth, my advice would be to stay in Texas. It truly is a whole country unto itself, with many micro-climates worth checking out. Texas is veteran friendly to the max! I love Texas - my 91 year old father (WWII vet) and my mom live in San Antonio in a military retirement community. If I could ever bring myself to leave our family's homestead in North Florida, it would only be to move to Texas.

North Florida would be an option as well. Near the ocean, Excellent Medical Facilities, very vet friendly, excellent hunting/fishing, lots of relatively inexpensive rural properties, no state income tax, and 2A friendly.

May God bless both of you as you search for an appropriate homestead.

In His Love
Mich

julieq · #13 08/13/12, 06:43 PM

Idaho. We homeschooled our girls when we first moved here without any problems (all of them grown and married now). Gun friendly state (we know as we have a firearms business). Reasonable price on homes and acreages. If you're going to have livestock, hay is comparatively inexpensive here also.

Please thank your husband for his service to our country.

ET1 SS · #14 08/13/12, 06:46 PM

I am a vet, we homeschooled, and are homesteading; Maine is really good for each of those features.

Plus This region is mostly drought free.

foaly · #15 08/13/12, 07:00 PM

I'm a homeschooling mom and a Navy vet. The VA won't touch the medical issue with my eyes. I have no choice there and have to see private physicians. For now, I focus on best homeschooling locations as opposed to VA benefits.

Texas is a great homeschooling school as is Oklahoma (where we used to live). Of course, the weather in Oklahoma isn't any better than Texas. Land prices are good in Oklahoma though.

opportunity · #16 08/14/12, 08:49 AM

I would say Idaho or Texas. Montana is not as homeschool friendly and you are not going to find much for jobs in your field in an area that is good for homesteading. My best friend homeschools her kids and Texas was way easier then here for her. I live in Idaho for a while lots of homeschooling, hunting and it's not to hot or cold most of the time. Look at the mountainhome area.

YuccaFlatsRanch · #17 08/14/12, 08:53 AM

Check out the Texas Hill Country - especially the area around Kerrville. Kerrville has it's own VA Hospital, and you are within an hour of a much bigger one at Audie Murphy Hosp in San Antonio. If you are 100% disabled you pay ZERO property and school taxes in Texas. If you are looking for property, look no further than a place called Pecan Valley in the little town of Center Point, TX (right outside of Kerrville). We are gun friendly and my neighbor who has 300+ acres is a world class target shooter. He has a range that lets him shoot out to 800 meters. He has a separate pistol range too. Included in Pecan Valley is a private 14 acre lake that is one of the best bass fishing lakes in the area. You are also close to several other lakes and 2 1/2 hours from Corpus Christi for fishing salt water. PM me and I will give you my email address and phone number. There are several nice pieces of property for sale in our valley right now. Yes you will need A/C in the summer, but you won't freeze in the winter and for someone who is disabled (I am 100% from VA), avoiding Cold weather is a good thing. We raise sheep and goats and gardens. Numerous people in the valley are Preppers.

AndSoMuchmore · #18 08/14/12, 11:39 AM

I appreciate all of the input! I would tell my hubby thanks but he'd just get his feathers ruffled and stare at his feet and mumble some stuff about doing his job. I'll never understand that but I love him anyway.

I'm going to do some more looking around here in Texas, it seems to be an overwhelmingly great place to be. I appreciate offers of property but we're not in a position to buy just yet, so I don't want to give anyone the wrong impression. I'm very careful and diligent and start asking questions WAY before making a decision. We live in a college town now (renting) and he still has a couple of years on his GI Bill and he wants to finish his computer programing degree so that he has credentials to back up what he can do from home. Now that I know that I can go to school for free (thanks for that tidbit!) we'll probably stay a few years after he FINALLY has his benefits (the process is ridiculous) so that I can finish a MA (we believe that formal and informal education and both important b/c you never know how the future will go.)

The point to my ramblings being that I am very grateful for all of the advice on homestead locations but I don't want to misrepresent our intentions as we are not ready to buy anytime soon. We're hoping to live on his wages, figure out gardening and learn as much as we can while socking away his VA benefits to buy a place outright and move in with the ability to establish things in a few seasons.

We both appreciate everything that you all share on these forums, we've lurked and googled and learned quite a bit just from watching other people's successes. He fired the lawyers yesterday, so I've definitely been reminded that this will be a slow and steady progression but I'm itching for some fertile soil and a place where the kid can run free without worry of someone snatching her. In time.

Esteban29304 · #19 08/16/12, 08:00 AM

Only a couple things to add to the above advice.
I am a disabled vet as well & living pretty close to a GOOD VA hospital, is a must for me. Texas does seem to have a lot to offer. Look online & contact a VA rep to see about ALL the benefits available.
You need to pay attention to his final rating. He can be 100% ,,, or 100% TOTALLY & PERMANENTY disabled. In some states, you have to be the latter [ HARD to get ] to be able to get some of the benefits. That must be IN WRITING, too !
Best of luck & my prayers are with you.

Vietnam Vet

Sunbee · #20 08/16/12, 01:03 PM

Idaho is the most homeschooling friendly state, if you'd be happy near an AF base there's Mountain Home, which isn't far from Boise with HP and Micron facilities. Mountain Home to Boise is less than an hour if the weather is nice (no fires no blizzards). We're firearm friendly. What we don't have is much of an economy in most areas, which is good if you want to buy land or a house and already have resources.
I'm homeschooling if you've got questions, but in Idaho, you just do it, no records, testing, or registration required.