Best States To Retire (Homestead) In

Ken Scharabok · #41 10/02/12, 02:12 AM

TN does not have a state income tax, but does have high state sales taxes. 6% on groceries, almost 10% on anything else.

TN use to advertise itself as three states in one. That's why there are three stars on the TN state flag. Eastern third is Appalachian-oriented. Middle third is Mid-West oriented. Western third is southern-oriented.

Macybaby · #42 10/02/12, 06:15 AM

SD gets high marks for the low tax burden, and the high quality of medical care available in many areas of the state. Though I expect this list is choosing a few of the major cities in SD (if you call a metro area with population under 250,000 "major") and not the state as a whole. There are a lot of areas where you'd better be very self sufficient because you are on your own.

But every time I read a thread about neighbor or local government concerns, I am so glad I live in this state.

luvrulz · #43 10/02/12, 06:33 AM

In Ky, there's no state income tax on retirement income.....

ET1 SS · #44 10/02/12, 08:26 AM

It would be horrible to pay income taxes on my pension.

This state has a high 'tax burden'; however low income households pay no income taxes.

Bloggers assume that with a high 'tax burden' we must be paying lots of taxes. That is the biggest problem with 'tax burden' and using it to compare states. The reality is in employers' and corporate taxation. Sole-proprietor businesses do okay, while businesses with employees get raked over the coals.

If you wanted to run a business with 10 employees, this is a bad place to move to, because of the high 'tax burden'.

For pensioners and/or cottage industry entrepreneurs taxes are pretty low.

MoonRiver · #45 10/02/12, 06:20 PM

I'm thinking about full timing in an RV. The list is similar to what I see on RV boards. It's mainly based on state income tax, sales tax, personal property tax, etc. Texas and S Dakota usually rank 1 and 2.

Macybaby · #46 10/02/12, 06:44 PM

The RV'ers do the best - they get Residency in South Dakota, then go live somewhere else for all but a few weeks a year.

I think SD may be working on cutting down that though. I know a few years ago about 25% of the residents in the County I live in were RV'ers with a legal residence of a parking space in an RV lot. Though if you do that, don't ignore a Jury duty summons.

hercsmama · #47 10/02/12, 06:56 PM

Yi

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxHorseMom

Isn't that funny? I grew up in Michigan and DH grew up in Western New York. We both hate the cold. My daughter on the other hand (born in Tx) would like to move to a colder state one day. lol

I'm with your daughter! Lived down here in way South Texas for forever. We are selling and moving to Nebraska! I absolutely can not wait to get out of here! I love my state, don't get me wrong. But I'm sick of the heat, sick of the the lack of water, and sick and tired of people trying to tell me what I can do on my own land.

seedspreader · #48 10/02/12, 07:49 PM

NWPA is horrible too. Avoid at all cost!

JohnP · #49 10/02/12, 10:00 PM

Missouri never makes any of these lists. I like that.

Sandhills · #50 10/02/12, 11:48 PM

Hercsmama be sure you do your research before buying a place in Nebraska. It varies by county how much freedom you have to do what you want. Some counties now require building permits while others don't. You also can get fined for having certain weeds on your place. It can be a chore to keep them under control.

mrs.H · #51 10/03/12, 07:55 AM

I'm kind of fond of N. GA. Only baby droughts, only baby floods, only a few tornadoes, only baby winter snow storms, only little heat waves. Jobs close enough to drive to. Gas, while not cheap, my husband can afford to drive to work. I think the last time I filled up it was $3.54. When the county we live in did a tax assessment this year, our taxes actually went way down, reflecting fair market value.

Heritagefarm · #52 10/03/12, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnP

Missouri never makes any of these lists. I like that.

That's because they can't figure out where to put it. They can't put it in the "best" area because of the weather and poverty, and they can't put it on the "worst" list because of our falls, springs, and great people!

RonM · #53 10/03/12, 10:46 AM

Jim Dirt, where do you live in Delaware, I sent you a PM.

wharton · #54 10/09/12, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macybaby

The RV'ers do the best - they get Residency in South Dakota, then go live somewhere else for all but a few weeks a year.

I think SD may be working on cutting down that though. I know a few years ago about 25% of the residents in the County I live in were RV'ers with a legal residence of a parking space in an RV lot. Though if you do that, don't ignore a Jury duty summons.

Actually SD is doing quite the opposite. They welcome RVers, and make far more accomodation to aquire and retain them than most other states. If you want to be a SD licensed nomad you need to appear in the state once every five years for a new photo driver license, and get a reciept for one night's lodging at a campground or hotel. Vehicles can be registered without setting foot in the state. Pennington county (Rapid City) waives Jury duty for Rvers. SD also has some of the cheapest vehicle insurance of all the states. If you think about it, the state can't lose on this one. If you end up with ten thousand RVers using mailing services in Rapid and Sioux Falls they can only be a benefit to the state. They generally require little to no services, they count as residents as far as the Feds are concerned, and they end up bumping up all the federal dollars that are dispensed to the state based on head counts. They spend registration, insurance, licensing and other fees in state, and if they drop a big pile of coin on a new RV, or truck, the state gets 3%. Believe it or not, it's not only Rvers that take the time to become SD. residents, there are everything from truckers to boaters that do the same thing. My father was a CA. resident and a sailor that lived aboard boats for many years. For a guy like that, an address just about anywhere other than CA. can save you a ton of money in taxes, and stupidly high insurance.

CaliannG · #55 10/09/12, 04:02 PM

I grew up here. Then moved around to other states. I've lived in both the mountains and deserts of Arizona, the Sin Cities of Nevada, the Beaches of California, and the Mile High City of Colorado....

And I am back in Texas. I don't like the scorching, dry heat of the desert. I don't like the freezing snows of the mountains. I am very happy with my 5 growing seasons and reasonable weather.

I would, however, like a basement. :/

Maine has 228 miles of coastline (as the crow flies), but 3,478 miles of shoreline. Texas has 367 miles of coastline and 3,359 of shoreline, so the two states are comparable in that.

What I will NEVER have to do in Texas, though, is shovel snow out of my driveway.

JWK · #56 10/10/12, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miss Kay

You've all heard this before but I'll say it again. We moved to Texas 3 years ago and absolutely love it. I have more house than I ever thought I could afford. I love our little farm with a near year round growing season, cheap irrigation to keep it green no matter what the weather does, and no snow. It is all in what you like I guess but we needed to get away from cold weather and found paradise. We brought our income with us so didn't have to worry about low pay and find it easy to find cheap good labor to help out on the farm. No tax on income, no tax on food, exemptions on land for agriculture and husband's disability. Other than crazy drivers, can't find anything to hate.

In what area of the state are you? My wife spent a lot of her childhood in different parts of Texas and we consider going there quite a bit. Your "cheap irrigation" has me interested. Tell me more.