Forced from our home by local Tax increases

[Phantom Lord]

And if that much extra per month would destroy your budget would you go ahead and enter the transaction?

[Southack]

In many places, you don't own a house, you just take out a huge mortgage for the priviledge of paying rent to various government authorities via property taxes.

I hope that you find a good answer to your problem. Might I suggest reading Who Moved My Cheese.

On a side note, I just sold a house for less than $200 grand. It's a 5 bedroom, 2 bath, brick house with a three car garage and heated swimming pool on a little less than an acre of land. The sum total of all taxes on that house are just slightly under $600 per year. Yup, per year.

Such is life in rural Alabama. Of course, you might be more of the city type (but then again, why would you be in Westchester County if that was the case).

This is modern day America. I telecommute for about 70% of my work. I've got DSL, six phone lines, a fast car and a small airplane. I can be in DC or Dallas in under 3 hours.

With modern technology, I can live anywhere that I want. I could be on a boat, in the city, or in a jungle.

I choose to live where I like. I enjoy hunting, target practicing, plinking, water skiing, fishing, hiking, et al. So I'm near all of those activities. I'm also far away from high taxes.

For your same money you could have a larger house in a safer neighborhood, plus a nice aircraft and a T1 line to permit high-speed commuting. You could choose to live anywhere, too.

Until you make that choice, you're going to be the focus of two wolves and a sheep voting for who's for dinner. The bureaucracy associated with public schools is never going to cease its attempts to raise your property taxes each year because there is no downside (for them) to bringing said increases up for a vote at every opportunity. You're probably even seeing some of your tax dollars go to paying attorneys for your school systems who specialize in writing up new proposals to tax you more (an insult to all insults).

They know that you CAN'T move your house and that you are reluctant to move yourself away from their reach. Plus, they don't care about you. If you move, someone else will buy your house and they'll just tax the new person.

What a racket! They don't see how that they can lose.

And as long as you remain there, you'll be subsidizing their machine.

[prisoner6]

Property Tax is THE WORST. It destroys families if not lives. As far as I'm concerned it can kill and has done so many ties.

An older couple, maybe a vet, bought their house, paid for it. Worked for decades and kept up with taxes. But in their Winter, they are forced into the cold because they can't afford to keep up with a government that SPENDS SPENDS SPENDS!

Meanwhile the house might be sold to someone who has never contributed to the local community. Perhaps even an illegal immigrant or even a legal one who sends all their money back home and spends little here.

Worse yet the property might be taken over bu HUD and used for public housing.

I haven't been able to pay taxes...keep up with them actually...ever since my dad died and left Mom and I when I was 19.

His pension form the electric company...a good one but, forced as a lump sum on him while he was in a hospital bed and on MAJOR drugs for kidney failure...did not carry over after his death.

Perhaps it shouldn't have, after all it was his choice. Be that as it may Mom and I struggled for years because this was the "Family Homestead" and I was the last.

I had to quit college to support her and keep up the home. Did it willingly.

Later I married my childhood sweetheart, we moved in and began raising a family with the kids going to the same school my wife and I did.

We both worked, made a fair amount of money and everything seemd to be coming along fine...even catching up on taxes and imrpoving the property...until the property taxes went up.

One of the BIG burdens is a school built MILES OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY! We have to pay the other community for the privilage of having our school there.

Let me also say this is a VERY democrat/socialist area. If we don't have the money for something we run to the state of federal government.

Anyway that was all 20 ...YES TWENTY...years ago. I came up with "Creative Financing" to get though the bills and taxes. I hated it. It burns inside me and hurts worse than anything anyone can imagine. Every tax bill that comes is another arrow to the heart.

Sob story? Not really. I DO have a plan. Again one htat I do not like...one that kills me to use...but I can and will use it.

Basically I am hodling onto the house until my last child is out of school. That should be within a few years. At that point I sell the house and leave. Heading South to a small town in the stix. And as far as I'm concerned the people here, and my hometown, can all go to ...

I'll get as much money for the house as I can but no major imrpovements. I may even opt to tear it down and just turn it over to the local government.

But my family and I...people who have over our lifetimes helped most of the families now in control when they were down...will be history. This is very ironic to me because I have been deeply involved in preserving and restoring this community. I had plans to recreate a major landmark...it would have been done mostly with my contriuted labor. Money is not so much the hurdle. It still may be done, sort of my parting gift to my Town.

It's just like the Iris Dement song...featured in the last episode of Northern Exposure.

Can't you see, the sun's setting fast?
And just as they say, nothing good ever lasts
Go on and kiss it good-bye
But hold on to your lover
Cause your heart's bound to die.
Go on, say good-bye to Our Town
To Our Town
Good Night.

I've kissed My Town good-bye. Last time I had the courage to look, the taxes on my drafty, falling apart, 1200 sq. ft. house built in 1913 had more than doubled, from less than 48,000 assessment 2 years ago, to over 109,000 now. Meanwhile a house in a BETTER community, more sq ft and built in the 50's has had it's assessment go up as well...from 40,000 to 48,000 over the same time frame.

Time for taxpayer revolt? Nah, just melancholy as I pack.

Sorry a couple more verses.

Up the street beneath the red neon light
That's where I met my baby on a hot summer night.
I was the tender and she ordered a beer.
It's been 40 years and we're still livin' here.

I buried my momma and I buried my pa
They sleep up the street beside the pretty brick wall.
I take 'em flowers about every day
But I just have to cry when I think what they'd say.

If they could see the sun setting fast...

Etcetera...Good Night My Town, Good Night.

prisoner6

[Phantom Lord]

Maybe you need to reread my post. I said that the poster seems to have bitten off more than he can chew. Not that he is of the "evil rich" for having a home of that value and that I want to take away what he has.

I have no problem with someone spending 10 million on a house if they want, but when they complain that they cant afford it is when I have a problem.

People need to stay within their means.

[Dead Dog]

You've done exactly what I'm planning on doing in the next year. I've been researching county, state, and federal regs on installing a personal use airstrip.

Do you have any problems with neighbors b!tching about the airstrip?

[FreeTally]

Come on down to Florida. We have no state income tax and the annual increase in real estate taxes on one's principal residence is limited by a fairly recent state constitutional amendment to I believe three percent a year. Our schools are not the best in the country but Jeb is working hard to make them better while keeping taxes low.

No, as far as I am concerned, they can stay up north. They have made their bed, and they can lie in it. They come down here to Florida, and expect us to change everything to their liking. They are insistent upon bringing their northern socialism down here. When they see that we pay 1/4 the property taxes that they do, they see no reason to have the property taxes raised some down here, because they are used to paying so much more. In many areas of Florida, local working people are being forced to live further and further away from employment centers because of the influx of "northern retiree money" pushing up the cost of property. In Walton County, local "working" people can not afford to live in the Destin area any more(although thats where all the work is), and are forced to live in "North Walton" across the bridge. Gulf front property is now (no joke) $10,000 a FRONT FOOT!!! There was plenty 20 to 25 years ago, and you couldn't give it away. Now, its all high rise condominiums and there is virtually none left. The average per capita income of the county is about $20k-$25k.

No, they can stay up north.

[mamelukesabre]

I feel sorry for her. People that foolish about money really should have a spouse to control the purse strings for them. Her future will not be a good one. As an extrememly thrifty person, that story literally made my stomache hurt.

I'll give you a personal example of thriftiness. I grow my own veggies from seeds for pleasure and to save money. I just bought seeds last week. The first store I went to was charging $1.99 per package of seeds. That is outrageous! I griped at the clerk and stormed out in a huff and drove 3 miles down the road to a farmer's supply store. The exact same package of seeds were sold there for 10 cents a package. I bought ten for a grand total of 1 dollar. No tax on vegitable seeds.

[Phantom Lord]

You'd be lucky to get a 2-bedroom flat for that price in S.F.

Just one of the reasons I would never move there.

[Dead Dog]

Exactly, anything else is leagalized slavery. Why the hell should a bunch of my neighbors get togather and vote how much of my land, income, or other property they should have before they take it all. It is against the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happieness (Property).

This has only happend becuase we, as a people, allow it.

[Southack]

Airstrips, even private ones, are federal-only jurisdictions. There shouldn't be any local, county, or state ordinances about them.

[FreeTally]

"Pay up or move"? Well, I am always one for choice, but that attitude sucks.

I don't like it any more than you do, but its reality.

Many people cannot move or they lose their job. In my industry I can move only to a few places and earn what I do now.

Exactly! You limit your lifestyle by the amount of money you perceive you need. These are decisions you have to make. I could make three time what I make here in Florida, in NY, Boston, L.A. or any large metro area. I have no desire to live in an area like that where my cost will be equally as high as my increased earnings.

Moving is not an option at will. Besides, why should I be forced out? Many people are stuck living in or near high priced areas.

You are only as "stuck" as your lifestyle makes you.

I live in Denver. The prices are getting to be like LA was in 1990. A simple 1,500 square foot house now can cost $250,000. Should everyone just move out of Denver?

Supply and demand. Pure and simple.

It seems no matter where people move it will only be a matter of time before some Marxists raises the rents on property. New York and LA today, flyover country tomorrow.

This is exactly why I say they can stay in their marxists states and keep their socialism away from me here in Florida. When people do move from "high cost/high tax" areas, they see room for increases in "low cost/low tax" areas because they are used to paying so much more. We natives get the shaft.

[Phantom Lord]

Your examples are commen and are problems unto themselves that need to be addressed, but they do not apply to the posters situation. As his was a recent purchase, not inherited or bought many years ago.

[Dead Dog]

Just remember. The best revenge is a good life.

[Alberta's Child]

Case #1 against "owning" your own home. Why the hell would anyone pay several hundred thousand dollars for a house they don't even own? (i.e., you don't own that home if you'd have to pay $1650 per month to live there even if someone gave it to you).

[RightOnline]

Well, I won't be one here who "piles on". I think it totally stinks what's happening to you. You ran afoul of the dreaded "educrats"..........who are FAR worse than your standard bureaucrat.

I'd seek a transfer or find a new position in a state where that kind of money could buy you a veritable mansion. You happen to live in one of the most expensive counties in the country, so I'd respectfully suggest you get the heck outta there. Is it tough to uproot and move? Yes. I know. I've done it over 30 times. Go live and raise your family where the residents understand "sanity in their taxation" and respect both property rights and your other rights, for that matter.

This won't be easy, but you'll be a darned sight better off..............believe me.

I wish you well.

[P.S.: I suppose you have gone through the "formal" process of protesting your tax bill? Also.........stay with me here............there is more and more precedent in your State that says that the local government is not legally allowed to collect property taxes from you. Drop me a FReepmail and I'll fill you in a bit.]

[FreeTally]

Your #62 summed it up pretty nicely.

[AAABEST]

No class envy involved, but the premise that a $500,000+ house is NEEDED to provide security and the space to raise a family is not true.

In that part of NY, that's about the least you'll have to spend if you want to live in a half-assed decent school district/low crime area. Believe it.

I would advise the poster to move to another part of the country like I did. The leftists in states like NY and CA won't be happy until they tax their residents into the third world

[Dead Dog]

Most all states and counties have land use and zoning laws that have to be delt with. Around where I'm going, it is a conditional use permit by the county. The State and Feds really don't give a rat's tail as long as it doesn't interfere with the ATC system. And that is pretty hard to do.

[Phantom Lord]

I just built myself a new raised bed garden measuring 16' x 4' for the purpose of growing hot peppers and other items I like that cost an arm and a leg in the store here. Also for growing things like prasley, rosemary, thyme, etc... You only need a very small amount of those at a time and at the grocery store you have to buy an amount far above what is needed and 95% of it goes to waste.

My wife wants to grow lettuce and stuff as well. But at 79 cents a head it is cheap enough that I will not be growing it.

I tried to explain to my wifes friend the mistakes she is making, as has my wife. At first my wife was very offended at me for telling her my feelings that I will enjoy seeing her crash. But as my wife started listening to me more on what her friend was doing she to now sees that a crash is virtually unavoidable and also has no sympathy for what is going to happen.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Do you base your financial decisions on assumptions that taxes will increase at 3-5 times the rate of inflation? (Well, if you live in a socialist state, you probably should.)