we are drowning in property tax in Washington.....
Growing up in Brentwood, you just knew that the whole town was if you will on the wrong side of the tracks, etc. High School, was approx. 1/3 White, 1/3 Black, 1/3 Puerto Rican, I'm a part of that third group. At the time, it was the largest population of Puerto Rican's, outside of Puerto Rico. We had ARMED, SUFFOLK County cops at the High School, and they were needed, I'm talking 1968-69.
When my parents sold their home (Approx. 1972,) sale of the house was contingent upon REMOVAL OF THE SWIMMING POOL. (16' Ft Wide X 32' Ft. Long, 4' Ft. to 7-1/2' Ft. Deep.) You might think well the new owner's didn't want the hassle of owning a pool. NOPE, they wanted the pool, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THE TAXES ON THE POOL, in the Ghetto no less.
Oh, and by the way, nothing much has changed,(you might of heard about the MS-13 gang killing in Brentwood) only gotten worse, and taxes last time I checked on that house they were approx. $12,000.00 a year.
Have some relatives out on Long Island, paying property taxes in the amounts of (Deer Park area) $35,000.00 (Thirty-five Thousand Dollar's) to $60,000.00 (Sixty Thousand Dollar's.) Port Jefferson Area / North Shore.
Like you I'm living in Western Washington, Stanwood area, approx 35 miles North of Everett, 50 miles to Seattle
Remember, Rich or Poor I would say approx 90% Percent of homes in Long island, New York, upstate N.Y. as well; heat with oil. Oil tanks are usually approx 400 gal. size. You can count on filling at a minimum three times a year, more if it's colder. Don't even think about electric heat, OUT OF THE QUESTION, price wise. Natural gas is your only other option when available. Same goes for much the North Eastern (New England) States.