Retirement question

[jesmeltzer]

Hey guys my wife and I will be looking for some property for our retirement and I really like N. GA OR N C .
How's the cost of living between the 2 states??
Doesn't NC charge personal property tax on vehicles,,,,,,,,,, that might suck on a cobra.
Anybody weigh in on GA.
Sorry to go off topic but we are going up for the N GA event in july and plan on looking at some property then.

THANKS JIM AND SUE

[cobraless]

i moved from Ga (outside of Savannah) a few years ago. money goes WAAAAAAAAy farther in NC. Period.
Dave

[jesmeltzer]

thanks for the info DAVE we have found some property around murphy nc we will look at.

JIM S

[Steven K]

Moved from NY to NC 18 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did. Forget about the property tax, it's a small percentage that goes down every year. The tax man is going to get what he needs, different states call them different things so I would look at what the state income tax, property tax, etc., all adds up to rather than getting hung up on specific items. I am certain NC is probably one of the best and lowest taxed states that you'd want to live in (there are lower taxed states but you may not want to live there).

[jesmeltzer]

thanks steve

we are trying to get some info about the state and not go in blind. sounds like everyone enjoys living there and i hope we can be added to the ranks whehe time is right.

JIM AND SUE S

[Steven K]

Feel free to contact me with any questions. I've have met a couple of people over the years that have not liked it here, but I cannot really understand why, but I think they fall into the category of difficult to please. It certainly isn't perfect, and the state has it's issues, but what state is perfect? The taxes are very low (natives say they are high, but I only pay a little more than half in property tax of what I paid in NY when I left in 94, and this house is valued at 4 times the price), the people are friendly and nice, the seasons are great-no hard winters where I am, and you have mountains, ocean, and lakes. To me it's about all you could ask for. Plus, there are tons of car guys and a lot of Cobra's.

[MARIAH]

Jim, if we were not eliminated in the early elimination rounds, why not give SC a look?

Greenville, SC and Greenville County are as rural or as cosmopolitan as you two would like. We have Clemson/Bob Jones/ Furman universities and others with lots of programs for we older ones. Of course some like that coastal thing. We live in the western part of the county where we can see the mountains and get there when we need a fix. For those who like lake life we have the Duke lakes Keowee, Jocassee for boating or 8# Browns if you are lucky enough.

Charlotte and the Auto Fair are 2 hours north, the beaches are 4 hours east, Asheville is 1 hour north, etc, etc.

The $$$ier retirees have lots of opportunities at the Cliffs developments here in the upstates if that is your inclination. We preferred a neighborhood with wide streets and .5 acre lots where we could see the sun rise and set and we are 3 miles from church and the grandson's schools and if we need to see town its just 10 miles away passing by Peggy's #2 where that lady knows how to cook!

Our area is near the Dark Corner of Greenville County notorious for Moonshine in the early days and can still be located, "so they say" or you can just go downtown Greenville and have a look at our own licensed distillery.

We talked a couple of years ago to a couple from Florida. They were head home from a vacation in the NC mountains and took our Highway 11 across the western part of Greenville, Pickens and Oconee Counties which dumps out right at the GA/SC border. The wife said before they had gotten to the Georgia line they had made up their minds on where to retire.

We have a homestead exemption for old retired folks, great medicals, gas is at least 10-40 cents less per gallon than NC. We have the Peachoid, now how many people can say that!! A quick search will get you a better $$$ comparison between the states, but if you like the people/facilities/adventures/properties.

I-85, I-95, I-26 put you all across the southeast in quick time.

Anyway, just wanted to say hello and come on north where ever you two stop. The FFR family is all here and await your arrival. Give us a look and if you want more detail on this western area just give a yell to PM.

[jesmeltzer]

PHILIP
I used to live outside of COLUMBIA about 20 years ago and didn't really care for that area but we will have to take a drive thru the mtns while wqe are up that way.

THANKS A BUNCH TO EVERYONE WHO KICKED IN ,,,,,,,,, THIS GIVES US FOOD FOR THOUGHT

JIM AND SUE S

[cobradawg]

I think you will find East Tennessee very competive in the cost of living department. I have a vacation house near Unicoi in the cherokee national forest and the mountains are beautiful. By the way the area is a hotbed of car fanatics.

[Greg_M]

Shhhhh...

[Mr. Barry]

Jim
I guess I'm the lone voice in the N.E. Georgia mountains....BUT , they don't call Hiawassee, and Towns County, the "Enchanted Valley", for nothing....Lowest taxes in the state of Georgia.....Lowest crime rate too....Surrounded by mountains, and on the North Carolina State line.....
Right on Lake Chatuge, with over 200 miles of shoreline. Home of the Georgia Mountain Fair.
We're 25 miles Southeast of Murphy, so come on down, and give us a look.
Edward

[Moosepuck123]

Originally Posted by jesmeltzer

PHILIP
I used to live outside of COLUMBIA about 20 years ago and didn't really care for that area but we will have to take a drive thru the mtns while wqe are up that way.

THANKS A BUNCH TO EVERYONE WHO KICKED IN ,,,,,,,,, THIS GIVES US FOOD FOR THOUGHT

JIM AND SUE S

Had to chime in here as I live just outside of Columbia myself....and don't like it....not much at all. Upstate is MUCH nicer and I think SC is cheaper than the other two states on your list as well. Either way, enjoy retirement!

[theboppshop]

Jim and Sue,

Whichever state you decide on, you will be in "Cobra Heaven" as far as wonderful roads go! Just spent the week at Lake Blue Ridge, GA ... though with the motorhome, not the Daytona.

Garry

[Mustang Man]

Just STOP IT! You guys are killing me! I was just in GA (Road Atlanta) last month and really like the northern part of the state. Got friends in SC and an Aunt in NC and all say they love it.

Problem is we have one in college, another starting in a year, a good 20 years until retirement, and a job that won't let me move. This thread is seriously depressing me!

But in all sincerity, enjoy your retirement, because no matter where you end up, it'll be better than working (and being in Florida)...

Mark

[Sherrell]

East Tennessee

You'll fall in love with it. Four seasons. Mountains. Lakes. Bristol Baby. Great Smoky Mountains. Lookout Mountain. Close to Nashville. Convenient to almost everything. No state income tax. (High sales tax.)

Only bad issue is our air quality is not so good....

[MJN]

Jim.

I moved from about 45 minutes north of Philadelphia to Mooresville NC almost exactly a year ago and I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. I have yet to find anything not to like here. Property taxes are about 20% of what I was paying, utility bills are about half. Personal property tax is really not anything significant. Yes state income tax is more and sales tax is incrementally more but that is more than offset by the savings. I can actually afford to retire here Quite a local car community as well as Cobra group, we had 13 Cobras at breakfast last month.

[jesmeltzer]

You guys are making it really tough,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hope i can afford several houses!!
But seriously sue and i thank everyone for the info and look for that blue cobra to be tearing around up that way soon.

Jim s