My New Machine???

[Ductape]

Dougster, i'm not sure what you are going to do with a tractor that big in NH ! With all you Mass folk moving up here.... you've left us no room to run sumthin that large up here. You might as well join the missus and me, and move up above Bang-ger Maine. I'm looking at 40 acre lots in the mid twenties up there. Hard to even find a forty acre lot in NH.... nevermind pay for it. Especially Since NH came up with the "view tax", since they surmised you Mass folk would be happy to pay tripple for a piece of land with a view. Now us life-long New Hampshire-ites can't afford to stay here anymore !! See you in the "good Maine" (to the real Mainiacs, anything below Agusta is just a suburb of Boston) !

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, i'm not sure what you are going to do with a tractor that big in NH ! With all you Mass folk moving up here.... you've left us no room to run sumthin that large up here. You might as well join the missus and me, and move up above Bang-ger Maine. I'm looking at 40 acre lots in the mid twenties up there. Hard to even find a forty acre lot in NH.... nevermind pay for it. Especially Since NH came up with the "view tax", since they surmised you Mass folk would be happy to pay tripple for a piece of land with a view. Now us life-long New Hampshire-ites can't afford to stay here anymore !! See you in the "good Maine" (to the real Mainiacs, anything below Agusta is just a suburb of Boston) !

I know... I know. What can I say??? I've got to go somewhere. I can't afford to stay here in liberal loony, endlessly corrupt Taxachusetts.

And yes, the "view tax" is really quite bizarre. Imagine what Brian (MtnViewRanch) would have to pay!!! It boggles the mind!!!

I'll be a good New Hampshire resident. I promise!!!

Dougster

 

[Ductape]

Yep..... strange isn't it (the view tax)? Must be NHs way of keeping up with the looniness of Ma, and even Ca. I know you'll be a good NH resident..... you should really be out of there already. With any luck i may be in Me. by then...... but i'm having a hard time talking Whats-Her-Name into jumping in feet first.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I know... I know. What can I say??? I've got to go somewhere. I can't afford to stay here in liberal loony, endlessly corrupt Taxachusetts.

And yes, the "view tax" is really quite bizarre. Imagine what Brian (MtnViewRanch) would have to pay!!! It boggles the mind!!!

I'll be a good New Hampshire resident. I promise!!!

Dougster

Is the view tax for what you can see or how far. Because if it is for how far you can see, if & when that tax reaches California, I'm in biiiiiiiiiig trouble.

 

[Dougster]

I know you'll be a good NH resident..... you should really be out of there already.

Yes, I hear you. But the GF still has a few years left to work (in Boston) and family still needs me around these parts a little while longer. My 5-yr ARM mortgage explodes near the end of next year and I am not in a position to refinance. I'm also hoping property values recover a bit by then. I'll need to sell out and move by the summer of 2009 at the latest or face foreclosure.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Is the view tax for what you can see or how far. Because if it is for how far you can see, if & when that tax reaches California, I'm in biiiiiiiiiig trouble.

Oh, you'd be in big trouble alright! Take what you are paying now and multiple it by 6 or 7. That's the "view factor" they apply for a place like yours! Remember, that with no sales tax or income tax, NH relies heavily on property taxes (plus state sales of booze...Hic!). This is their way of socking it to the "rich" folks who can afford to live in a place with a good view of the mountains.

It is the new and ugly "dark side" of the otherwise fine land of Live Free or Die.

Dougster

 

[shvl73]

While it isn't a great system, I'll stick with it. Compare our total tax burden with any of our neighboring states and you'll see that we do ok. Many New England states are starting to catch up on property tax yet still bleed 'em dry with the income and sales tax. There are many states where property tax is a bargain but, they aren't in New England!
We need a system that can test incoming residents to see if they can support themselves or do we need to support them. The former are welcomed, the latter are given a bus ticket to Massachusetts!

 

[shvl73]

The key to managing high property taxes is, buy more than 10 acres. You need at least that to put in current use. The people with 2-10 acres total are really getting whacked on property taxes.
We had a front page article awhile back about a local landowner griping about his new tax rate, it was something around $70 a day. What seemed a bit hard to take was the quiet disclosure that he seemed more than happy to see the small parcel he was able to subdivide and sell to our new governor would fetch a shy $1,000,000. You can't have it both ways.
Folks on a fixed income, I can sympathize with. It's hard to predict such large increases in taxes.

 

[Dougster]

While it isn't a great system, I'll stick with it. Compare our total tax burden with any of our neighboring states and you'll see that we do ok. Many New England states are starting to catch up on property tax yet still bleed 'em dry with the income and sales tax. There are many states where property tax is a bargain but, they aren't in New England!
We need a system that can test incoming residents to see if they can support themselves or do we need to support them. The former are welcomed, the latter are given a bus ticket to Massachusetts!

The key to managing high property taxes is, buy more than 10 acres. You need at least that to put in current use. The people with 2-10 acres total are really getting whacked on property taxes.
We had a front page article awhile back about a local landowner griping about his new tax rate, it was something around $70 a day. What seemed a bit hard to take was the quiet disclosure that he seemed more than happy to see the small parcel he was able to subdivide and sell to our new governor would fetch a shy $1,000,000. You can't have it both ways.
Folks on a fixed income, I can sympathize with. It's hard to predict such large increases in taxes.

We've certainly been warned enough times to be extremely careful about where and what we buy. We've been told that property taxes will vary wildly depending on location. I think it's not overstating it to say that property taxes will determine where and what we buy... and what we decide to build... even more so than purchase price and building costs. This will be our retirement home... hopefully semi-retirement for a while in my case... and we won't be in a position to pay crazy high property taxes merely for a "view"!

Dougster

 

[civesnedfield]

Dougster, i'm not sure what you are going to do with a tractor that big in NH ! With all you Mass folk moving up here.... you've left us no room to run sumthin that large up here. You might as well join the missus and me, and move up above Bang-ger Maine. I'm looking at 40 acre lots in the mid twenties up there. Hard to even find a forty acre lot in NH.... nevermind pay for it. Especially Since NH came up with the "view tax", since they surmised you Mass folk would be happy to pay tripple for a piece of land with a view. Now us life-long New Hampshire-ites can't afford to stay here anymore !! See you in the "good Maine" (to the real Mainiacs, anything below Agusta is just a suburb of Boston) !

Hey if you think NH has a monoply on the view tax you are mistaken. The view tax, is just one of the many ways towns in the state of Maine use to seperate us from our money. Have you ever heard of a farm that has been in the family for three generations being assesed and taxed as developabale land. We have tha same problem over here as any where else. People from away are willing to pay an ungodly amount of money for a building lot, all this does is raise everyone elses property values.
As far as everything south of Augusta, I have signed that petition ten times now. I think the new one going around gives everything south of Augusta back to Mass., heck most of the people from there that come up here believe that Maine belongs to MA anyway. I am all for it give it back to them, and put up a wall with gaurds and the whole nine yards.

 

[Dougster]

Hey if you think NH has a monoply on the view tax you are mistaken. The view tax, is just one of the many ways towns in the state of Maine use to seperate us from our money. Have you ever heard of a farm that has been in the family for three generations being assesed and taxed as developabale land. We have tha same problem over here as any where else. People from away are willing to pay an ungodly amount of money for a building lot, all this does is raise everyone elses property values.
As far as everything south of Augusta, I have signed that petition ten times now. I think the new one going around gives everything south of Augusta back to Mass., heck most of the people from there that come up here believe that Maine belongs to MA anyway. I am all for it give it back to them, and put up a wall with gaurds and the whole nine yards.

Oh man! Aren't you all wound up today!

I understand that other places have their own versions of the "View Tax"... It just seems a bit more extreme and out-of-place in the land of Live Free or Die.

Yes, Maine crossed over to expensive, big brother government years ago. Not sure what drove it there, but Maine is just as bad as... if not worse than... crazy old Taxachusetts in many ways. I still love Maine... we sometimes vacation in the Acadia/Bar Harbor area (Beautiful!!!)... but no one I know (except Duct) is calling it a really cheap place to live anymore.

Dougster

 

[civesnedfield]

Oh man! Aren't you all wound up today!

I understand that other places have their own versions of the "View Tax"... It just seems a bit more extreme and out-of-place in the land of Live Free or Die.

Yes, Maine crossed over to expensive, big brother government years ago. Not sure what drove it there, but Maine is just as bad as... if not worse than... crazy old Taxachusetts in many ways. I still love Maine... we sometimes vacation in the Acadia/Bar Harbor area (Beautiful!!!)... but no one I know (except Duct) is calling it a really cheap place to live anymore.

Dougster

I know why. This is the first time in I do not know how many years that Maine is not on the top of the most taxed state in the union list. I think we came in second this year.

Wound up is and understatement. Besides just getting the new property tax bill in the mail, we just had a revaulation, yipeeeeee, work is driving me nuts

 

[Dougster]

I know why. This is the first time in I do not know how many years that Maine is not on the top of the most taxed state in the union list. I think we came in second this year. Wound up is an understatement. Besides just getting the new property tax bill in the mail, we just had a revaulation, yipeeeeee, work is driving me nuts

Well, as I've pointed out before, my property taxes went up 10.3% in fiscal 2006 and are going up more than 15% in fiscal 2007, the latter resulting from a recent general override of Prop 2-1/2 in our town. Being either laid-off or semi-retired or outright retired (depending how I feel about it on any given day), these kinds of double-digit tax increases simply cannot be tolerated for much longer.

Hope those "Taxachusetts" numbers make you feel a little better.

Dougster

 

[bindian]

We've certainly been warned enough times to be extremely careful about where and what we buy. We've been told that property taxes will vary wildly depending on location. I think it's not overstating it to say that property taxes will determine where and what we buy... and what we decide to build... even more so than purchase price and building costs. This will be our retirement home... hopefully semi-retirement for a while in my case... and we won't be in a position to pay crazy high property taxes merely for a "view"!

Dougster

Dougster,
Welcome to Texas! Homestead exemptions still apply to taxes here. You just have to be living in your home on January 1st. A homestead can include up to 20 acres, if the land is owned by the homeowner and used as a yard or for another purpose related to the residential use of the homestead. Only a homeowner's principal residence qualifies. Then you can have Agriculture and/or Timber exemptions.
Weirdest tax I heard of down here is some schools and counties in East Texas tax timber on it's worth at harvest time BEFORE it is ready to harvest. Yes, a lot of folks just buy property for it's timber, then they sale it. Don't know if they are still doing that or even if I got it right from my (now ex) mother in law.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, Welcome to Texas! Homestead exemptions still apply to taxes here. You just have to be living in your home on January 1st. A homestead can include up to 20 acres, if the land is owned by the homeowner and used as a yard or for another purpose related to the residential use of the homestead. Only a homeowner's principal residence qualifies. Then you can have Agriculture and/or Timber exemptions. Weirdest tax I heard of down here is some schools and counties in East Texas tax timber on it's worth at harvest time BEFORE it is ready to harvest. Yes, a lot of folks just buy property for it's timber, then they sale it. Don't know if they are still doing that or even if I got it right from my (now ex) mother in law.
hugs, Brandi

Believe me, I know that there are a LOT of cheaper (and better) places to live than Taxachusetts. I spent a lot of time in Texas during my career and enjoyed every single visit. It's one great state you've got down there! But unfortunately, I am an East Coast kind of guy that's too old to change. Best I can hope for is to find something marginally affordable up in New Hampshire or I'm guessing I will end up somewhere down in the Carolinas... with everybody else retiring from Taxachusetts!!!

Dougster

 

[Ductape]

Hey, I LOVE texas too !! Never been there, but i hear they have an electric chair or two...... AND USE THEM !!! God bless America !!

As far as Maine taxes go.... i know about the whole sales and income tax thing (and disagree with it all), but i'm going to tell you..... my brother lives in northern Maine on ten acres of (300' frontage) LAKEFRONT property. His house is legitimately worth 350K or so , and last years property tax was $700 !!!!!!! Not THOUSAND..... HUNDRED !! Why am i looking at land in Maine?? I realize i can't live there full time till Whats-Her-Name has enough time in for her pension (since i have none)..... but at least i can have a three season camp or sumthin in the meantime. OK.... so my brother DOES have to bring his own trash to the dump.......

 

[Dougster]

Hey, I LOVE texas too !! Never been there, but i hear they have an electric chair or two...... AND USE THEM !!! God bless America !!

Amen Brother Duct! That's one point on which we can always agree!

As far as Maine taxes go.... i know about the whole sales and income tax thing (and disagree with it all), but i'm going to tell you..... my brother lives in northern Maine on ten acres of (300' frontage) LAKEFRONT property. His house is legitimately worth 350K or so , and last years property tax was $700 !!!!!!! Not THOUSAND..... HUNDRED !! Why am i looking at land in Maine?? I realize i can't live there full time till Whats-Her-Name has enough time in for her pension (since i have none)..... but at least i can have a three season camp or sumthin in the meantime. OK.... so my brother DOES have to bring his own trash to the dump.......

Well, you do raise an interesting point. If I'm going to be retired and have almost no income, why should I worry about income tax? And if I'm smart and drive a ways and do my shopping in New Hampshire, why should I worry about sales tax? So chose the place with the cheapest property taxes and save a bundle! Got to admit that logic makes good sense.

Still, I gotta tell you that I don't get the same feeling of freedom while in Maine that I get while in New Hampshire. Hard to put my finger on specifics, but I know what I feel when I feel it. New Hampshire feels like the place where I belong. Maine is nifty, but it's just a place I go when I'm on summer vacation.

There are family issues as well. We can't be a million miles from leftover family located in Taxachusetts and Connecticut. The parts of NH that we are looking at are all within reasonable time and distance from family members. That's still going to be important to us.

Dougster

 

[MtnViewRanch]

There are family issues as well. We can't be a million miles from leftover family located in Taxachusetts and Connecticut. The parts of NH that we are looking at are all within reasonable time and distance from family members. That's still going to be important to us.

Dougster

I thought that every place in the east was within driving distance.
You guys drive across states in less time than we can go through counties out here.

 

[Keith_B]

It's tough to beat rural Kentucky as a place to live. Our property taxes are pretty reasonable, we still have homestead exemptions, the government doesn't bother you, and the cost of living is pretty good.

 

[Ductape]

MtnView, going to visit my brother in the next state takes nearly seven hours....though i could probably get to Dougster's house in under an hour. But.... why the heck would i want to go to Massachusetts???

Keith, i hear that about Ky. I have often told Whats-Her-Name we need to move closer to middle america. Each year i feel more and more that we are square pegs in round holes. Especially since our state turned blue. Our governor just signed a budget 15% over last years. Not much longer till folks are fleeing our state like they've done south of here in Massachusetts. Too bad most of both our families are here, makes it harder to leave.

Dougster, i think your feelings on Maine are based on the fact that you have not gone far enough north. Where my brother lives, there is no local police dept. (something you'd appreciate), and you have to drive 40 minutes or so to hit the nearest traffic light. Now THATS livin' !!