Florida Househunting

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

In early December we stopped at a neighborhood garage sale up the road in a high priced, big house, newer subdivision. We thought there were a lot of people at it, but no, almost every house had 6 to 8 cars parked in driveway, grass, and front. This wa a gated subdivision, but apparently no parking rules and i doubt if single families were living in these houses.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The house on Country Barn goes to auction 12/13.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The house being discussed got a contract on it today.

Another that I printed out last Friday, that we likely would have bought, also has disappeared from the listings.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Relocating


Today, buying or selling a home is one of the largest
projects many people will take on in their lifetime...

Once you Set up a house-hunting trip to your new area

Here are a few House Hunting Strategies

Get a map and select your preferred area of town you're interested in.
Look in these areas first and then expand these areas in the event
you don't find what you want.

Find out: How much state and local property taxes are
Find out: How much it cost for trash pickup and utilities
Find out: What property tax rates are on appraised value
*Does the State charge an annual tax on motor vehicles

The key to successful house-hunting is to be informed.
Happy House Hunting and enjoy your Florida vacation!

MyFlorida.com Consumer Information
Public Service Commission Directory

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I am getting pretty good at telling which ones are gonna get bought, both here and at home.

A little more running around today, then golf, the opposite order of yesterday.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

$1500 for taxes on a $50-$60,000 house is not expensive. I'm paying close to $4,000 in PA on a house that was appraised at $145,000 and I'm in one of the lower tax areas. My sister in NJ pays $16,000!

Now in SC where I am, my taxes will be about $600/yr when I turn 65. The next county over pays a lot more. You are very lucky to have such low taxes where you live.

I certainly consider it expensive. It is about 3 times higher than what I pay in California.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

I certainly consider it expensive. It is about 3 times higher than what I pay in California.

Are you saying you only pay $500/yr in real estate taxes in CA?

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

Pat,
California passed Prop 13 many years ago. Its provision locked house taxes at 1% of the purchase price plus local taxes (generally estimated at a total of 1.1 to 1.2%). So you may have identical houses a few doors down paying anywhere from $1100. for an older house that sold last for $100,000. to $5500. for the same house which sold for $500,000 two years ago. Size doesn't matter, original cost does. The only things which trigger reassessment are a request from the owner, a sale, or a building permit for improvements.

Fern

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Moving to South Carolina

Now in SC where I am, my taxes will
be about $600/yr when I turn 65.
The next county over pays a lot more.

Property Tax

Counties, cities and school districts are authorized to impose ad valorem taxes on real and personal property. The local government assesses and collects the property tax under the direction and assistance of the Department of Revenue. Property tax dollars support public schools and the services local governments provide.

Residential Property

The market value of a legal residence and up to five acres of surrounding land is assessed at 4%.

The millage rate of the local government is then applied to the assessed value resulting in the tax liability. The millage rate is set by local governments and varies widely throughout the state.

The first $100,000 in fair market value of a primary residence is exempt from school operating costs.

Some examples of how this property tax relief benefits taxpayers:

Based most recent property tax rates, a $100,000 home in the city of Greenville would be taxed at $1,186. With the exemption, the homeowner would see a savings of $581, for a lower tax bill of $605.

In the city of Columbia, without property tax relief, the tax on a $100,000 home would be $1,418. After tax relief, the property tax is reduced to $867, a savings of $551. The property tax relief will vary among school districts depending upon the millage for school operating costs.

If you have established one-year residency and you are 65 or older, you are eligible for a homestead exemption of $20,000. For the same home in the city of Columbia calculated previously, the homestead exemption would offer an additional savings of $173, for a total tax of $694 on a $100,000 home.

The assessment ratio on a second home or vacation home is 6%.
The property tax relief does not apply to a second home.

To find out more about the tax on real estate,
call the assessor in the county where you live or plan to relocate.

Vehicle Property Taxes

Personal property tax is collected annually on cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boats and airplanes, based on their fair market value.

If you own a $10,000 car, based on the average millage rate,
your personal property tax would be $268.

Moving to South Carolina Tax Guide

Property Tax Guide

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Property Tax

Counties, cities and school districts are authorized to impose ad valorem taxes on real and personal property. The local government assesses and collects the property tax under the direction and assistance of the Department of Revenue. Property tax dollars support public schools and the services local governments provide.

Residential Property

The market value of a legal residence and up to five acres of surrounding land is assessed at 4%.

The millage rate of the local government is then applied to the assessed value resulting in the tax liability. The millage rate is set by local governments and varies widely throughout the state.

The first $100,000 in fair market value of a primary residence is exempt from school operating costs.

Some examples of how this property tax relief benefits taxpayers:

Based most recent property tax rates, a $100,000 home in the city of Greenville would be taxed at $1,186. With the exemption, the homeowner would see a savings of $581, for a lower tax bill of $605.

In the city of Columbia, without property tax relief, the tax on a $100,000 home would be $1,418. After tax relief, the property tax is reduced to $867, a savings of $551. The property tax relief will vary among school districts depending upon the millage for school operating costs.

If you have established one-year residency and you are 65 or older, you are eligible for a homestead exemption of $20,000. For the same home in the city of Columbia calculated previously, the homestead exemption would offer an additional savings of $173, for a total tax of $694 on a $100,000 home.

The assessment ratio on a second home or vacation home is 6%.
The property tax relief does not apply to a second home.

To find out more about the tax on real estate,
call the assessor in the county where you live or plan to relocate.

Vehicle Property Taxes

Personal property tax is collected annually on cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, boats and airplanes, based on their fair market value.

If you own a $10,000 car, based on the average millage rate,
your personal property tax would be $268.

Moving to South Carolina Tax Guide

Property Tax Guide

Marti, I know the tax info for SC. What was your point in posting the info? The thread is about FL and I was comparing the the two areas.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

Pat,
California passed Prop 13 many years ago. Its provision locked house taxes at 1% of the purchase price plus local taxes (generally estimated at a total of 1.1 to 1.2%). So you may have identical houses a few doors down paying anywhere from $1100. for an older house that sold last for $100,000. to $5500. for the same house which sold for $500,000 two years ago. Size doesn't matter, original cost does. The only things which trigger reassessment are a request from the owner, a sale, or a building permit for improvements.

Fern

No wonder CA has such a money problem!

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Are you saying you only pay $500/yr in real estate taxes in CA?

No, what I am saying is the tax rate is 3 times as high. If my house was only worth $50,000 then I would pay around $500. My house is worth approximately $300,000 and I pay $3,000.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Pat,
California passed Prop 13 many years ago. Its provision locked house taxes at 1% of the purchase price plus local taxes (generally estimated at a total of 1.1 to 1.2%). So you may have identical houses a few doors down paying anywhere from $1100. for an older house that sold last for $100,000. to $5500. for the same house which sold for $500,000 two years ago. Size doesn't matter, original cost does. The only things which trigger reassessment are a request from the owner, a sale, or a building permit for improvements.

Fern

With the steep decline in house prices, Riverside County, where I live, has automatically reassessed the values for the last 2 years. The same was true in San Diego County for our timeshare. This did not require any action by the owners. I am sure they did this to avoid having to process millions of applications for reassessments. Our property tax has decreased 40% for our house and 65% for our timeshare.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

No wonder CA has such a money problem!

Prop 13 has nothing to do with California's fiscal problems but that is another issue and has nothing to do with property taxes.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

RE: What was your point in posting the info?

Marti,
I know the tax info for SC.
What was your point in posting the info?
The thread is about FL and I was
comparing the the two areas.

I too was comparing the cost of living & taxes in FL and SC
and thought the website information might be helpful to you.