PA or OH - Where Should We Retire - TN & KY now on the list??

[chickenlover210]

PA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[salon]

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Hi Greyhorsewoman - what kind of perks?

 

[salon]

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Hi Chickenlover210 - Care to elaborate????

 

[chickenlover210]

Quote:
Hi Chickenlover210 - Care to elaborate????

Yes PA it's cheaper taxes (i think0 it is eayser to find land and the land is cheaper and you are near alot and it is near Ny and DC

 

[cybercat]

Ok I moved to PA from a trip thru Sc,Nc from Fl. Met my hubby in PA where he was born and bred and grew up on the family farm.

PA was a SHOCK. I got hit with taxes I never heard of or would imagine. They have a privalge to live in your town tax also one for working in the county where your work is at. Plus they have car inpections that you Must do yearly which cost. I had emitions only in other state but NC and Sc tax for vechicle owned. Property there is not that cheap as many other places as some believe but it is not as high as states like FL.

In one place I lived in PA was right on the border of MD as I worked in MD. That saved me alot of money because I did work in MD instead of PA. My hubby always worked in PA and he got cut alot more out of his pay check compared to what I got cut.

What was the worst was the COLD. Ofcourse I came from a warm state where I grew up so that makes a big differance for me. So yes I am bias on that front. Also eleveation is something to think about if you are comming from a lower one it will play havoc with sinuses not to mention the cold does too.

One thing not mention is electric there will KILL you. It costs alot more than any other state I lived in. Reason you pay a shipping into your area charge. My electric bills for 3 different place I lived in PA all ran over 200 for winter and two of these place were newer built. Now if you have a wood or coal stove that will help but gas or electric is still high in PA. One place I did live we had a coal stove and gas for water and a oil heater also.

I would suggest you do a cost analises(sp) to see what kind of income you will have on retirement. If you can not pay for your place outright you will have a mortage to pay. Travel gas there is not cheaper so factor that in also. You will use more gas to drive up there because of the mountains.

The one good thing about PA that I miss is that we could buy raw milk there. Other than that I am glad we moved to Tn for everything is much cheaper. No taxes but fedral and state income and lots of farms around. We bought our land which is 4.6 acres for 22,000 and it was untouched land. I know in PA land there is triple that at least in many areas. Had a friend there with a 43 acrea farm that had a offer for 500,000.00 for it. Most around him were selling for that and more. We check a 11 acrea place for 200,000.00. And this was out in the country about 1 hour from nearest town. That was 3 years ago.

So do your reasearch on what you will have money wise after you buy. You could find yourself spending alot more to live than you think with all those others costs.

Also I agree health care there sucks big time. I can testify to that real well.

 

[BearSwampChick]

I lived near Pittsburgh for 5 years. I know Allegheny Co. (Pittsburgh) has really high property taxes. We lived in Butler Co. which borders it and A.C.'s were 3 times what we paid for the same value house. This was 8 years ago and a home costing 230,000 was approx. $9,000/year. I'm sure that has increased by now. The weather can be pretty awful in that area because you do get the lake effect snow. Where we lived we got double whammied all the time. We got lake effect plus we got the fronts moving up from the Ohio Valley which come from the gulf, so there was a lot of clashing of fronts going on. On the other hand I'm pretty sure that if you're over 65 you get quite a few exemptions on your taxes. And the skiing is great if you're into that. Hate the turnpike though!! Had some really bad experiences on that bad boy!

Susan

 

[salon]

Thanks to everyone for their input on PH and OH living (although not many OH folks responded

A few people have recommended TN and KY - anyone else out there have comments about TN/KY living?

 

[SandyC]

I lived in Pittsburgh, Philly and my mom is from central PA, so I spent 20+ years of my life going to my grandparents farm. I love PA and my dh and I are considering retiring there in a few years too. My biggest problem with it though is snakes!!!! I love to wander though my woods and kayak and I worry about water moccasins and copperheads! They are NASTY critters!!!! At least the rattlers have the decency to warn you that they are around, so we may stay here in Northern NY until my desire to wander the woods is past. NONE of those critters in the area I am in!!!!! I also home school and the PA laws are worse than NY from what I can see. It (PA) IS a lovely state though!!!!!

 

[littlelemon]

I live in OH, and I have family in PA, and honestly, the weather is very similar in both states. They both have 4 beautiful seasons and the gardening is great. I am not aware of the PA housing prices, but in OH they are low if you are a little bit away from the bigger cities. You can still buy land for a good price in the rural areas, which I assume is where you are looking. Ohio is FLAT. Unless you live in Southern Ohio there is no diversity in the landform.
Raw milk is illegal here, I guess PA one-ups us there!

 

[1acrefarm]

TN-No shoveling snow.