Thinking of moving, but WHERE???

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mrbstephens

mrbstephens

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10 Years
May 25, 2009
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Long Island, New York
I'd like some suggestions as to where you people think I might want to live.
First let me explain my situation. I live on Long Island. I have a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch on .43 acre. My mortgage and property taxes is killing us. We pay $6,500 a year in taxes. With taxes included we're paying almost $2,000/month. My husband is a talented woodworker, works in a cabinet shop and is our sole income. He makes $90,000/year before taxes. It seems like a lot, but we're barely scraping by. I stay home with our two children....son is 6 and daughter is 3. I homeschool our son. I am educated in horticulture, which used to be my career before we had children. We enjoy living naturally and organically. I have a small vegetable garden which I wish was much bigger and we have 7 chickens for fresh eggs. My dream is to live on a farm and grow organic produce and raise live stock for the dairy and fiber. We bought our house 8 years ago for $256,000 of which we still owe $225,000. If we were to sell now we could get at least $375,000 even with the economy the way it is. We live just a few miles from the ocean and bays which is what makes the property value so high. We love the beach and fishing here, but recently I asking myself why are we paying so much for such a small piece of land. My husband works himself to death at a job he hates. I came across a farm in upstate New York......80 acres for $190,000. 60 acres organic farm land, 10 acres wooded and the rest is for the horses/livestock and living area. It has a huge barn and seperate 4 car garage. I'm imagining selling our house and buying this which would leave us with a tiny mortgage, fresh organic produce/dairy/meat to feed our family plus the profit of growing and selling the produce/dairy/meat. Plus my husband would use that garage as a shop to create and sell his woodwork. Not to mention, I could sell some of the acreage......because there is plenty to go around.

So, what's keeping us from just going for it? It's COLD there! Right not it's 20 degrees and snowing. It's close to Lake Ontario.......almost Canada. We don't like cold or long winters. The winters are too long here on Long Island as it is. Also, I'm not sure about the community there either. That's another important thing of course. I don't want to offend anyone, but I don't want to live among hicks, for a lack of a gentler word. I'm a strong democrat and not at all religious. I believe in natural healing and spirituality. I like an intelligent conversation and friendly, family oriented type people.

So, this is what I'm looking for;

1) Farm land with wooded areas nearby. A house that has at least 3 bedrooms and an outdoor structure big enough for a woodworking shop. Not costing more than $250,000.
2)Nearby to a beach/lake/river.
3)Comfortable climate.....snow is fine, but not too much.
4)Don't want to live too far from my family. Most of our family lives on Long Island, but a few in Massachusetts and Virginia.
5)A community like I described above.

I'm sure there's more, but that's the most important I think. Any suggestions would be fabulous. I like you guys and respect your opinions. Thanks so much!
 
Wow, you really do need to move. I bought these two houses here (right next to each other) on 5 acres for less than $150,000 total and they are nice homes. I dont even come close to paying that in taxes. I have heard that the taxes in your state are forcing alot of people out. Good luck.
 
Just remember as you move away from the high cost homes an taxes you will also move away from the higher income.

I would be looking at some of the bigger rivers if you like being close to water. Land around the Ohio, Mississippi an Tennessee rivers are pretty cheap an great farm land. An still good fishing.
 
Why not look into the Upstate SC or NC? A lot of people are from all over here. and I have found the southern people very friendly & "laid-back!" with many "Northerners," too. It's a great mix. This area has a generally very nice climate most of the time. You would not be too far from the mountains or the beach either. It's a great place to live. I can see the Blue Ridge Mountains from my backyard.

I love the Springs here with the beautiful Azaleas, etc., and the fact that it does not snow at Easter!

I am originally from Minnesota & I do not miss those long winters very much. The snow is beautiful....at first, but it can get old after a while to me.

Also, the taxes, etc., are much lower than NY from what I understand & you could get more land for your money here, too. (Meaning more chickens!?)
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Best wishes in your search! I hope you find what you are looking for.
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i live in upstate.. just north of syracuse.. and we have 3.2 acres and pay over 7,000 in taxes.. we paid 43,000 for the land. all of ny is bad where property taxes are concerned.. look at other states..my parents retired to arkansas on a huge lake with 1,000 miles shore line.. yes 1,000 miles and pay 340 dollars a year in taxes total. west virgina is very low taxes and isn't so far away. also we get about 200" of snow per year here.. ugh
 
Darned if the same thoughts haven't been running through my mind.
Unfortunately we aren't in a position to even be able to dream...

Taxes seem to be a concern... even if you can grow all your food, you'll have to have cash for those *insert rant on taxes* so here's some info that may be useful... states with the highest and lowest property tax rates... of course, this will vary by city, but still an interesting peek.

Highest are New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, Vermont, Wisconsin, and California. Rates ranging from 0.47-1.57% of your home's value.

Lowest are Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas* , Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana. Rates ranging from 0.53% down to 0.16%!

that is, at least according to this site. http://efinancedirectory.com/articles/States_with_the_Highest_and_Lowest_Property_Taxes.html

*but they tax EVERYTHING even groceries there, my Memaw is still cursing Clinton from when he was governor... perhaps that is why they can afford the lower property tax rate. Something else to consider. But then again, if you plan to grow your own taxes on groceries would not be as much of an issue for you!
 
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