I have been reseaching Summerville SC. Housing prices and Property taxes are reasonable and it it close to Charleston (big city). Summers are hot, but winters are short. Far enough from the coast to avoid hurricanes direct.
Any members live there?
I have been reseaching Summerville SC. Housing prices and Property taxes are reasonable and it it close to Charleston (big city). Summers are hot, but winters are short. Far enough from the coast to avoid hurricanes direct.
Any members live there?
I lived in NC '95-99. Mild climate. But, you do get hurricanes coming 200 miles inland with lots of property damage due to big pine trees falling over. Real estate is kind of pricey: real estate taxes fairly low. Car/motorcycle insurance is more expensive due to it being state regulated. You also have annual safety and emission testing requirements for your vehicle. The NC income tax is a nightmare--the most convoluted tax I have ever had to figure. Also you have lots of traffic congestion along the I85/I40 corrider do to the inability of the infrastructure to keep up with population growth.
The rally next summer is right in the middle of one of the best places to retire with a motorcycle in the country. I live 60 miles away on the Virginia side. Virginia has a moderate state income tax but a low 5% sales tax. Tennessee has no state income tax but a high 9 3/4% or so sales tax on both items and labor. Since I moved back to my hometown, the temperature has never gotten to a hundred or down to zero. We don't get hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes or any other natural disasters except a very infrequent flood (that is only a problem if you're stupid enough to live in flood prone areas). Housing is cheap and property taxes are low (I pay $1,240.79 on my 4,700 square foot house and 6.4 acres I bought 9 years ago for $200,000). I pay $200 for full coverage on both of my motorcycles and just over $630 for coverage on a car, truck, suv and camper. Wages are low but that is a plus if you are retired because you can hire stuff done cheap.
Tour the area next summer at the rally and be sure to wander around East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina. North Carolina has much more expensive property and much higher insurance rates than VA or TN.
'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.
Originally Posted by The_Veg
Yes, but it's getting more affordable day by day as home prices are plummeting.
Jeff
1988 R100 RT (the other woman)
2018 R1200 GS (the mistress)
"I got my motorcycle jacket but I'm walking all the time." Joe Strummer
I lived the first 23 years of my life in Centralia, IL . . . if cjack is right about it being God's country, I wonder what he was so pissed off about. +1 on middle to eastern Tennessee.
Floyd
Things that you want to look at are property and income taxes, availability of health care, and how close you want to be to an airport.
I personally like northern New Mexico. There is affordable real estate in rural areas near Santa Fe or Taos. Mild winters and not too hot in the summer, and plenty of recreation opportunities.
"There is no exception to the rule that every rule has an exception."
James Thurber
There are six states with no income tax. TN, FL, TX, & NV are the ones I can recall. Being retired military you will find many major bases in these states with commissary and medical services. I would move to Texas hill country when I retire but know that the other half would not want to live so far from our kids and grandchildren so N FL is where my home will be. My only time in Alaska was a short visit to Adak, the size and aggressiveness of the mosquitos there compares to the ones in the pine barrens of NJ. Good luck to you and your family.
Ride Safe
Spearfish, SD.
Okay, I've got my map out and I'm putting pins in at all the suggested locations. I'm looking at the gaps where there are no pins and guessing those places are really bad places to live...or the folks that live there are trying to keep their little slice of heaven a secret. What is it?
Kevin Huddy
Silver City, Montana
MOA# 24,790 Ambassador
look for the sigh that says "Welcome to ____. Spend your money, leave your
daughters, go back home"
You don't want to homestead in Montana...
Read Lewis and Clark's journals about the mosquitoes, prickly pear cactus and grizzlies. None of that has changed. We still heat our homes with dried cowpies and make all of our clothes and sundry items out of dead animals.
On a vacation a year ago - I was very impressed with Lexington KY. It had a great small-town atmosphere - with some intelligence showing (2 or is it 3 Universities, and 3 hospitals..) And in 10 minutes you could be in some wonderful riding areas.
Anyone have personal experience?
Don Eilenberger http://www.eilenberger.net
Spring Lk Heights NJ NJ Shore BMW Riders
'12 R1200R - I love this bike!
After 24 years in the military and moving all over the place, plus another seven years of civilian work to build up savings, my wife and I did the whole bit of looking at taxes, climate, house prices, medical care, etc. Our search zeroed in on NE Arkansas. We then got on the bike and toured the states for three months. We sold our houses in Maryland and Rhode Island and moved to Laramie WY. We never would have moved here if we hadn't looked all around.
Other than being able to afford an actual house instead of living in a cardboard box, I think the main consideration given the choice is to live in a place where you are comfortable - with the climate, the terrain, the people, busy-ness or remoteness. Laramie has long winters but I always feel lucky to have found it.
Look around. You'll find your place. And, worse comes to worst, you can treat it like a military transfer and move after two years. If you've been in the military for a career you know you can stand just about anywhere for a couple of years.
'16 R1200RS
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. -- Mae West
After living here for 34 years, I agree.
Hello from Nashville, IL
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