On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:21:56 -0500, lid wrote:

On Tue, 23 Oct 07, Vic Smith wrote:
1. Housing is very affordable compared to where I live,

gfretwell wrote:
Just be sure you know what taxes and insurance will be. There can be a
significant sticker shock when you get that bill.

Which taxes? Advalorem? Sales? Estate? Other?
IIRC, FL doesn't have an income tax does it?

Vic, for comparison, which state do you live in presently?

I'm in Morton Grove, Illinois. It's a suburb North of Chicago, in the
same county (Cook). Up here counties have a lot to do with sales and
RE taxes. Illinois has a pretty stiff income tax, but our income
isn't much now that I retired. I think the sales tax is 8% in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house, but I was
just reassessed so I expect that's higher now. The county is a couple
months late with the tax bill because of all the fighting about it.
Up here it's a fairly common practice to protest every tri-annual
assessment and I've paid a tax lawyer @400 for each of the 3
assessments I've been here. It's damn near impossible to figure out
exactly what effect that's had, but when I bought 10 years ago taxes
were 2k.
In any event, from what I can tell, I'm at least in line with the
neighbors.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house

gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.

hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Rick

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house

gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.

hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your
area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there
and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually
pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big
tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary.
I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house
gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.
hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your
area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there
and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually
pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big
tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary.
I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is.

--Vic


Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina
Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go
inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house
gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.
hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your
area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there
and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually
pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big
tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary.
I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is.

--Vic


Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina
Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go
inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

Harry,
Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think
your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat.

Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house
gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.
hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your
area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there
and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually
pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big
tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary.
I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is.

--Vic


Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a
Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if
you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

Harry,
Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think
your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat.



Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat.

HK wrote:
Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
HK wrote:
Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:55:28 -0500, lid wrote:

Vic Smith wrote:
in Cook
county. RE tax last year was 4K, for a 1200 sq ft house
gfretwell wrote:
we cap tax hikes to
3% for homesteaded residents.
hmm.... I think I'll stay put.
1,500 sq ft, on an acre within the city limits, $850 after Homestead
Exemption. After age 65, that'll drop to zero.
Sales tax is 7%. There was a big push last year to raise sales tax on
cigarettes and eliminate it completely on groceries but in the end, it
didn't quite fly. That idea's not dead yet though.
We have a State Income Tax but compared to Federal, it's not enough to
complain about.
Insurance is another matter. I'm on the MS Coast in the area that took
the brunt of Katrina (no, contrary to the news media coverage, New
Orleans dodged the worst of it). Personally, I feel fortunate to have
insurance at all. But I'm on high ground almost a mile from the beach.
Most of the people I know who lost their homes (includes every home on
the beachfront and at least a block or two inland) aren't able to
rebuild because insurance simply isn't available. And most people
who've been able to keep the insurance they had, are paying twice (at
least) the premium they were before. Some premiums went up by
10X.-20X. It's a huge political issue here presently and some people
think it'll be resolved politically somehow... -shrug- ... frankly, I
don't know. Maybe the extreme cases will eventually be lowered but I
believe high premiums are here to stay.

Insurance prices don't often come down. Wish I knew more about your
area. I'm looking at Florida mostly because I have relatives there
and I'm a bit familiar with it, and like the gulf, which is usually
pretty flat. The Atlantic side is infested with big surf and big
tough guys like Harry, Tom, Wayne, etc. Scary.
I'm sort of a laid back pansy now, like the gulf usually is.

--Vic


Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a
Carolina Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus
if you go inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

Harry,
Didn't you do most of your fishing in the backwater? I wouldn't think
your 17' jon boat would be a good bluewater boat.



Sorry, S.F.B., never owned a jon boat.

I am sorry, I thought you said you purchased the 17 ft'er so you could
fish in the skinny water. Since it isn't a jon boat, what do you call it.

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote:



Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina
Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go
inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore
fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think.
I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day
visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where
I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea.
But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears
by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson
to the gulf side.
Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker
for me than the heat on the west side.
The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too.
And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe
that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty
recollection.

--Vic

Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:32:02 -0400, HK wrote:


Ever been fishing in NE Florida? No need to go out into the Atlantic.
Plenty of great fishing in the ICW, and all you need there is a Carolina
Skiff. Redfish, seatrout, flounder, catfish a'plenty, plus if you go
inland in fresh water, bluegills, largemouth bass, et cetera.

Hutchinson Island surf, and the IC bridges around there. Went shore
fishing at one or two of the inlets, Sebastian was one I think.
I always had a bunch of kids, and after the obligatory couple day
visit with my dad shot over to the Clearwater of St. Pete, where
I didn't have to worry about the kids being swept out to sea.
But I take your point. My dad - who was a maniac fisherman - swears
by east coast fishing and always gripes about moving from Hutchinson
to the gulf side.
Personally, the wind and surf on the east side got tiresome quicker
for me than the heat on the west side.
The "pace" and crowds seem less on the west side too.
And the IC on east side seemed much more crowded and narrow, but maybe
that's a product of my limited experience there and/or faulty
recollection.

--Vic


The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of
spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St.
Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once
a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon.

There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself.

Never very many boats in one spot.

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:06:51 -0400, HK wrote:



The ICW fishing in NE Florida is not crowded. There are kazillions of
spots. We used to live almost directly across the ICW from the St.
Augustine seaplane basin, and I'd usually motor over there at least once
a week to catch reds and flounder and amazingly, the occasional tarpon.

There are dozens and dozens of creeks off the ICW, plus the ICW itself.

Never very many boats in one spot.

Dammit! I can't be driving all over hell, deciding!
But thanks, though I was hoping you wouldn't say that (-:
Now I just hope Larry doesn't pipe up, and I have to drive to
Charleston too!

--Vic