OT: Retiring in Delaware: Newark/Wilmington/other?

[vav]

All right peoples, my parents are very tired of living in northeastern NJ right across Manhattan (very high property taxes, congested 24/7, etc etc...)
With my sister also in NJ and us in RI ( 4 grandkids total) they want to stay relatively close and are strongly considering a move to DE. They are city-oriented folks and they take advantage of all NYC has to offer as they go there frequently on the weekends. They also travel abroad twice a year and take advantage of the proximity to newark airport. My dad still works and my mom is retired. They are concerned that once my dad retires (2017 or 18 at the latest when he turns 70) won't be able to continue to do the same. Their property tax sits at 14K right now with the house paid for. Also, he drives a company car so no insureance/gas/maintenance, etc and of course once he retires they'll need a car (mom does not drive)
Anyways, what does the forum collective wisdom thinks of DE and what it would offer?
Thanks in advance for your input

[sailorboy]

Brandywine valley seems like a nice spot. I rode there for a day with Rich Roat of House industries fame, and loved it. Rolling hills, lots of old-timey farms and homesteads, and the Dupont money seemed to be spread around the area at one time leaving interesting sights to see now. Wilmington may not boast the cultural attractions of NYC, but you're a short train ride away for a day trip if you can't find what you want. Not far from there is Lancaster county which has its well-known charm.

[biker72]

Not a solution to your question but I've been griping about paying $1.5K in property taxes here in Texas.

[cmg]

Originally Posted by biker72

Not a solution to your question but I've been griping about paying $1.5K in property taxes here in Texas.

same here, $1600 tax IS TOO MUCH. move them to someplace cheaper with great health care.

[kramnnim]

My wife is from Newark so I have spent some time up there, but I've always lived in rural areas so Newark is congested to me...

[jlwdm]

Originally Posted by biker72

Not a solution to your question but I've been griping about paying $1.5K in property taxes here in Texas.

How can you pay so little in TX? A $100,000 house would be $2,500+or- in most areas.

I wish I paid that a month.

Jeff

[fuzzalow]

Originally Posted by jlwdm

How can you pay so little in TX? A $100,000 house would be $2,500+or- in most areas.

I wish I paid that a month.

Jeff

No Texas state and city income taxes, right?

In the area of braggin' or, alternately, whinging about high levels of taxation, I doubt that anywhere has got New York, especially New York Metro, beat. People wanna live here - and the government (NOT 'gummint) knows it.

[Hilltopperny]

There are some areas of upstate NY that have reasonable taxes, but they are a 2 to 3 hour drive from NYC and do not have the same kind of amenities. My area has reasonably cheap homes with land comparitively speaking to downstate. My taxes are also quite reasonable for NY. 14k a year can afford you a nice big home with some land up this way.

[fuzzalow]

Originally Posted by Hilltopperny

There are some areas of upstate NY that have reasonable taxes, but they are a 2 to 3 hour drive from NYC and do not have the same kind of amenities. My area has reasonably cheap homes with land comparitively speaking to downstate. My taxes are also quite reasonable for NY. 14k a year can afford you a nice big home with some land up this way.

$14K a year? You mean $1.4K ($1,400.00) don't you? Ripples of taxation concentricity emanating, in effect, from ground zero at the Empire State Building outwards.

$14,000/year is entry level for combined state & school district taxes in Nassau County - which is about 15 miles from the Empire State Building. And additional NYS income taxes to be levied on top of that.

Martha Stewart's farm in Bedford, Westchester County I could only guess at, maybe $100K/year in taxes?

[Hilltopperny]

Originally Posted by fuzzalow

$14K a year? You mean $1.4K ($1,400.00) don't you? Ripples of taxation concentricity emanating, in effect, from ground zero at the Empire State Building outwards.

$14,000/year is entry level for combined state & school district taxes in Nassau County - which is about 15 miles from the Empire State Building. And additional NYS income taxes to be levied on top of that.

Martha Stewart's farm in Bedford, Westchester County I could only guess at, maybe $100K/year in taxes?

Fuzz I have a modest house and 2 acres with a 15 year mortgage with taxes escrowed in for right around 6k a year. Just a few miles down the road from the southern adirondack park and great riding right from my front door. It works for me, but it's not NYC type of living.

My father in law just sold his parents place in Westchester county last year because the taxes were around 15k a year. My 14k a year estimate was for a mortgage on a nice home, acreage and taxes combined.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by fuzzalow

$14K a year? You mean $1.4K ($1,400.00) don't you? Ripples of taxation concentricity emanating, in effect, from ground zero at the Empire State Building outwards.

$14,000/year is entry level for combined state & school district taxes in Nassau County - which is about 15 miles from the Empire State Building. And additional NYS income taxes to be levied on top of that.

Martha Stewart's farm in Bedford, Westchester County I could only guess at, maybe $100K/year in taxes?

14k does not sound crazy at all. My place upstate (near woodstock) is about 9k a year in taxes. 6 acres and 4 bedroom farm house.

and they don't even pick up my trash

[Tandem Rider]

14K isn't crazy?? HS, one of the reasons I just sold my house is because the taxes went to $6600 and I have a custom home on over an acre of woodland backing up to DNR, 1/2 mile from a MUT, last house on the right.

[572cv]

For retirees, Delaware does not charge the portion of property taxes which support schools. Sensible.

[alancw3]

Originally Posted by 572cv

For retirees, Delaware does not charge the portion of property taxes which support schools. Sensible.

i actually had to research this as it seemed too unbelievable to me. so what i found was that seniors can get a $500 reduction in the school tax portion of their real estate taxes. but they have to live in delaware for three years before being eligible. that makes much more sense to me.

[shovelhd]

Originally Posted by alancw3

i actually had to research this as it seemed too unbelievable to me. so what i found was that seniors can get a $500 reduction in the school tax portion of their real estate taxes. but they have to live in delaware for three years before being eligible. that makes much more sense to me.

This would never fly in MA. The MTA wouldn't let it out of committee.