Want to relocate to southern State near water
 

My husband and I want to relocate to a warmer climate in a Conservative State with no State income tax. We would love to go to Texas because we have ties there but Tennessee is also a consideration. We are open; we have a 4 year old and want to be there in the next 2 years. We would like to purchase acreage near water where we can walk or drive a golf cart to our docked boat. Our daughter will likely go to a private Christian school, or a Montessori if one is available for older grades. ANY SUGGESTIONS? We started a bit later in life. We would prefer not to be on top of our neighbors- and an acre or more would be great. We aren't rich but our income is decent and can work from anywhere. It will be difficult moving but know it will be best for all of us in the long run- and I HATE COLD WEATHER!

South Carolina

After South Carolina seceded in 1860, Petigru famously remarked, "South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum." This quote is still used to describe contemporary South Carolinian politics. ... Petigru died in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1863. He is buried in St. Michael's Churchyard.

What "water" is Tennessee near? Or do you mean a lake? All states have lakes.

Tennessee has grocery tax, so that will eat into your tax savings.

Turn on the tv, I don't think you want to relocate near water in Texas until they come up with some better emergency planning and building regulations. Also Texas has a lot of liberals.

Yeah...Texas would be off my list for a while. You may want to post how much you expect to pay for that acre of land, especially since you want it near the water. Why a golf cart? I guess I'm just curious there!

The political thing- it depends too much on the community you choose to settle in and the church you attend and the job you have. Every state has its liberal and conservative enclaves, and even if you are in a largely conservative town, you'll find liberals, or conservatives in a liberal town. So I'm not sure I'd base a move on that.

According to google, as far as no income tax goes your choices are:

Texas: well, hurricanes...
Tennessee: what appeals to you about it? I don't think boats when I think Tennessee
Alaska: Cold
Florida: Alligators, but hey, water. Also, I think you could find the golf cart lifestyle here.
Wyoming: cold, but if I wanted to live without people or income tax, I'd choose it. Plenty of water in the west. You'd have to trade that golf cart in for a pumped out Dodge Ram, though.
Washington: please don't move here. If you want conservative neighbors I will gladly ship you the local buffoon who actually filed a police report over his missing confederate flag someone ripped off his truck. Also, cold in the parts that don't have water, and expensive in the parts that do.
Nevada: a lack of water
South Dakota: cold
New Hampshire: cold and expensive

I would drop the income tax thing and that expands your options a lot...gives you 40 more states...

I live in NC. Many people from up north have moved here, thinking it is just like home only cheaper and warmer. Some even think we are all racist, which is so not true. Then they start complaining about stuff like roads and schools, which use tax money to maintain. And different food.

Visit first.

DebbieDoesDulles,

Best screen name ever, just sayin. ;)

Awesomemon,

Florida has parts that are very conservative and parts that are very liberal. There is plenty of water here both fresh and salty. The heat can be oppressive and you will not see any snow but we have been known to freeze from time to time.

So many thoughts going through my head. I so want the opposite of you and if only my husband would move. You say nothing about crime and drugs. My Fema flood insurance doubled and now I am sure it will go up again.

I have a town picked out in Vermont.

You may want to avoid moving too close to the coast where hurricanes and flooding are more prevalent. See what's happening in Houston.

I have lived in Houston and my sister lives an hour north- the only problem she has had was to tie her boat up as she is smart and lives on a hill on a huge lake. I was thinking more inland though if it is Texas. And, I understand about "other" taxes- Tennessee has a lot of lakes and the sales tax doesn't outweigh the no income/low property tax. Texas property taxes are high so that is an issue. I'm just looking for suggestions. I've visited Florida, NC and SC specifically looking for places we would like to live and haven't found that magical place yet. I guess I'm looking more for a place near a lake that I don't have to get in the car and drive to- hence the golf cart reference. On the water is always more expensive than near the water. So long as there is a dock/ marina; that would work.

SC has a LOT of lakes. I was quite serious about that recommendation.
Lake Wylie, near the state line at NC. Lake Toxaway. Beaches. No state tax. Rock hard conservativism.

<Florida: Alligators, but hey, water. Also, I think you could find the golf cart lifestyle here.>

Maybe not in a community that allows children--that's not as common. And an acre of land near water won't be affordable, either, unless you mean a lake.

If you mean a lake, take a look at Polk County. Famous for its chain of lakes, which you can boat between, sleepy, conservative. Fast growing, but still affordable. Sits kind of between Tampa and Orlando.

If you are also a climate change denier, I suggest a home directly on the Atlantic in Florida.

True, sadly--our current governor has banned the term "climate change" from state publications, including scientific studies, even as neighborhoods in south Florida experience standing water even when it hasn't rained.

You are pretty much limited to South Carolina, Georgia, and the armpit of Florida. This last is not a pejorative, just a physical description of how the state is shaped where the Panhandle and Peninsula join. You might like Apalachicola or Port St Joe if you want to be on the water. You can fly in and out of Tallahassee, but you are in deep woods only a few miles away.

Realistically, finding an ocean front acre is not very likely unless you are really rich. But you don't mention beaches, just a place where you can have nearby water access for a boat. There are lots of places where this is possible, lakes or salt water.

<<...Texas property taxes are high so that is an issue...>>

That's because they don't have a state income tax. The state and local governments have to raise money somehow.

I'm not a tax expert but states that don't have income taxes will usually have other revenue generators that the people living there have to pay. Like the old adage goes "You can pay me now, or pay me later".

Same in Florida--no state income tax, high property taxes to compensate. Good for renters, but the OP seems to want to buy a homestead...

<with no State income tax>

As others have mentioned, you will just be taxed in other ways. When there is no state income tax there will likely be higher sales tax, property taxes, etc. You need money to run a state.

We are getting our garbage rate raised because the county spent so much during Hurricane Matthew. Not people in towns just unincorporated places. We got hit with a bill because there was not enough for the fire department. You never know here in Fl. The money has to come from some place.

Doesn't registering a car in Florida cost an inordinate amount of money?