Leaving NJ. Where to go? FL or GA?

[bignateyk]

Good call, NJ is a pretty shitty place.

FL isn't much better. Did you ever consider NC? You still get 4 seasons, and it's a much nicer state than FL or GA.

 

[Scotteq]

Because Camden is in North Jersey, right?

(I agree with everything else you said.)

Central, but yeah... If the state had an actual @$$hole, it would be Camden.

 

[alfa147x]

Look into the Suwanee region of Georgia. Not too far from Atlanta close to lake lanier if you want to buy a boat / jet ski / other non-beach water stuff. The area is nice, close to the Mall of Georgia, close to Road Atlanta, and you can always drive into Atlanta for sports/ concert/ ect.

The Savannah area might be work taking a look at too.

 

[soulcougher73]

Look into the Suwanee region of Georgia. Not too far from Atlanta close to lake lanier if you want to buy a boat / jet ski / other non-beach water stuff. The area is nice, close to the Mall of Georgia, close to Road Atlanta, and you can always drive into Atlanta for sports/ concert/ ect.

The Savannah area might be work taking a look at too.

That is a nice area. My uncle who passed away this past year lived near there. He actual built Road Atlanta back in the day before Coke bought it from him and his partners. David Sloyer if you go to the Wiki page. RIP

I think it was Coke if i remember his stories correctly.

 

[mugs]

Oh, and get this, there are so many people "fleeing" New Jersey, there is now an "exit tax" of 2% of whatever you sell your house for, that goes to the state. This state is completely run by crooks, yet another reason we want to leave.

False.

First - it has nothing to do with people "fleeing," it's not an "exit tax." It's a real estate transfer tax. Most states have a real estate transfer tax. Rates vary.

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=12661

Second, NJ's transfer tax is well below 2% unless the transaction exceeds $1 million.

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/rtffaqs.shtml

Transferring a $350,000 house would cost $2105 or 0.6%

Transferring a $500,000 house would cost $4175 or 0.8%

 

[Beev]

Florida will be more expensive and have more old people, Mexicans, and Jews. Georgia will have a LOT more "true" southerners.

Based on that I picked Florida.

 

[bignateyk]

Florida will be more expensive and have more old people, Mexicans, and Jews. Georgia will have a LOT more "true" southerners.

Based on that I picked Florida.

That's why I suggested NC. You still get nicer weather, but you avoid the southern rednecks you find in GA, and you avoid all the old people/illegals in FL. Plus FL is way too hot in the summer.

 

[gophins72]

Florida will be more expensive and have more old people, Mexicans, and Jews. Georgia will have a LOT more "true" southerners.

Based on that I picked Florida.

all true except for the red part, but i think we all get what you mean

 

[chin311]

Central Florida sucks, i was transplanted here @ age 6 and 19 years later I'm still here. Me and the wife want out ASAP, soon as we get enough saved we are out!

Edit: Maybe if you live by a beach it could be more fun if you are into that kind of thing.

 

[alfa147x]

You really dont run into "real southerners" till you hit middle georgia and far north georgia. Your fine around atlanta and savannah.

 

[Beev]

all true except for the red part, but i think we all get what you mean

Hmm, I saw a lot down in the Boca Raton area last time... I'm going down there next week and will keep an eye out again

 

[Beev]

Central Florida sucks, i was transplanted here @ age 6 and 19 years later I'm still here. Me and the wife want out ASAP, soon as we get enough saved we are out!

What do you not like about it?

 

[hoyaguru]

$300 property tax in GA? You've been misinformed - I doubt there are any counties with taxes that low. I own a lot (no house) next to my main residence that's about .5 acres and we pay well over double that. I don't live in south GA though, which is where you're talking about moving, most of that area is pretty rural and taxes are surely much lower.

Moving to an area like Atlanta would be a fairly easy transition; moving to a rural southern city would be quite a culture shock for you coming from NJ. Don't get me wrong, I love the South but your whole world would change.

BTW, you mentioned a house on the water - are you talking ocean or lake? Beach property is still pretty pricey unless you move to a crappy beach. I live on Lake Lanier (pretty large lake in North GA), you can find some real bargains here right now.

A lake: I'd like to have a dock, where I can get up in the morning, walk down the dock, and do some fishing. Maybe have a small boat to putter around in.

 

[hoyaguru]

Don't forget had to sign a consent form to buy Balsamic Vinegar too.

What do you mean? Why would you need a consent form for vinegar?

 

[BurnItDwn]

I would say, both FL and GA will be deathly hot, especially in the summer with all that humidity. You'll really miss the snow and cold.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Florida will be more expensive and have more old people, Mexicans, and Jews. Georgia will have a LOT more "true" southerners.

Based on that I picked Florida.

WTF is a "true" southerner? I think you got hold of some bad beef jerky.

 

[BurnItDwn]

WTF is a "true" southerner? I think you got hold of some bad beef jerky.

A true southerner is somebody from the southern hemisphere, Brazilian, Argentinian, African, Australian, etc...

 

[hoyaguru]

In Georgia, you should be able to get more land/$$ than in Florida.

Actual waterfront land will be more scarse in GA, but may be cheaper - Fla has a lot more small lakes that GA.
OceanFront property will cost you the same/if not more than what you have in Jersy.
Ga will have income tax but lower property taxes (in general) and Fla will have higher property insurance rates.

In Fla, you have access to three major metro airport areas (Orlando, Tampa & Miami/Ft Lauderdale) In Ga, you have only Atlanta. Macon, Columbus, Savanah are not high capacity/long haul airports

Thanks CC, that's the kind of info I'm looking for.

 

[Beev]

WTF is a "true" southerner? I think you got hold of some bad beef jerky.

Idiots with confederate flags on their crappy cars who speak in a heavy, heavy southern accent, are pretty much evangelists, and are extremely racist.

 

[hoyaguru]

Good call, NJ is a pretty shitty place.

FL isn't much better. Did you ever consider NC? You still get 4 seasons, and it's a much nicer state than FL or GA.

I'd rather not have 4 seasons any more. 3 is more than enough, if I never see another winter I'll die a happy man. I'd rather not ever see a temperature below 50 degrees, though I know it does get that cold sometimes in FL and GA. If I had the money, I'd go live on an island somewhere and have summer year round.

 

[hoyaguru]

Look into the Suwanee region of Georgia. Not too far from Atlanta close to lake lanier if you want to buy a boat / jet ski / other non-beach water stuff. The area is nice, close to the Mall of Georgia, close to Road Atlanta, and you can always drive into Atlanta for sports/ concert/ ect.

The Savannah area might be work taking a look at too.

Thanks alfa, I'll add that to the list.

 

[alfa147x]

Thanks alfa, I'll add that to the list.

Though remember near Savannah the closer you are to the coast the better. The more inland you get the hotter. I would say Atlanta is tolerable when it comes to heat but Statesboro (40 mins inland from Savannah) is just outright brutal

 

[BarkingGhostar]

After 45 years of freezing winters and the highest property taxes in the country, the wife and I have decided to get the hell out of New Jersey. Question is, where do we go? We want WARM weather, so we're looking at Florida or Georgia. The houses in both states are cheap as hell, compared to Jersey. A house that would cost $500,000 here goes for around $80,000 in FL or GA, so we'll be in good shape buying a house (if we can sell ours, that is). Taxes seem a little higher in Florida, and so does homeowners insurance. I'd like to own some land, at least an acre, and land in Florida seems to be very expensive. I wouldn't mind having a house on the water too. Several other members of my family are moving to Florida int eh next year or two, so that's a reason to go to Florida, but altogether it looks like it will be cheaper to go to Georgia, and easier to find land and/or a hous eon the water. If we DO go to Georgia, I'd probably go with some place just over the border from Florida. So, suggestions?

Reasons to go: A big reason to leave is property tax. We are lucky, and only pay about $4000 a year for property tax. I know people who pay $10,000 or more a year in property tax. From what I've seen, property tax in Georgia is like $300 a year. Car insurance in Jersey is (for us) about $1000 a year for basic liability, down south it's a LOT cheaper. People down south also seem much nicer than up north for some reason.

Oh, and get this, there are so many people "fleeing" New Jersey, there is now an "exit tax" of 2% of whatever you sell your house for, that goes to the state. This state is completely run by crooks, yet another reason we want to leave.

Uh, where the hell did you figure that was true?

I have a $250K house in Gwinnett county and my taxes are $3400/year, which is more than two mortgage payments.

 

[hoyaguru]

False.

First - it has nothing to do with people "fleeing," it's not an "exit tax." It's a real estate transfer tax. Most states have a real estate transfer tax. Rates vary.

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=12661

Second, NJ's transfer tax is well below 2% unless the transaction exceeds $1 million.

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/rtffaqs.shtml

Transferring a $350,000 house would cost $2105 or 0.6%

Transferring a $500,000 house would cost $4175 or 0.8%

Call it a "real estate transfer tax", or an "exit tax", it's the same thing: Crooks in office taking my money for the simple reason that they can. The only way not to pay it (from what I heard) is to sell your house and stay living in the state for 2 years, then move.

I was told it was 2%, thanks for the chart, hope it's up to date, that looks better than 2%. Looks like the most I'll have to pay is 1.31%, depending on if my county takes .1%.

 

[hoyaguru]

I would say, both FL and GA will be deathly hot, especially in the summer with all that humidity. You'll really miss the snow and cold.

A covered in-ground pool (surrounded by a screen house) and air conditioning are the answer to that problem. I will NEVER miss the snow and cold, trust me. I may be 1/4 Norwegian, but I certainly didn't get the "cold weather" gene.