Texas is the new retirement mecca

LA Times ^ | 11/7/2009 | Don Lee

[Saije]

After trying out Pasadena, Atlanta and Miami, Lilian Junco decided this was the place to retire. Being near her son was the first attraction, but soon she was drawn in by the same combination of features that has lured tens of thousands of others from out of state: Gulf Coast living and super-low costs.

With some of the country's lowest prices for housing, gas and food, no state income tax and one of the most resilient economies in the nation, Galveston and other parts of the Lone Star State are emerging as the new Florida.

This week, Florida disclosed population figures that show a decline of 57,000 over the 12 months ended April 1, the first annual drop since the 1940s. Much of the loss has come in parts of southern Florida that long attracted retirees.

Meantime, other Sun Belt states such as Nevada and Arizona have been hit hard by the recession, and expensive California has long seen more people leave than move in, a domestic migration measure that doesn't include foreign immigration or births.

But Texas, which has weathered the current recession better than most parts of the country, is almost booming, in part because an earlier oil industry crash had left the state's banks too shaken to go on the home-mortgage binge that ended up crippling so many other states.

Texas' population, the nation's second largest at about 25 million, is expected to be boosted this year by net inflows of at least 150,000 people from other states, said Karl Eschbach, the state demographer. Seniors are a growing part of that trend, lured by aggressive campaigns from state officials and developers.

[basil]

This Texan thinks it’s time to close our borders!

[DRey]

"This Texan thinks it’s time to close our borders!"

We'll all be voting like Austin if something isn't done. You work hard. Vote against the grain and do what you think is right. You succeed. Then all the f-ups around the country that have ruined their own states think you've stumbled upon the gravy train and want a piece of it. GO AWAY, LOSERS!!!!

[Charles Martel]

There is a myth that Texas is just a bunch of uneducated rednecks living among the scrub. We'd like to keep it that way.

Maybe a tourism ad that plays up the rattlesnakes, scorpions and fire ants would be helpful in setting the record straight. ;-)

[nutmeg]

This was some far left rally in Austin, Texas recently:

Caption these beauties at the (anti-Bush) 'Million Musician March' (warning: language in one pic)

PLEASE tell me Austin, TX hasn't gone this far to the left, and that these moonbats are just outliers.

We may have to escape Connecticut for Texas someday soon... if Texas falls to the moonbats, there will be NO escape.

[WalterSkinner]

..I was born in Midland—so I got a birthright

[presently no screen name]

Freeperville, Texas.

And tonight it was born! Now it's waiting for us to fill the land.

[PAR35]

Texas is a great place to work, but there are better choices for retirement because of the tax structure. (High real estate and sales taxes.)

[DRey]

"PLEASE tell me Austin, TX hasn't gone this far to the left, and that these moonbats are just outliers."

Sadly, no. Austin has fallen. No question about it. "Keep Austin Weird" is no longer just a slogan, it's a lifestyle. The good news: We have them surrounded, and the power in this state is rural. Rural matters here, no matter how much they build up our cities in the media. Our governor was born in Paint Creek, Texas, population 48. Eight miles over is another town, population 2,000, and 8 miles from there, another, and on and on.

You know, "Come and Take It" was the taunting Republic of Texas flag at Gonzalez. I think the slogan should be revisted.

[DRey]

"Texas is a great place to work, but there are better choices for retirement because of the tax structure. (High real estate and sales taxes.)"

Compared to what? A $400,000 house in Texas would cost 1.5 mil in CA. On their prop. tax scale, that house would cost $21,000/year in prop. taxes. In Texas the same house would be $7,900 property taxes/year. Sales taxes are only what, 1% more? 2%? Certainly not $12,100/year more. People like to tout the numbers you just quoted, but they're Democrat BS numbers. They just don't add up when factored with real numbers like cost of living, cost of housing.

[Mjaye]

Texas is a great place to work, but there are better choices for retirement because of the tax structure. (High real estate and sales taxes.)<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Yes, I have a friend who looked into Austin as a possible retirement area, and she was really turned off by the property tax structure. Something to do with the taxed amount rising dramatically over time after purchase of property, not sure of the details.

She was surprised at how it was explained to her, since many people do assume it’s a tax (uh oh, here comes the “m” word) mecca.

[blondee123]

When Texas secedes from the Union, I will head there myself!

We are planning on moving there from TOO LIBERAL ILLINOIS, within the next 2 years!!!

When they secede, they'll get plenty of conservatives heading their way!!!

[blondee123]

Gee, that tax on a $400,000 house is cheaper than Illinois, I’m in!!!

[PAR35]

Real estate taxes primarily go for education (small taxes for city and county government; some special taxing districts); sales tax pays for most everything else. Offsetting that are no personal income tax, and low car registration fees. Since retirees generally have lower income and nicer houses, the deck can be stacked against them.

[Joe Boucher]

It isn’t just Texans who need to watch out for liberal Californians fleeing to Texas,
Same thing is happening in Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Nevada and others.
Normally conservative places now have far too many expat californians.

[basil]

Austin has always been full of ignorant geeky people. Many of them go around wearing “Keep Austin Weird” t-shirts. It always astounds me that people have no more pride in their city than to want to be known as weird.

With the big University of Texas in the heart of Austin, I suppose that there’s no way that the town could be conservative, although I’ve never figured out why our universities are peopled by so many strange people.

The good news is that the surrounding suburbs are by and large sensible and most often vote conservative. I’ve lived in a close suburb for 10 years now, and have figured out how to avoid going into Austin most of the time.

[Redbob]

Texas a job mecca as well.

BTW, isn’t there another term we can use other than “mecca?”

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m sick to death of ANYTHING muslim.

[Osage Orange]

Oasis....works.

[Mjaye]

Real estate taxes primarily go for education (small taxes for city and county government; some special taxing districts); sales tax pays for most everything else. <<<<<<<<<<<<

Thanks, seems like a nice place to live (except in the areas of high humidity, don’t think I’d ever adapt to that).

[maeng]

Austin does NOT represent the rest of Texas!!! They are the lone anti-Gob liberals, and yes they are that BAD. Don’t go there at all if I can help it.

[maeng]

Austin does NOT represent the rest of Texas!!! They are the lone anti-God liberals, and yes they are that BAD. Don’t go there at all if I can help it.