“When property tax takes up 25% of our take home, it’s scary.”
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That sounds downright terrifying! Are you serious? My property tax bill takes up less than half of one month of my social security.
Honest. No lie. Twenty years ago it was equal to 2 weeks of take home pay. Today, it is 25% of our yearly income. Sure, the property value has gone up but not nearly that much. I grew up here and back in the day just selling some pecans off the trees in the little yard would take care of the property taxes. This was supposed to be our last home. Every year now it’s a struggle to scrape enough together for the taxes - hey, we are VERY, VERY frugal. The last movie I went to was the last Harry Potter. The last time I went to a restaurant, cough, cheap little cafe, was a year ago. All because I worry about the taxes which is no way to live. BTW, tiny lot and old small house but location, location, location. Sorry, I don’t give a rat’s behind about location.
A couple years ago literally every other house (yes, freaky) on our street was on the market because the owners just couldn’t deal with the taxes. Homes have been turned into weekend rentals. It’s a shame. When I was little we’d have neighborhood fish fries in the back yard and everyone was invited and no one was a stranger. Not now. We are one of two full time resident owners left on our street. I just want to live out the next 30 years in my little falling down house but unless some unknown uncle leaves me his millions that isn’t going to happen. Ok, I’ll step off the soapbox.