Best states to retire in???

[BMCS Gary Chalker]

With the cost of living, taxes and benefits sometimes in question, does anyone have a good link to a VA or related website to let you compare the best states to retire in? Looking for states that don't tax military retirement pay, but also have a low cost of living. What is the "ideal state" in you opinion? :confused:

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Eastern Tennessee. I'm not from the south and I'd still rate this as one of the best places that I've ever lived. No state income tax, low cost of living and beautiful scenery. I miss the ocean, but that's what vacations are for. I'd avoid the west side of the state, but anything east of Nashville (Chattanooga is the best) is good.

[MKC Mike Reilley]

Check out Delaware. Believe it or not. I think it boasts one of the lowest tax rates and is very favorable to military retirees. I got this info from another Chief who is from there. I am in Virginia and plan to retire here. I like the area, job outlook is good, unemployment below the national average. Taxes bite ya in the ass though. It's half dozen of one six of the other I guess. I got a beautiful waterfront home and real nice neighbors. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I have had bad neighbors so I am a little biased when it comes to things like that. I have school age children and that was really one of my main priorities. I could live in a shack but ZI have to have a good school system. I guess everyone's needs are different so you need to make a prioity list of what do you need as to what do you want and go from there. I know it's not much help but it seems to work out in the end. Good luck and let us know what you find out! Take care.

MKC Mike Reilley :) :)

[BMCS J.D. Cole]

Don't do it Gary! But if you do, try East Central Florida near Vero Beach. You are about 1 hour from Orlando, 2 from Jax and 2 from Miami, but still outside the cities. Medical is aval at Patrick AFB about 30minutes up the road. I was stationed in Fort Pierce for about 19 months and loved the area! As far as I can remember, no income tax in FL and you have wonderful weather in the Spring, Winter and Fall.

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Pick One...Colorado, North or South Dakota, North Western Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, or Washington.

They can't tax you if they can't find you!

[ETCS David Kroll]

Hi Gary,
The best place to find information on states and how much they tax retirement pay is the Uniformed Services Almanac. It has several chapters on state taxes, location of medical facilities, and more. Go to www.militaryalmanac.com for more info. The book is $8.50 and you can buy it with 30 money.
Your just way too young to retire!! And while states like TN and FL don't tax retired pay, they do tax investments and ususally have a much higher sales tax to make up for the no income tax. Uncle Sam will usually get his money, except from me!
And at Memphis kicks but on Chatanooga Dennis!
Dave Kroll

[BMCS Gary Chalker]

Dave, I should have called you first! :) You are definetely on the ball in that department (others as well...). I am awaiting word that your old ESD was the first to have all members be in the Millionaires club! Thanks for the reference and info!

[admin]

Best place to retire !! - wherever you find contentment.

First, let me introduce myself. Ken Laesser, EMCM (ret) having taken that status on March 29, 1974 retiring out of CGD5 (ene) and serving aboard 10 cutters and 2 aircraft carriers.

I have been helping your host, Dennis Endicott over some minor hurdles in setting up this web site

Retiring where there is a lot of military has its advantages and disadvantages, having done both, I found a preference with a area away from them. I found many people opted for the military base ares for medical and purchasing advantages. Well that is not all that true. Medical, through Tricare in civilian facilities has been very good, purchasing advantages, except for Commissaries is non existent and even the commissaries do not bring you that much savings

I am now retired in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, just a bit west of Salem.
The weather in the valley is very mild in winter (very seldom will we see a freeze), a bit warm in summer, great spring and fall.

Retired military pay is not taxed. No sales tax. If I get a hankering for snow I drive east 50 miles and got it, Got a hankering for the salt water, drive 50 miles west and dip your big toe in the Pacific. Frisco is 10 hours south, Seattle 4.5 hours north and Portland just an hour north which has military facilities at our disposal

So don't let military areas be a big factor unless you are after Civil Service employment


A couple of other web sites I am webmaster for are:
255 Sailor's Page (One or two of you may remember the 255s)
http://www.255wpg.org

Coast Guard Retiree Council NW
http://www.cgretirenw.com

Seattle Chapter CPOA
http://www.cpoa-seattle.org

Foundation for Coast Guard History
http://www.fcgh.org

Coast Guard History Center
http://www.laesser.org

Best of luck to those whom are planning to join our ranks out here and to the members of The Chiefs Call, a very worthy endeavor

[SKCM Linda Reid]

Wow, looks like I just might have to retire home to Oregon!

Except I was hoping to find a sunny place! :D

[MKC James Rupprecht]

I was hoping to find a sunny place! :D

Master Chief,

Don't like liquid sunshine? :D

Jamie

[SKCM Linda Reid]

Well, I grew up in Portland .. so never knew any different!

Until we moved to the East Coast ... here it rains like crazy for a little while ... then the sun comes out and it gets hot again. What a concept!

I like Palm Springs, CA ... have visited there often ... but never in the summertime! - I understand it gets a little warm!

I imagine Calif. state taxes are a killer.

How do the snowbirds work it? - one state is considered your permanent home, the other your place to visit?

[ETCS David Kroll]

You can claim two homes on your taxes. My plan is to retire in TN. ( no income tax) and drive the big RV to Alaska in the summer and Key West in the winter.

Now I just have to retire!
Dave

[SKC Terry Trammell]

Oregon actually will tax part of your retirement based on how much service was prior to October 1, 1991.
Here's a pretty well done site that compares personal and business taxes for all 50 states and even ties them into federal as well.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/statefinance.html

[ETCS David Kroll]

good link Terry, Thanks
Dave

[BMC John Phillips III]

Great place to retire?
Bayonne, NJ!? Anyone?
OK someone out there thinks that's funny.

Seriously, I had my heart set on anywhere in FL but after moving to Texas I will have to think about it. Not that I am anywhere close to retiring. Texas takes care of veterans and has no state tax. I changed my legal state of residency and it dropped my VA loan interest rate (saving me about $30 a month). The cost of living is relatively low and the weather is nice and warm well except for this Christmas Eve when we got 4 inches of snow in Corpus Christi! I thought I left all that snow in NY. On the plus side we had a white Christmas and it all melted before Christmas day was over.

[BMCS E. D. Floyd]

Anywhere I can hunt and fish (saltwater) is good enough for me.......I'll pay to play. On the Texas issue.....I saw where Texas was around 3 or 4 on the top ten list of high insurance rates or property taxes.....what's the word?

[SKCM Linda Reid]

MCPOCG Trent says their property taxes in San Antonio are outrageous.

[BMC John Phillips III]

I guess the property taxes no matter where you are, are always gonna be higher than you'd like to pay. This is my first house so I have nothing to compare to. I pay about 900 a year in insurance, I am not sure what the taxes.

On a side note, I just got my Hunting and Fishing license today, for free. (freebies are always good) Not that I will use the hunting license. I would consider killing a pig or a turkey, just not bambi or donald duck :p

[MKC Ryan Sinclair]

Come on John,
I can't beleive your knocking beautiful Bayonne!! Nice view, great parking and low tolls if you want to get the h*ll out of there.

[BMC John Phillips III]

The only thing I miss about Bayonne is the Pizza! I know you will always have a soft spot in your heart of Bayonne!

[FSC Jayare Parker (Ret)]

My sister lives in NW Alabama and her property tax is about $125.00 a year. They have almost 1 acre of land but the 3 bedroom brick house only cost about $40,000. Sales tax is around 8.2 percent. :(

I'm getting close to retiring and need to start looking at where I want to go. I would like to have some land to hunt on so I can put another Bambi and maybe a few Donald's on the wall, as well as a pig and turkey. :D

Jayare

[OSC David Nolan]

Here is some information on California. I am eight years from retirement; however I do own a house and pay, annually, 1.5% on the total cost of the house. That works out to about five thousand a year. The sales tax rate for Contra Costa County, East SF Bay, is 8.25%. Annually the taxes that I pay out of my pay check are under one thousand dollars. It isn't a bad place to retire, however if you are planning on moving here, you will probably need to pick up that greeter job at Wal-Mart to make ends meet. I am aiming for a home depot position personally.

Dave

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

This summer I'm retiring alllll theeee wayyyyy Southhhh to Brownsville, TX. I was stationed down there for six years on the Durable [remember her? and Sta South Padre Island] and really like the area, cost of living is good and jobs plentiful. Plus, you can't beat the TEX-MEX food.

[OSCS Jeffrey Dale]

Planning on retiring overseas, in Northern Europe. Place called Tallinn, Estonia; which is where my wife is from. Cost of living is low, a simple ferry ride to anywhere on the Baltic Sea, then a day or two drive to anywhere in Europe.

Retirement check will go a long way.

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

Jeffrey-
Does living out of country affect your benefits at all?

[OSCS Jeffrey Dale]

Dennis,

Don't know yet on the benefits. Still 9.5 years until retirement. I plan on at the 25 year mark of getting all the particulars tied down. No health care though, but being married to a citizen of that country can use state sponsored health care.

Jeff

[SKCM Linda Reid]

Well, the deed is done, the house is bought. We are headed to Oregon. 9% income tax (ouch!) but no sales tax. Property tax less than half what we pay in Maryland. House cost $100K less than the current value of our present house ... and it's on the golf course at the beach!

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

Master Chief,
Yea, the no sales tax is really nice. Living here in North Bend, when I bought a new car I saved thousands from no sales tax. Same with the appliances for the home...
Let's see, house on the golf course near the beach. Is it in the Bandon area?

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

Master Chief,

My folks have a house in Gresham, OR which is about 12 miles east of Portland on the way to Mt. Hood. Oregon is a great place to retire, the scenery is amazing and there is much to do.

I wish you the very best in your new home and if you are ever in the Portland area, let me know I've got some great food tips and live blues tips for you too.

v/r

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

Oregon is awesome. The only complaint I have is that you can't pump your own gas. Then again I live in that other state that doesn't let you pump your own gas. Enjoy the fishing. I'm a bit jealous.

[SKCM Linda Reid]

ETC - Not a fisherperson, but I think I can get used to the pump-your-own-gas thing. :D

SKC - my sister is into the live music scene in Portland, too ... so she always drags me to something when I'm out there. Have you eaten at Widmer's Gasthaus? - she gives tours of the brewery on weekends.

LT/MKC - we will be in Salishan, just south of Lincoln City. I guess I come to North Bend for an ID card?? And that's where the big commissary would be, right? :D

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

SKCM,

No I haven't.. but I was going to suggest for eats: Flyin' Pie Pizzeria, Calamity Janes, and Puffs Pub.

For music, the Candlelight Cafe on Sunday Nights has an open Jam session where the best musicians in the Pacific Northwest gather and jam out some blues.. I make it a point to visit every Sunday night I'm in town, it is beyond worth it. But get there early if you want a table..

v/r

[SKCM Linda Reid]

OMG - we went to the Candlelight Cafe the last time I was there! ... at least I think that was the name of it. Downtown kind of near the PSU campus, right? They advertised "jazz" so I'm thinking ... OK, it will be a guy with a guitar and a bass player and some easy drums. Well, these guys came in with these HUGE speakers and all these keyboards and equipment. In that tiny little place! The only table available was right in front so we got blasted. My sis was rockin' out but I said - I gotta get outa here - my ears are hurtin'! And it got so smokey! I can't believe Oregon of all places doesn't have no-smoking-in-restaurants laws.

Can't remember what night of the week it was. Will have to try Sunday sometime.

[SKCM Linda Reid]

Want to see some pix of my retirement house??

All that green stuff would be the golf course
http://lindaj.smugmug.com/photos/67852635-S.jpg

Entry and deck
http://lindaj.smugmug.com/photos/67852642-S.jpg

View out the living room
http://lindaj.smugmug.com/photos/53336273-S.jpg

We have to walk 5 minutes to get to here
http://lindaj.smugmug.com/photos/67852659-S.jpg

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

That's pretty sweet.

[LT Arthur Nelson (MKC) (Ret)]

Linda, when's your retirement and leaving to Oregon?

[SKCM Linda Reid]

I'll be out of the Puzzle Palace on 14 July. Official date 1 Oct. Move depends on how fast we sell our current house here in Maryland. Sept. would be a nice time to drive across the country.

[BMC Ken Gouge]

Are they real windows or plexi-glass? I'd be worried about someone shanking a ball into my living room :)

[SKCM Linda Reid]

:D ... oh, they're real. Actually the ones in the picture face away from the direction people are hitting from. There are hard-wire screens on the side of the house that faces the tee ... and also a lot of big trees that protect us ... so I think we're OK. I'm sure balls roll up into the (non-)yard, though, because the garage was full of them! I will never have to buy another golf ball!

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Sorry all.... Florida is full :(

but,... I heard there is lots of room in AZ ;)

Wray... :cool:

[MKC Art Bailly (ret)]

Id rather live in AZ then Florida, at least there your house wont float away from all the hurricanes you have. I prefer <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com /><st1:State w:st=Alaska</st1:State> so no worries of me coming to <st1:State w:st="on">ffice:smarttags" /><ST1:place w:st="on">Florida</ST1:place></st1:State>. You can have you're hurricanes, floods, tornados, insects & snakes. I make the sacrifice and live In Alaska to make room for anyone that’s wants to live in the land of hurricanes and high insurance rates If you can get insurance.