How Much is Gas Where U R?

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

Here it's a must at home, but I choose not to use it when driving.

Wow. I can't imagine not using A/C in the car here . I've only had one car that didn't have A/C. during that time I spent quite a bit of time in north of Sunol parts of the I-680 corridor. And to top that off, the color of the car...black. A car without A/C....never again.

Government wise, there's some truth to the freedoms here, but even that is under the larger arc of simply trading one government for another; they'll get ya somehow. Use fees such as on telephones are higher, and unless you're old enough to qualify for a homestead exemption, your property taxes can be quite high rate wise and subject to plenty of elasticity.

The difference to me is that you can opt out of some costs here, and that one has much more control/say/input here.

Telephone, etc fees are higher, and there is sales tax on most services here, where that doesn't exist in California.....but the services usually cost more...with the added cost being more than the tax differential.

Texas has two homestead exemptions. One is open to anyone. You must submit a pre printed form to the appraisal district 'swearing' that you do live there. There is an additional homestead exemption for Age 65+ (my next door neighbor has the same standard exemption that I do, but he also has the additional age related exemption). After moving to this area and building my house in 2008, JOOC I decided to compare The Woodlands to comparable suburbs in LA/OC and in the Bay Area.....similar properties with similar amenities, low crime, greenery, etc. I figured that a $250,000 house in The Woodlands would cost $1,250,000 in either of the areas of California. Five times as much. I'd bet the difference, percentage wise, is at least as much if not more now. My homestead exemption brings me under 3%, but I do know people who pay 3.4%. I'm aware that people in parts of Oakland, CA have SEVENTEEN DIFFERENT ADDITIONS TO THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL (mostly parcel taxes). This brings their 1.0% base rate up to 1.7% These additions will = a lower % of the total for people who haven't been in their house very long (not as much benefit from Prop 13). So the rate in Texas might be twice as much, but the amount that is based upon might be five times as much. The standard exemption in Texas limits assessed value increases to 10% per year, whereas Prop 13 in California limits such yearly increases to 2%. The overall amount (not the rate) people pay for property taxes in Texas is often less than it would be in California......AND.....no state income tax. The 9.3% state income tax rate in California starts at a bit over 40k per year. Here in Texas you can mitigate the overall impact of a property tax by buying a less expensive property and, since most of the property tax goes to the local school district, you can go to board meetings and have direct input if you so desire.

Vehicle wise, you are at minimum subject to a state "safety" inspection at minimum, plus an emissions check if you live in an urban county.

True, but the registration fee is a very small flat amount that is based on the type of vehicle, rather than being based on a percentage of the purchase price as in California.

The good-ole-boy mentality is alive and well here. If you think you can ignore the church here, you're mistaken - they are frequently involved in civic happenings. Locally, the good ol boys club snuck in a toll road where there was to be none (longish story)

I'm agnostic. When I moved here, I expected (mostly re internet research) to be questioned all the time about church. It has only happened a few times. From my observation, the size of the area/metro might determine the extent to which this might be an issue. Others might come to different conclusions.

Liquor laws are a bit cumbersome. Not so great.

Yeah, pretty silly.

But gun laws are great here

you can get pretty good fireworks too.

Yeah, re buying your own.....but the flat terrain can sometimes make finding a place to watch planned displays a PITA .

Speed limits generally make good sense

except for the 4839293747329 school zones I see everywhere.

The state sees to it that business can flourish here, and spend within their means.

Litter happens...it's the rednecks here. Most folks are polite enough not to do that. Heck, they are generally some of the most polite people you'll ever meet.

I agree, generally some of the most truly polite people you will ever meet.

Culture flourishes here but mostly within urban areas as mentioned, plus a few kitschy places like Luckenbach and Palo Duro.

The water where I am is actually pretty decent; not like the delicious Hetch Hetchy water but really quite good. The worst water I ever had was in NY State.

I wish we had the same water quality your area does.