Property tax here in N.J. is totally out of control. To the point where as soon as people retire, they sell their house and leave the state because one big reason is the property tax. As I will be when I retire.

The tax on my modest New Jersey home is $9,500 per year. I have a larger home in N.C on much more land.. newer too. and the same services as N.J., teachers, police city water garbage pick up, ect. My tax on that house is $850.00 per year.

One of the big reasons is here (N.J.) your teachers, police, municipal workers, ect , ect are unionized and each year our rates go up to pay their inflated costs

I used to drop my sons off sometimes at school, the teachers parking lot filled with Lexus, Mercedes, Land Rovers, Volvo's and here I am driving a Hyundai

The union was a good thing at one time but like with everything else, people take it too far. I live in a tiny county. Here our officials keep creating new govt jobs for friends and family. Our millage rate is higher than the surrounding counties. I'm on a well and don't even have trash pick-up. I'm going to take some time to think and maybe eventually move to one of the surrounding counties. I can't move far from my son's job.

I live in one of the highest tax States in the US. I don't see that changing because Chicago is connected to downstate, when it comes to issuing out government funds for anything. Our Governor is Republican but many Democratts want him out in November. He really has stopped this state from spending unnecessary money, but the last three years fighting with the Unions and. Democrats. has taken a toll on the man.

This is a union City and the Man don't want that!!!

If the polititians could come together for what's best for the state would be a Great thing.

About 10 years ago the teachers here went out on a wild cat strike.. they wanted to pay... nothing.... towards their healthcare ( which they eventually got)

The county judge warned them and told them that the strike was illegal and to return immediately to their jobs. They refused.

He then sent county buses and cops to each protesting point and arrested them all.. Lol.. they were crying like babies as they were being lead into jail.

They went back to work

That's very interesting. !!!

Not to go teachers here too much but it is a big part of the problem.. here anyway.

Here, after I think 5 years the teachers get tenured, Which means they CAN'T loose their jobs and it is incredible difficult to get rid of even the worst of them.

A job for life

So, really what is the incentive to work hard if you know you can't loose your job. Who has that security blankets these days?

Now, I have been and know some great teachers here.. very good people and I don't blame them. I blame their union and teachers having a job for life is not necessarily good for the students.

Just the way it is here.. but it affects our taxes.. a lot

because of the evil unions.

stoopid ol' red swamps.

Myself I prefer owning.... You can do what you want to with your property to fix it the way you want it..

Paid mine off 7 years ago...

For some it is easier to rent due to no maintenance or worrying about taxes ect all that is included in renting...

I just like having a house I can call my own.. and know that it is paid for. I have no intentions on moving unless it is to downsize and moving farther out of town...

Thirty years ago I held the position that all house of representatives and senators should be sent home and single moms be sent to congress. Single moms tended to budget a whole lot better than the out of control people we have in congress.

Chicago probably receives a disproportionate amount of the state income taxes. I went to college in Michigan and the same complaint constantly is brought up about Detroit. Many cities and counties get next to nothing while Detroit gets way more than it should.

Sighs -
Then buy a yacht, and stalk the whole world for your prey of choice.

I have a yacht and a beach house .. I am happy with both

If things were like that over here, I'd not want to rent either. When you rent privately the same thing could happen, although then they still cannot kick you out just like that, you are always protected by law as a renter and it isn't all that simple.

But in a way it's still strange your government leaves its people to fend for themselves, doesn't offer them housing.
I live in a council house, and I believe in the UK at least the situation isn't much different, and they can't throw me out just like that at all.
My house will at some point either be demolished or sold off because of its age. But I knew that when I moved in in 2012 and it won't happen until at least 2025.
And even then, if I'd have to leave they must offer me a similar house in the area AND they have to pay money to cover the expenses.

I have 3 kids. Two are grown but I still budget. My childless friends think I'm cheap. They just don't understand.

oh so true.........oh so true.

Here in the UK It use to be a personal preference, you either rented or purchased your home, but times have changed. Government policy over the past 30 years, and the more recent 'Credit Crunch' as a result of the Global Financial Crisis has resulted in most homes no longer being affordable. On the basis of the average income and the average house price, a single person needed a mortgage of around 3 times annual income with 5% deposit to buy a home 25 years ago, today it would require a mortgage of around 6 times annual income and at least 10% deposit, which mortgage lenders will not give, so most young people looking for their first home have little choice but to rent, buying a home is no longer an option.

Here in the U.S. more millennials are living with parents to save money. There is a shortage of new homes being built. It's driving up the price of existing homes. Hopefully builders will find confidence and start building again.

we are taxed to death up here to pay for the social programs which some are a waste of time and resources thank you Liberal government.

the one of the few tax reliefs I mentioned earlier we are not charged a capital gain tax when selling our principal residence.


If we have rental properties and we sell we are charged a 50% capital tax , in your country assuming you kept the real estate past five years your capital gains is I think 20% that is a huge difference.

Another reason why when I buy American Stocks I hold on to it a minimum of 5 years to trigger that 20% capital gains.

And the Canadian government wonders why some folks incorporate outside our country, its not because we are not patriotic , its because we are tired of getting our pickets picked and the government wasting our money on stupid programs and welfare for some dead beats.

Its even worse if you live in Quebec.

That's why I quit claimed my daughter one of my rental homes. I would have paid 6% to a real estate agent to sell it and then 20% to the govt. That's a lot of money to give away. I'm 3rd generation to be quit claimed the house I live in. I thought we were unusual but I read a few months ago that it's common now in some families.