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Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe
The OP has not returned to the thread, may have moved on in their search to other states and areas.
FWIW- We enjoy the best of both worlds. As native So Cal folks (L.A. and OC areas - last 17 years in Dana Point), we fled with our equity to East Tennessee. Enjoy the lake life near the Smokys. Great way to spend summer. Winter times are in The Villages, enjoying everything clean and pretty and well maintained - unlike all of SoCal.
Both states have zero income tax (unlike up to 13% in CA), and car registration in TN is about $45/year whether your car is a brand new 2025 or a 2005. No Smog checks! Sales tax was more in OC (about 10%) and about 8% in TN. Property tax is much lower in TN than CA but FL is about the same as CA. TN has no tax on investment income.
I don't know with what kind of equity and resources you are fleeing CA, but consider a small place in each and derive the best benefits of both.
PS - I've heard people say in both places that while the south is welcoming and friendly, that welcome is not with open arms if you voted to make CA the way it is. Neither FL nor TN want to be like CA. If you did vote that way, you may like IL or MI better.
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Interesting combo of TN and FL. We are looking to leave L.I. and have been looking at Tellico Village in TN and the Villages. Both "TV" so I'll use TN and FL. The community is much more extensive in FL but so is the traffic. TN has true four seasons which I enjoy with mild winters similar to Durham NC where I lived for several years. I see a lot of complaints about medical in FL. TN doesn't have TOV type web site so difficult to compare, UT med center which is a well-regarded Med cntr is 30 min away. Lots are larger in TN and prop taxes are much lower, but houses are generally more expensive and nearly doubled during the pandemic. (As an aside, prop taxes on L.I. are more than 3X FL and 10 X TN.). Before the great pandemic exodus from the high population areas, TN was by far the better deal. I like to walk (hike) and the smokies are an attraction but as the hips and knees age level ground is OK, shade would be nice. Spent three months in FL this winter, did a lot of walking but difficult to find unpaved walking paths. I'm curious, which state are you officially a resident of. Thanks