When looking at homes I can't afford, it's somewhat comforting to see that while they don't fit my budget, none of them "fit" me either.
1
Have you actually been to Charleston WV? I cannot imagine living there. At this point, living in WV means bad water, under-funded schools, and dealing with a state where every county voted for Trump. Only Oklahoma shares this distinction.
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Note the difference in property taxes between the Connecticut and West Virginia houses.
Schools need supplies, labs, libraries, decent teachers. And that's just for starters. You don't get good public schools without money ... from taxes.
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@B. Weston has great schools but comparatively small and rural with few businesses/companies that pay taxes. So the burden is more on homeowners.
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That Washington apartment isn't bad but does a buyer realize they are paying close to 20 THOUSAND a year as a "homeowners fee" in addition to property taxes? Are we all going crazy in this country?
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@Tom -
Not crazy. That pays for the "swimming pool, fitness center, party room, laundry facilities and 24-hour concierge", not to mention the elevators. Staffed, elevator buildings with lots of amenities are going to have higher assessments than low-rise buildings with no staff or amenities. These things cost money, and who will pay it if not the owners?
And the taxes are pretty low.
2
HOA fees may include water bill and utilities
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@Tom. It does seem like a lot, but if you look at the online listing it mentions that the fees include all utilities, parking, and the concierge, in addition to the pool and gym. Setting the latter aside, which I personally wouldn't care to pay for given the choice, the inclusion of utilities and parking makes it seem a little less nuts.