SJM_DEPT_Leaving NJ_0822_final_Dept 9 / 26 / 22 11 : 18 AM Page 1 taxes . If you’re successful and make money , the state of New Jersey goes out of its way to tax you . … You might L I F E S T Y L E as well be living in California because the taxes are basically the same . ” High taxes in New Jersey were def - L initely part of the dilemma for the Lawrences , along with other factors . Although they loved their neighbor - hood in Gloucester County and the school their daughter attended , they moved this summer to Lakewood MovingOn Ranch , Florida , on the Gulf Coast . “ When we were going through COVID we talked about how we didn’t MORE RESIDENTS ARE ike Hanan may have been a lifelong love the politics in New Jersey any - South Jersey resident up until a few LEAVING NEW JERSEY moreand how things were handled , M months ago , but Florida has always THAN COMING IN and just the direction that Jersey was held a special place in his heart . Considering THESE DAYS , AND going , ” she says . “ That was another how short and relatively cheap the flights are , FACTORS LIKE WEATHER impetus for us to consider it more , the Sunshine State has long been his go - to because Florida was a lot more open . AND TAXES ARE vacation spot , especially during the frigid … The taxes are crazy in New Jersey Northeast winters . LEADING SOME PEOPLE too . My husband is a veteran so he Loungingon the beach in St . Petersburg during TO FLEE FOR FLORIDA getseven more of a tax break in oneof those getaways in 2021 , Hanan looked at his OR OTHER STATES . Florida , so it’s going to be substan - wifeLauren and suddenly a light bulb went off . Why tially less . We’re very excited about notmake it permanent and move down for good ? by Matt Cosentino that . There’s also no state income tax Theytook the plunge this summer for multiple sothe paycheck is going to be nicer . ” reasons , not the least of which was the chance to soak up sunshine all year long . Hanan also cites the high prop - “ I’venever been a fan of cold weather , ” says Hanan , a Washington Township native . ertytaxes in New Jersey and the lack “ Usually I just hibernate in my house for the most part , and then when spring and of a state income tax in Florida as rea - summercome along , I’m so busy because I try to jam everything into one [ time of year ] . sons for his move , but his original SoI’m looking forward to an endless summer . ” planwas to stick it out for five more Clarksbororesidents Erica and Joe Lawrence ( their names have been changed because years , until he saw how bidding wars theywished to remain anonymous ) , the parents of an 8 - year - old daughter , had long been weredriving up the home prices in contemplatinga move to Florida as well . They were finally inspired to act last winter . the area . The market has since cooled “ Wealways talked about retiring at some point and going south , and we thought off , but he and his wife pulled the wheneverour daughter graduated from high school would be the easiest time , ” she says . trigger at the right time . “ We love warm weather and every winter that goes by we say , ‘ Why are we still here ? ’ We “ Thatwas the main thing that get so depressed and the whole family is stuck inside , and we’re all outside people . My turned it into a one - husband’sjob went fully remote year plan , ” he says . inDecember and he got the “ We actually did a opportunityto work from any - refinancea couple of where , so we started really con - monthsback and we sidering it . gotour house “ Ourdaughter was only in appraised . … We secondgrade , so we thought if decidednow was a wedid it now then we could goodtime to get a avoidher getting serious with goodprice for the all of her relationships . … That houseso we put it on wasa huge decision — it was themarket , we eithernow or in 10 years . We showed it for a day looked at each other and said , andstarted getting ‘ Canwe wait until she gradu - offers . So we decided ateshigh school ? ’ And we both to sell high , ride it out said , ‘ No . ’ ” and rent for a little bit , TheHanans and Lawrences andthen buy when the market comes arefar from alone in deciding to flee the Garden State , and weather joins high taxes , poli - backdown , but we actually ended up ticsand job opportunities as the reasons most often cited . According to the United Van buyingsooner than we thought . ” Lines45th Annual National Movers Study released in early 2022 , New Jersey was the state TheHanans were able to take the withthe most outbound moves in 2021 , with more residents moving out than into the moneyfrom their sale and use it as a state for the fourth year in a row . downpayment on a home in the “ Canyou blame them ? ” asks Anne Koons of BHHS Fox & Roach in Cherry Hill , who Tampaarea . He had already been hasbeen a realtor for nearly 40 years . “ The average person in the state of New Jersey pays workingremotely for years and she $ 9,000or more in real estate taxes . That’s sick . It’s your real estate taxes and your income SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 52 |