SJM_DEPT_Leaving NJ_0822_final_Dept 8 / 30 / 22 3 : 35 PM Page l 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 more and 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 Lounging on the beach in St . Petersburg during TO FLEE FOR FLORIDA gets even more of a tax break in one of those getaways in 2021 , Hanan looked at his OR OTHER STATES . Florida , so it’s going to be substan - wife Lauren and suddenly a light bulb went off . Why tially less . We’re very excited about not make it permanent and move down for good ? by Matt Cosentino that . There’s also no state income tax They took the plunge this summer for multiple so the 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’ve never been a fan of cold weather , ” says Hanan , a Washington Township native . erty taxes 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 - summer come along , I’m so busy because I try to jam everything into one [ time of year ] . sons for his move , but his original So I’m looking forward to an endless summer . ” plan was to stick it out for five more Clarksboro residents Erica and Joe Lawrence ( their names have been changed because years , until he saw how bidding wars they wished to remain anonymous ) , the parents of an 8 - year - old daughter , had long been were driving up the home prices in contemplating a move to Florida as well . They were finally inspired to act last winter . the area . The market has since cooled “ We always talked about retiring at some point and going south , and we thought off , but he and his wife pulled the whenever our 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 “ That was 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’s job went fully remote year plan , ” he says . in December and he got the “ We actually did a opportunity to work from any - refinance a couple of where , so we started really con - months back and we sidering it . got our house “ Our daughter was only in appraised . … We second grade , so we thought if decided now was a we did it now then we could good time to get a avoid her getting serious with good price for the all of her relationships . … That house so we put it on was a huge decision — it was the market , we either now or in 10 years . We showed it for a day looked at each other and said , and started getting ‘ Can we wait until she gradu - offers . So we decided ates high school ? ’ And we both to sell high , ride it out said , ‘ No . ’ ” and rent for a little bit , The Hanans and Lawrences and then buy when the market comes are far from alone in deciding to flee the Garden State , and weather joins high taxes , poli - back down , but we actually ended up tics and job opportunities as the reasons most often cited . According to the United Van buying sooner than we thought . ” Lines 45th Annual National Movers Study released in early 2022 , New Jersey was the state The Hanans were able to take the with the most outbound moves in 2021 , with more residents moving out than into the money from their sale and use it as a state for the fourth year in a row . down payment on a home in the “ Can you blame them ? ” asks Anne Koons of BHHS Fox & Roach in Cherry Hill , who Tampa area . He had already been has been a realtor for nearly 40 years . “ The average person in the state of New Jersey pays working remotely for years and she $ 9,000 or more in real estate taxes . That’s sick . It’s your real estate taxes and your income SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 5 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 5 ? |