Living in a Tourist Town: How to Know if It’s Right for You
How do you feel about crowds?Vacation towns are vacation towns for a reason: They’ve got fun things to do in and around them. So when they’re in-season, they’re likely to be crowded. Ready to see the town’s one grocery store wiped out when there’s no delivery service to fall back on? If you’re working a typical nine-to-five remotely, you may find yourself stuck on the slopes during the weekend, or competing with the throngs for a spot to throw out a towel on the beach.
On the flip side, maybe those crowds represent a business opportunity that you and/or your partner would prefer to your current line of work. Small business web development firm? Tour guide for city slickers? Living in a tourist town might be just what you’re looking for.
Can you afford a potential bump in property taxes that may come with living in a vacation destination?
Unsurprisingly, property taxes are dictated by where the property is located and how much assessors think it’s worth — and they can often be higher when you’re living in a resort community or vacation destination. But other variables complicate the matter. Cities, counties, and school districts all carry the power to levy taxes against properties within their boundaries. Still the high property values in tourist destinations don’t always translate into higher property taxes. A little research will help you make a more informed decision.
