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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> But, speaking of taxes, property to be exact, I know how California taxes
> property but I wonder how other states determine property taxes.  The 
> reason I ask is that we've been wandering around the net looking at 
> various properties and there really seems to be no consistancy or 
> reason.  For example, there were two places in Washington in the same 
> county, same asking price, same age on the home and the taxes on one $685 
> and the taxes on the other, over $2,000.  The same with some properties in 
> Maine, Arizona and NM.
> Is it just the roll of the dice?

Taxes are so complicated that it is the one issue I was unable to make a 
map or chart for in my Country Home book. Each state has its own idea of 
how it should be done. Some tax on sales price, others raise the original 
tax by a modest amount each new assessment period. Some states are truly 
fiscally conservative and others, especially those with large cities, tend 
to be liberal in spending and the rural properties get hid hard to help the 
cities stay afloat. Additionally, there are exemptions for veterans, 
low-income, homestead, and other. It's not a roll of the dice but it is an 
item that requires serious research to understand.