real estate values, taxes, etc

Kathy and Bonnie, it would help in a search if I knew some town names. Don't want to be in or too near a metro area!

Kathy,

Thank you. I will take a look at the links offered above.

Molly
:^)))

Town names:
Louisville
Brandenburg
Radcliff
West Point
Shelbyville
St. Matthews
Valley Station
Middletown
Elizabethtown
Corydon, Indiana
Georgetown, Indiana
Pleasure Ridge
Bardstown
Anchorage
Fern Creek
(just to name a few)

Thanks!

Darius, I will list some more towns that have rural areas, but close to metropolitan areas.

Close to Louisville
Pleasureville, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Crestwood, PeeWee Valley, Middletown, Shelbyville, New Castle, Eminence, Simpsonville.

Close to Lexington
Midway, Frankfort, Versailles, Paris, Stamping Ground, Georgetown, Cynthiana, Carlisle, Nicholasville,

Close To Madison Indiana
Carrollton, Campbellsburg

Close to Cincinnati, Ohio
Dry Ridge, Corinth, Florence, Newport,

All of the towns listed are no more than 50 miles from a major metropolitan area.

Darius,

You might want to check out our area of KY; Liberty, Houstonville, Bethelridge, Somerset, all within 35 miles of Danville or about 75 miles to Lexington.

I live in Bethelridge, a small town which is farm country. Liberty is a small town which is growing rather rapidly and has lots of Amish folks and is about 50 miles from Lexington.

Most of this area is farm country, beautiful, with low taxes and won't cost you an arm and a leg in property values if you buy here. I believe someone already said we have a 6% sales tax here in KY (the only fair tax because everyone pays it!).

What is TYPICAL summer, fall, winter, spring weather in the parts of KY y'all are suggesting? Looks like Kathy is 7b and Defoecat and Big Red are 6a, zone-wise.

Typical weather:
Spring: Rainy, not too cool, not too warm, sunny. Avg temp 70-80 day, 50s night.
Summer: Sunny, sometimes no rain for a while. 90s days, 70s night. Usually not as hot as we've had this year, august can get high 90s.
Fall: Cool, very colorful if we don't have a lot of rain and wind at the beginning of fall. Temps around 60 - 70s days. 50s nights.
Winter: Some snow, ice. More good days than bad. Lows 20s - 30s. Can get to 10s. Rarely below zero.

This year has been an exceptionally strange year for us. Last year, we had a lot of rain in the summer, wind.

We do get tornadoes, but probably less bad weather than you are used to now.

Just one more thought....Lexington area is expensive. My son lives in Lexington and most people live beyond their means. Beautiful country, but horse country. Houses are much more expensive there.

Kentucky has so many cultural things and different points of interest. You can do almost anything here for day trips. 3 hrs from Indy, 2.5 from Cincy, 2.5 from Nashville, 6 from St. Louis. And about 4 hrs from WV border. We are about 2.5/3 hrs from Prizer Point and I think you've been there for the RU.

There is so much history here in KY, it is unbelievable. Every town has history worth visiting.

:) Kathy

Thanks. I took my arabian to the Nationals years ago in KY, maybe Lexington? Brain dead, LOL. I remember it was beautiful.

Could have been there or Louisville. Our state fairgrounds are in Louisville. just finished our state fair last Sunday.

What's the political climate?

Darius, why did you have to ask that question? Right now, we have a republican governor, first in about 30 years, whose administration is under investigation by the Attorney General for violations of merit system abuse. The merit system is a protection for state workers who can not be fired because of political affiliation. Most state jobs are protected by the merit system, although there is a catagory of Non-merit workers, who are appointed on a political basis ie, for support, work contributions etc of a winning candidate. They are normally higher paying jobs, but with no guarantee of length. These employees can be fired without cause at the pleasure of the governor. So basically, state government is Democratic, although during the last presidental election Kentucky went Republican. There are various county officials, and it varies from county to county as to what the political affiliation is. There are 120 counties in Ky, and most counties operate in a very efficient manner.

I worked in State Government for 30 years, 28 of them for various politicians. So I like to say, I have seen "the good, the bad and the ugly, and the seldom used category of very very ugly". LOL

LOL, Looks like I need to follow the news more!

Yes, but Darius. He did an admiral thing yesterday. He pardoned all the state workers involved except himself. Then today (was it today), he went before the Grand Jury and pleaded the 5th! I voted for him! Yep, I did.

Right now, not sure how I feel about him, but in answer to your question....

This is a half and half state. There are a lot of republicans in office, but not many make it to the governorship as Defoecat stated. I think in the scheme of things we could be called more of a Democratic state. But we have many with lots of moral values that claim to be Republicans.

I wonder if a search about KY could answer that better.

Also, many counties are getting onto this Planning and Zoning wagon. 19 years ago when we moved here, we talked at a meeting where we told them what P & Z did for Massachusetts, basically run everything out. Some things about P & Z are good, most are just someone else sticking their nose in someone's business. It is not in full force here yet, but probably more than NC.

You know, come to think of it, that is kinda a hard question to answer because I guess it all just depends on one's perspective. :) Kathy

Misty, and Darius, have we forgotten the previous governor (democratic) who pardoned some of his cronies, because they were being investigated for campaign contributions violations? I am registered Democratic, but always try to vote for the candidate. I guess what I am trying to say is that party labels don't mean much, I try to look for the moral values that I admire and support. I am pretty outspoken, and will voice my opinions whether it be for or against an incumbent, by gauging the successes of his/her programs. I basically am for the betterment, furtherment of the nation, state and county, be it by any party label.

Darius, MollyMC, our weather is changeable. One quote often heard here is "if you don't like it, stick around, it will change." And change it does. I enjoy the 4 seasons we experience here. The fall is my favorite, because of the leaf colors. New England doesn't have much on us.!! LOL

Darius, I believe that there are state programs that would offer assistance to you. However, not knowing your exact financial situation, can't say that for sure. In addition to medicare, Ky has a medicade program that helps with health care costs, based on your income. I would think that in order to be eligible that you would probably be better off renting, than owing.

Gosh, got wordy there, which is one of my endearing characteristics!!

Bonnie, I won't "own" but rent a house from my sister when we find a place. She remains stuck on NC/TN but she also hasn't done all the searching I have.

Give Kentucky serious consideration, just don't jump into any decisions.

Well, today she is thinking of refinancing her Kissimmee house. She was in 3 hurricanes over her house last year but this Katrina nightmare has really spooked and motivated her.

Defoecat, I, like you, am registered Democrat, but only because you can't vote in most of the primaries around here if not. Not a whole lot of Republicans running for office, but the ones we do have are pretty good. I agree, I don't vote party line either, I vote for the moral issues :)

Another saying "Well, this is KY, you never know what to expect." 2 years ago on April 9, we had a freak snow storm that dumped almost 8 inches of snow in our neck of the woods! Somewhere I posted pics of that one.

I am from New England, born and raised there. I can tell you that both places have spectacular fall foliage, but KY's is more golds and yellows where NE is more reds and browns. It is breathtaking at times, in both parts :)

TN is beautiful too as many here will attest to. TN weather, at least Eastern TN is a lot like the weather you are having now, Darius.

Like I said, come and visit sometime and check us out. :) I'll even make you a chicken dinner....LOL

Happy Day,
Kathy

Kathy, I just might, if gas ever goes back down! Today the station where I bought gas yesterday for $2.86 was up to $3.37.