Pennsylvania State Flower

Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latiflolia

The State Flower is the Mountain Laurel, as enacted by the General Assembly on May 5, 1933. The mountain laurel is in full bloom in mid-June, when Pennsylvania's woodlands are filled with its distinctive pink flower.
 

Five Smartest Cities For Retirees

PITTSBURGH, PA.

Three rivers run through Pittsburgh's green, orderly downtown, but retirees will find even greater charm in the city's outlying,tree-lined neighborhoods, such as Shadyside (median house value: $199,000) and Squirrel Hill ($184,000). "If you'd like to retire in a place where you wouldn't think twice about borrowing your neighbor's hairdryer in a pinch, Pittsburgh's small neighborhoods are for you," says Abby Mendelson, an author of books on the Pittsburgh Steelers and local culture.   see all 5

                                                           Interior of Historic Banks Bridge (more photos)

50 Smart Places to Live 

retirees OR non-retirees

Currently undergoing a renaissance, this hidden gem has distinctive neighborhoods, tree-lined streets, glittering skyscrapers, upscale shops and a diversified economy. See Top 10.

Pittsburgh Ranked

#1 "Most Livable City" in America

"Places Rated Almanac"

1. Pittsburgh, PA
2. San Francisco, CA
3. Seattle, WA
4. Portland, OR
5. Philadelphia, PA
6. Rochester, NY
7. Washington, DC
8. San Jose - Sunnyvale, CA
                                   9. Boston, MA
                                  10. Madison, WI

Pittsburgh has been named the Top Adventure City in America by in their article: Top Adventure City in America

"Where to Live and Play: 31 Adventure Towns"
 

Pittsburgh Among Cleanest Cities in the World

Forbes ranked Pittsburgh 10th among thousands in its review of all the world's cleanest cities.

Read the recommendation for Pittsburgh as the #7 Retirement Value Destination in the US.

         Forbes: 10 Most Stable Housing Mkts

Pittsburgh #2    

Median home price: $123,500

Annual price change from 2006: 2.7%

Projected price change to 2008: 3.37%

July 31, 2008 Update

Smart Money.com  Pittsburgh rated 4th highest recession-proof city for retirees

After all those decades of stashing money away for retirement, retirees should look for a place that will not only make them happy, but also keep their nest egg intact. Areas with a track record of slow, steady economic growth and home price appreciation are ones that will hold onto their value best, notes Walter Molony, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors. These same places are also more likely to rebound quickly when nationwide economic conditions improve.

The Pittsburgh region offers retirees the active lifestyle of a major city at a relatively low cost, earning it the No. 2 spot on a list of the top 10 "values" for big-city retirement, compiled by Warren Bland, author of "Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places across the USA and Canada."

Do you notice that Pittsburgh and surrounding area keep appearing on  nearly every "best-retirement-destination" , and "best places to live" list?

Need to Cut Those Housing Costs to the Bone? Check Out THIS Great Pennsylvania Town

Great Pennsylvania Retirement Housing on Less than a Shoestring Are you entering retirement fearing that you may not be able to make ends meet? You have a "little" equity in a home, or "some" savings but are paying rent. Or no savings and are paying rent. You know that you can't afford to stay in the high-cost area where you have been, but don't know where to go?

One of our volunteers  faced the exact same situation, and has created a special SeniorArk feature to show you what he and his wife did about housing as they entered retirement..  This section is probably not for those with lots of options. It is about going back to basics in housing in order to survive in retirement. No, he doesn't live in a van---down by the river. He lives in a nice home in a wonderful community. This article shows us that there are affordable places for retirees to live.

Overall, in 2007 Pennsylvania is ranked at #32 in terms of state and local taxes. (50 is lowest) We would fare much better if the ranking were done for Seniors. SeniorArk recently saw an MSN article quoting a Kiplinger survey of property taxes on a selected property in each state capital. They used a house in Harrisburg (actually in the most expensive suburb of Harrisburg) that had very high taxes, and used that to say that Pennsylvania was not a tax-friendly state for Seniors. Not so folks. First, how can you select one property, and paint the entire city, or state with its statistics? Property tax varies wildly within the state, and even within every city. So when shopping, seniors, buy carefully. You can choose a property with low taxes. Also, the Kiplinger study did not take into consideration the statewide homestead exemption, and further Senior rebates on property taxes. Governor Rendell in 2008 is working on a plan to eliminate state real estate taxes altogether. This is the problem with simplistic surveys. Pennsylvania is a VERY Senior-Friendly tax state. The evidence:

 
Sales Taxes
State Sales Tax: 6% (Exempted from tax are: food; clothing, text books, heating fuels,  prescription and non-prescription drugs)  Other taxing entities may add up to 1%. 
Gasoline Tax:  32.2 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: 39.2 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: $1.35/pack of 20

Personal Income Taxes
Tax Rate Range: Flat rate of 3.07%

Retirement Income Taxes: At 59½, Social Security, civil service, state/local government, and private pensions are exempt.  IRAs are exempt as are out-of-state government pensions. 
Retired Military Pay: Not taxed after age 59 1/2.
Military Disability Retired Pay:
Disability Portion - Length of Service Pay: Member on September 24, 1975 -- No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 -- Taxed, unless combat incurred.  Retired Pay -- Based solely on Disability.  Member on September 24, 1975 -- No tax.  Not Member.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Not subject to federal or state taxes
Military SBP/SSBP/RCSBP/RSFPP: Generally subject to state taxes for those states with income tax.  Check with state department of revenue office.

Property Taxes 
Property taxes are levied by local governments (counties, municipalities and school districts).  The tax cannot exceed 30 mills on the assessed valuation of the property without special permission from the courts.  Households with claimants or spouses 65 years of age or older, widows or widowers 50 years of age or older and the permanently disabled 18 years of age or older meeting income eligibility requirements may qualify for this program.  Rebates of paid property tax or rent, up to a maximum of $500 per year, are available.  To qualify, annual household eligibility income must not exceed $35,000.  The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program allows residents to exclude  50% of Social Security payments and 50% of Railroad Retirement benefit payments from eligibility income.  The maximum rebate is $650. Counties may levy an intangible personal property tax, which taxes stocks, bonds and other personal property taxpayers may own.  Not all counties levy this tax.

            YOU may qualify for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate  (Would significantly boost the PA tax-rank-by-state for

                                                                                                Seniors in Pennsylvania)  

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has been expanded as part of a broad tax relief initiative. The deadline to apply (has been extended) for a rebate is December 31, 2007.

You are eligible if you are:

• 65 or older, or

• A widow or widower 50 or older, or

• Permanently disabled and 18 or older

                 New annual income guidelines:

                 ** Remember to count only half of your Social Security as income. 

        Neshannock Creek
Inheritance and Estate Taxes
The Pennsylvania inheritance tax is calculated at a percentage of the value of the assets transferred which is determined by the relationship of the heir to the decedent and the decedent's date of death.  The tax rate is 4.5% for transfers to direct descendants (lineal heirs), 12% for transfers to siblings, and 15% for transfers to other heirs (except charitable organizations, exempt institutions, and government entities). Property owned jointly between husband and wife is exempt from the tax, while property inherited from a spouse, or from a child 21 or younger by a parent is exempt.  The estate tax is related to federal estate tax collection.

For further information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue site or call 717-787-8201.

*2007 Tax Ranking By State    Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau and Tax Foundation

*Property Taxes  (State and Local) State Ranking    The Tax Foundation

  A unique Pennsylvania Drug Program For Retirees