The honest financial comparison, what your New York equity buys in the Austin-San Antonio corridor, and the practical steps before you list your home
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Talk to a Specialist →New York State income tax reaches 10.9% at higher income levels. New York City residents pay an additional city income tax. Combined state and city income tax on $150,000 in retirement income can reach $15,000–$20,000/year. Texas takes $0 on all of it. Add Long Island, Westchester, and New York City metro property taxes — routinely $12,000–$18,000/year on modest homes — and the arithmetic of staying in New York in retirement becomes increasingly difficult to justify. Texas offers the total escape: no income tax, dramatically lower property taxes, and 55+ communities built for the lifestyle buyers in New York can only partially access.
| Tax Category | New York (suburban metro) | Texas (65+ primary) |
|---|---|---|
| State + city income tax on $150K income | ~$12,000–$18,000/yr | $0 |
| Property tax on $500K home | ~$12,000–$18,000/yr | ~$4,800–$6,500/yr |
| Total annual savings moving to TX | ~$14,000–$24,500/yr | |
For NYC metro buyers with significant retirement income, the combined income and property tax savings rival any market in the country. $15,000–$24,000/year compounding over 20 years represents $300,000–$480,000 in tax savings — more than the price of many Sun City Texas homes purchased at the entry level.
Long Island and Westchester homeowners who purchased pre-2010 frequently carry $400,000–$800,000 in equity. NYC buyers with co-ops or condos may have $300,000–$600,000. This equity nearly always allows a full-cash purchase in the Sun City Texas or Kissing Tree price range, with money remaining. The financial transformation for NYC metro buyers moving to Sun City Texas is among the most dramatic of any feeder market.
| Texas Community | Price Range | HOA | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun City Texas (Georgetown) | \$300K–\$700K | ~\$100/mo | Value, 54-hole golf, maximum amenity scale |
| Kissing Tree (San Marcos) | \$350K–\$700K | ~\$263/mo | Hill Country terrain, halfway between Austin and San Antonio |
| Trilogy at Rough Hollow | \$600K–\$1.5M+ | \$350–\$450/mo | Lake Travis access, luxury product, closest to Austin |
| Villas at Kissing Tree | \$270K–\$450K | \$255/mo (lawn incl.) | Best value entry to Kissing Tree amenities |
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New York buyers overwhelmingly land at Sun City Texas or Kissing Tree. Sun City for the financial optimization and scale. Kissing Tree for buyers who want the Hill Country terrain and a community feel that resembles more closely the suburb they are leaving — newer, better-landscaped, with a restaurant and amenity campus that feels intentional rather than massive.
Tell us your New York home value, income profile, and target Texas community — we'll run the full financial comparison.
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