Nova55Living › Fort Collins / Northern CO › Moving from California
California retirees moving to Fort Collins typically save significantly on income tax, can buy a much larger home or bank equity from California home sales, and trade wildfire and earthquake risk for hail risk. Larimer County’s ~0.56% property tax rate is a fraction of what most California buyers are used to paying.
Have questions about what you're reading? A specialist can walk you through real costs, honest comparisons, and what's actually available right now — free, no obligation.
Talk to a Specialist →| Item | California | Colorado (Fort Collins) |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax rate | 1%–13.3% (brackets) | 4.40% flat |
| Military retirement | Taxed (up to $20K exclusion for some) | Up to $24K subtraction at 65+ |
| Social Security | Not taxed | Partially taxable; coordinated w/ pension subtraction |
| Pension / 401k (65+) | Fully taxed at bracket rate | Up to $24K subtraction |
Long-term California homeowners often pay very low effective rates under Prop 13’s 2%/year assessment cap. But when they sell and buy in Fort Collins, they reset to Larimer County’s standard ~0.56% — which is almost always lower than a new California purchase (new buyers pay ~1.1% of purchase price/year in California). The property tax story favors Colorado Springs for comparison, but Fort Collins still wins against California new-purchase rates.
| Home Value | California New Purchase (~1.1%) | Larimer County (~0.56%) | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500K | ~$5,500 | ~$2,800 | ~$2,700 |
| $700K | ~$7,700 | ~$3,920 | ~$3,780 |
| $900K | ~$9,900 | ~$5,040 | ~$4,860 |
We connect buyers with agents who know this market from the inside — real cost math, honest comparisons, and what's actually happening right now. Every agent is personally vetted by the Nova55Living founder. No scripts, no pressure.
A California retiree selling a Bay Area or Southern California home at $1.2M–$2M can buy Sonders Fort Collins at $660K–$775K and bank $425K–$1.3M in freed equity. Placed in conservative investments at 4–5%, that freed equity generates $17,000–$65,000/year in additional income — often enough to more than cover the new Colorado income tax burden. This is the most powerful retirement math for high-home-value California owners.
Connect with a specialist who knows this market from the inside — real cost math, honest community comparisons, and what's actually happening right now. Every agent is personally vetted by the Nova55Living founder.
Connect with a Specialist →