We’ve heard from so many of you that your dream is to one day make the leap to full-time Airstream living! We think that’s an amazing dream. If your future looks like one of the full-time Live Riveted lifestyle, then this series is for you! We’ve connected with Ramona Creel to hear her perspective on steps to full-time Airstreaming and all of the important details to think about! Keep checking back for more details about items to consider as you pursue full-timer status! Here’s all the info from Ramona:
Embarking on a full-timing lifestyle begins with a whole lot of research. You can’t just sell your house, pack your stuff, and hit the road — not unless you’re planning to completely unplug from society in the process! Life is very different when you don’t have a set home base, and you have to plan accordingly. How will you get your mail? Which financial institutions will branches/ATMs in every part of the country? Or can you get away with strictly online banking? Will your health insurance give you a hard time about seeing doctors in other states — and how will you find a good dentist in Phoenix or Sioux Falls or Schenectady? What kind of insurance will you need to protect your belongings? What will you do if your RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere? And how in the heck will you have reliable Internet access as you travel? Have no fear, I am here to answer all of the your “On the Road to Full-Timing” questions!
Declaring Domicile
The first item to consider is in which state to declare domicile. When you own a home and live in a set location, you are automatically a resident of that state. But when you’re mobile, you can choose any state for your residency. You simply have to transfer all of your personal and business accounts (vehicle and voter registration, driver’s license, professional licenses) and permanent legal address to that state. The hard part is choosing the right state for your situation — but you want to do so by comparing each of the following factors:
Occupancy - The rules for declaring domicile as a full-timer are different for each state — some require you to live there several months out of the year, and others even expect you to own property — others simply asked that you set up a permanent mailing address and spend one night in a local campground to establish yourself as a resident — sweet!)
Income Tax - As you know, most states require you to pay state and even possibly local income tax — or, if the goal is to reduce your expenses, you can focus only on states with no income tax.
Sales Tax - The idea of worrying about a state’s sales tax rate may seem silly, when you plan to spend very little time shopping there, but if you buy your rig before declaring domicile in a state that has a HIGHER sales tax than your original state, you will owe them the difference. Fortunately, if you choose one with a lower sales tax rate, you might actually get money back on your vehicle registration!
Intangible Property Tax - States like Florida, which do not have an income tax and have a lot of retirees, charge an “intangible property tax” on investments and other “invisible” assets as another way to raise revenue. This isn’t a particularly important item to me because I don’t have millions in the bank, but for someone who has a substantial portfolio, choosing a state with no intangible property tax could mean a sizable savings.
Insurance Costs - Insurance rates vary radically by state, so the wrong choice of domicile could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. Instead of inquiring with online quote services, you'll have much better luck when you speak to a local insurance agent who specializes in working with RVers.
Yes it's true -- armed with my trusty spreadsheet and this initial comparison, I became (God help me) a Texan! But you might find that another state better suits your needs -- it's different for each full-timer.
Wow, what valuable information to begin the process to full-timing as an Airstreamer! Ramona has so much more to share, so be on the lookout for more to come about Vehicle Registration, Mail Forwarding and more!
