Relocation guides
Plain-English guides to the money and paperwork side of moving to another state.
All guides
Salary needed after a move
A step-by-step method to compare a job offer in another state: taxes, price levels, rent and one-time moving costs, with a worked example.
States with no income tax
The nine states without a tax on wages, how much you keep at different salaries, and the property, sales and housing costs that offset the savings.
Moving out of state checklist
Everything to do before, during and after an interstate move: budgeting, movers, utilities, driver license, vehicle registration, voting and taxes.
Taxes the year you move
How states tax you in the year you move, part-year resident returns, credits for taxes paid to another state, and records to keep.
Rent or buy after moving
Why renting first is often smarter after a long-distance move, the 30% rent and 28/36 mortgage rules, and how to compare the two.
Cut long-distance moving costs
Truck vs container vs full-service movers, what drives the price, when to move, and whether any moving expenses are tax deductible.
Moving with pets
How to move dogs and cats to another state: vet records, state entry rules, driving vs flying, hotels, and settling in.
Shipping a car
Open vs enclosed carriers, what drives the price, how long it takes, how to prepare your car, and when driving is cheaper.
Moving containers (PODS-style)
How portable moving containers work, what they cost by distance and home size, and how they compare with trucks and full-service movers.
Disaster risk before you move
Use FEMA data to compare hurricane, flood, wildfire and tornado risk, and why risk now shows up in your insurance bill.
Choosing a city
Compare cities on real take-home pay, housing, taxes, risk and where people are actually moving, before you visit.