Property taxes

Every state levies property taxes, but some states have high or complex property tax structures, making them less competitive.

The No. 1 state effectively charges 1.88% on the value of a residence, according to a realty firm's analysis of a frequent and growing concern among clients.

Unsurprisingly, six of the top 10 costliest destinations are in California.

As a growing area of expense, the impact to budgets and financial plans merits a discussion, according to experts. Here's a mini guide to the key considerations.

The top five states have an average effective real-estate tax rate of 2.02%

The six states with the lowest real-estate taxes have an average rate of 0.48%.

Any gains on the sale of a property they've held for over a year may be taxed as much as 20%.

Funding a Roth account, for example, may not offer upfront tax deductions, but withdrawals are tax-free.

Without the marital deduction, a certain category of married clients will have challenges inheriting property outright.

Many pin the blame on stagnant or dwindling income, according to a new survey.