Millionaires Offered Discount to Move to Virginia

Dear readers, I promise that this is not one of my much-ridiculed spoof posts. Everything that you are about to read is 100% true.

MPW friend and occasional spoof victim Dana Beyer forwarded us an online ad posted by a Virginia real estate agent enticing MoCo millionaires to move. The ad says:

April 09, 2008

Virginia Welcomes Migration of Maryland Millionaires

New Millionaire Tax in Maryland May Cause some to Migrate to Virginia

It's mid-April. Are taxes on your mind?

If you're wealthy and live in Maryland, say hello to the first in the nation, Millionaire's Tax. Signed into law yesterday by Governor Martin O'Malley, the legislation created a new tax bracket for those who earn over $1 million per year. Approximately 6,000 Maryland households fall into this new tax bracket and are subject to a 6.25% tax rate.

According to The Baltimore Sun newspaper, more than 40 percent of these wealthy households are in Montgomery County. While Montgomery County is a great place to live and Maryland is a great state, many of those being hit with this new tax may decide to vote with their feet.

Let me be the first to WELCOME YOU TO VIRGINIA.

As you know, Virginia is just across the Potomac River from Maryland. Northern Virginia offers wonderful amenities, parks, schools, history, culture, and an easy commute to D.C. Homes in the upper brackets are plentiful throughout the area, especially in popular communities like McLean, Great Falls, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax Station, and more. Another bonus of moving to Virginia -- how about in-state tuition at some of the best public colleges and universities in the country, including University of Virginia, James Madison University, and George Mason University.

Virginia has consistently ranked as the Best State for Business by Forbes Magazine year after year.

Best of all -- Virginia does not have a Millionaire's Tax. (Virginia's highest income tax bracket is 5.75%).

Maybe it's time to contact your Maryland Realtor (I can offer some great suggestions) about selling your Maryland home and moving to Virginia.

I'd be happy to help you find a Northern Virginia home and welcome you to our side of the river.

So I emailed this agent the following inquiry:

Brian, I am disturbed about Maryland's new millionaire tax and am considering moving to Virginia. I have a few friends who are thinking along the same lines. If we all decided to move together, could we work out a discount? - Adam Pagnucco, Silver Spring, Maryland.

The agent replied:

Thanks for your e-mail. I certainly understand being disturbed by the Millionaire Tax in Maryland. We can certainly talk about a discount if you and several others decided to work with me to purchase homes in Virginia.

So what are you waiting for, country club members? I actually got a discount for you to move out. Does this mean we get to build the Purple Line now?