American again, requesting relo ideas
Jan 20th 2013, 11:54 pm
#61
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
I don't think the OP is asking the impossible at all. Britain is very welcoming of outsiders (cities, anyway), hell even I had problems in English towns and I'm born and raised there.
She just needs to focus and get things in order, starting with by visiting for a few weeks to determine which location is right.
She just needs to focus and get things in order, starting with by visiting for a few weeks to determine which location is right.
Unfortunately it all got rather tedious for those folks providing advice, and, since no-one could convince the OP that visiting the UK at least once before making a decision would be a good idea, it all became rather pointless.
Jan 20th 2013, 11:57 pm
#62
Banned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,300
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
If you look at the "find all posts by the OP" you will find that there are pages and pages of advice over a number of months, regarding places in the UK and how best to make a decision regarding them.
Unfortunately it all got rather tedious for those folks providing advice, and, since no-one could convince the OP that visiting the UK at least once before making a decision would be a good idea, it all became rather pointless.
Unfortunately it all got rather tedious for those folks providing advice, and, since no-one could convince the OP that visiting the UK at least once before making a decision would be a good idea, it all became rather pointless.
Jan 21st 2013, 5:37 am
#63
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
If you look at the "find all posts by the OP" you will find that there are pages and pages of advice over a number of months, regarding places in the UK and how best to make a decision regarding them.
Unfortunately it all got rather tedious for those folks providing advice, and, since no-one could convince the OP that visiting the UK at least once before making a decision would be a good idea, it all became rather pointless.
Unfortunately it all got rather tedious for those folks providing advice, and, since no-one could convince the OP that visiting the UK at least once before making a decision would be a good idea, it all became rather pointless.
From my perspective she is a worried and skeptical American. It's not that uncommon. Especially when America is all you know. And all Fox News does day in and day out is make you think the rest of the world are standing idly by sharpening their pitchforks ready to get the American when they do eventually venture out. It's ultimately a very fearful country and for the vast majority of people, they never leave, some dont even travel outside of the state they are in.
It just sounds like the OP needs some serious convincing and all her posts are probably an effort on her half to convince herself.
Jan 21st 2013, 4:04 pm
#65
Heading for Poppyland
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Jan 21st 2013, 4:57 pm
#68
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Jan 23rd 2013, 7:30 pm
#69
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
This is very true. Plenty of places in England have a decent journey time by train to make day trips feasible, but still sufficiently far to be unattractive for commuters to London, because the daily time sat on the train is too long and the season ticket astronomical.
Jan 23rd 2013, 7:43 pm
#70
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Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
Take Bristol to London, for instance. Fastest journey time seems to be 1h 44m. Many journeys are two hours or more. Longer than I'd want to sit on a train twice a day five days a week, but many people commute from Bristol every day and that is somewhat reflected in house prices. But, it'd be great for an occasional day trip to London if you're retired etc.!
I guess any journey time up to three hours is doable for an occasional day trip; in the west country that would get you as far as Taunton or Exeter. In another direction, Norwich is about two hours I think, and property prices are reasonable there..
Jan 23rd 2013, 8:06 pm
#71
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Posts: 14
Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
I imagine this would be impossible to decide as an outsider. I am British, know the country/culture (or how is was a decade ago) but even as I contemplate my return I am dazed and confused about how it could be, perhaps I suffer from too much realism...
So really the only logical way to do this is a) job location b) family or friends or c) unless you are independently wealthy so you can arbitrarily choose anywhere. Without that structure, or a good local knowledge...its just a fantasy.
So really the only logical way to do this is a) job location b) family or friends or c) unless you are independently wealthy so you can arbitrarily choose anywhere. Without that structure, or a good local knowledge...its just a fantasy.
Jan 23rd 2013, 8:11 pm
#72
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
In Kent, there are several spots which are less commutable and property prices are at the lower end but they typically are not places that commend themselves - such as Thanet, and because property prices are lower they tend to attract less desirable tenants - a sort of vicious circle. However, Broadstairs is at the kind of end-of-the-line in Thanet and on the High Speed line and the North Foreland area is actually mostly highly desirable. Deal is also worth a look, as is Sandwich but these places have far less to do and less going on than Canterbury. I'm bearing in mind you would not want to use a car*.
*Elsewhere in the south-east it's hard to find anywhere that doesn't get boosted by commuting because it's accessible. Even inaccessible, such as Cranbrook and Tenterden have solid house-price support. In Suffolk there is inaccessible Framlingham and in Norfolk there's Fakenham. South-West of London there's not much not affected by commuting and then you hit the retirement zone which is boosted another way. North-West is Bucks which is PRIME commuter as is much of the north side such as St Albans and Harpenden. Thaxted in Essex has a following. Up north, Ely is also worth a look and is 1hr 15mins from King's Cross, a fair bit longer to Liverpool Street.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Jan 23rd 2013 at 8:35 pm. Reason: Deal Elsewhere in the south-east
Jan 24th 2013, 12:50 am
#73
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
The High Speed service from Canterbury West into St Pancras started in December 2009 so property prices have already adjusted for the positive impact from that. In the intervening period Pfizers main research centre ex-USA in Sandwich which had many (several thousand) high-paying jobs drawing from the area of Canterbury and east has closed so there are pluses and minuses in terms property price and rent drivers. Canterbury is not known for being a high wage/salary paying area in itself though there is a lot of academia and their salaries would tend to be at the higher end.
In Kent, there are several spots which are less commutable and property prices are at the lower end but they typically are not places that commend themselves - such as Thanet, and because property prices are lower they tend to attract less desirable tenants - a sort of vicious circle. However, Broadstairs is at the kind of end-of-the-line in Thanet and on the High Speed line and the North Foreland area is actually mostly highly desirable. Deal is also worth a look, as is Sandwich but these places have far less to do and less going on than Canterbury. I'm bearing in mind you would not want to use a car*.
*Elsewhere in the south-east it's hard to find anywhere that doesn't get boosted by commuting because it's accessible. Even inaccessible, such as Cranbrook and Tenterden have solid house-price support. In Suffolk there is inaccessible Framlingham and in Norfolk there's Fakenham. South-West of London there's not much not affected by commuting and then you hit the retirement zone which is boosted another way. North-West is Bucks which is PRIME commuter as is much of the north side such as St Albans and Harpenden. Thaxted in Essex has a following. Up north, Ely is also worth a look and is 1hr 15mins from King's Cross, a fair bit longer to Liverpool Street.
In Kent, there are several spots which are less commutable and property prices are at the lower end but they typically are not places that commend themselves - such as Thanet, and because property prices are lower they tend to attract less desirable tenants - a sort of vicious circle. However, Broadstairs is at the kind of end-of-the-line in Thanet and on the High Speed line and the North Foreland area is actually mostly highly desirable. Deal is also worth a look, as is Sandwich but these places have far less to do and less going on than Canterbury. I'm bearing in mind you would not want to use a car*.
*Elsewhere in the south-east it's hard to find anywhere that doesn't get boosted by commuting because it's accessible. Even inaccessible, such as Cranbrook and Tenterden have solid house-price support. In Suffolk there is inaccessible Framlingham and in Norfolk there's Fakenham. South-West of London there's not much not affected by commuting and then you hit the retirement zone which is boosted another way. North-West is Bucks which is PRIME commuter as is much of the north side such as St Albans and Harpenden. Thaxted in Essex has a following. Up north, Ely is also worth a look and is 1hr 15mins from King's Cross, a fair bit longer to Liverpool Street.
By the way, this is pretty much what we are looking for:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-25663959.html
Last edited by Perth; Jan 24th 2013 at 1:00 am. Reason: addition
Jan 24th 2013, 10:10 am
#74
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
It's a conundrum, Pete. Wanting to be near London, but not actually needing to be within commuter distance
By the way, this is pretty much what we are looking for:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-25663959.html
By the way, this is pretty much what we are looking for:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-25663959.html
In my previous post I forgot Eastbourne/Worthing but we have already "been" there in discussion on this thread or its predecessor. Also, there is some value in Rye and an artist scene but care has to be taken as it is on the edge of a flood plain and this can affect some property in low lying areas. From Rye, the run to London by rail is via Hastings and Tunbridge Wells which is not too arduous.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Jan 24th 2013 at 10:12 am. Reason: and this can affect....
Jan 24th 2013, 12:11 pm
#75
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Re: American again, requesting relo ideas
On a micro basis, i.e. within Canterbury, IMHO it is best to be located on the Dover Road side as per this property as you are not as close to the two stations as commuters would ideally want to be. It is still easy to get in on foot. If you are a cricket fan the Kent ground is in that area.
In my previous post I forgot Eastbourne/Worthing but we have already "been" there in discussion on this thread or its predecessor. Also, there is some value in Rye and an artist scene but care has to be taken as it is on the edge of a flood plain and this can affect some property in low lying areas. From Rye, the run to London by rail is via Hastings and Tunbridge Wells which is not too arduous.
In my previous post I forgot Eastbourne/Worthing but we have already "been" there in discussion on this thread or its predecessor. Also, there is some value in Rye and an artist scene but care has to be taken as it is on the edge of a flood plain and this can affect some property in low lying areas. From Rye, the run to London by rail is via Hastings and Tunbridge Wells which is not too arduous.
