Originally Posted by Disenchanted

Kitsune, thank you for posting this, I am also 2~4 years out from doing this and was contemplating a similar post. I too will be looking to have a place in Cornwall, on the North coast side. Have you considered a Holiday Lodge? Some have to be vacant in Jan/Feb, some don't, it depends on the conditions the owner has permission for. If you will be "wintering" in Texas then the vacant period of a holiday lodge would not be an issue.

I have been mulling over selling our Los Angeles home, however, a neighbor recently rented out their 2 bedroom house for $3500/mo. I have the ability to easily convert my 3 bedroom house into a 2 bedroom house and a 1 bedroom studio so now I'm torn between keeping the property and renting it out or selling it. Any others (durham_lad, 1234robin ) looking at doing anything similar have any suggestions or warnings. Tax complications etc etc. The intention is to leave the property to our kids, should we maybe form a trust???

I am the expat, USRA, wife is USC. I said once I went back to the UK I wouldn't come back here, but that may not be practical, so should I apply for USC to be on the safe side? What tax implications does it alleviate/cause? I know it's easier to tell them where to put their Green Card than it is their US Citizenship.

I will have Civil Service and SS pension here as well as Privte UK pension and UK State pension there, rental income here if we keep our property. What is most advantageous tax wise, pay all to IRS, pay all to HMRC, split it based on where it comes from, can I even do that based on IRS/DofT rules????

durham_lad & Richard8655, thanks for the info on BCBS, I have this with my city job currently, but does it still work with Medicare if the provider is BCBS?

Anyway, hopefully we'll collectively come up with a consensus of how to proceed advantageously. I will be eagerly watching.

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Holiday lodge: an interesting thought but since I don't want to be told to move out, will not work for us. As far as your LA place goes, I wonder if it would help to think honestly about your skills and talents? I can do paperwork until the cows come home, but have finally admitted I will never, ever have the patience to use anything more complicated than a comb on my hair. If you are willing to do the paperwork associated with renting, then that might be for you.
I'm looking for a good accountant to help us with possible US/UK tax issues, so I'll post here when I find one.

Originally Posted by Kitsune

I do love hearing what people do and why they make various decisions. So helpful, thank you.
What I'm beginning to wonder now is how to maintain relationships while living a life in two places. Family is one thing, but what about friends? These days we give or attend dinner/card parties every month (mainly expat couples we've met via an expat whist group), but that wasn't always the case. Having a social life has added so much to our quality of life here in Houston.
I know my South African friend (who has to go to SA for 3 months every year) says it's difficult to maintain relationships. And with the exception of her, I don't have any friends who go away for 6 months. Because, well, they're just not around.
Volunteering, taking a course, visiting somebody who has just had surgery, giving parties...how do these things fit in with life in 2 places? Is it possible to establish/maintain strong connections in 2 places?

Originally Posted by durham_lad

We have been doing the leaving thing for 6 years now and we talk about our plans with our friends before we go and some of them follow our travels on Facebook. When we get back we just pick up where we left off.

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

Several members who post in the US forums use Peter Newton...he's a BE Member. I think someone said he's not taking on new clients at the moment due to his workload...but keep trying.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/membe...-newton-13275/

Originally Posted by robin1234

We know plenty of people locally who spend four months, six months or more away ... Florida, Mexico, Spain, you name it. We know a couple who have a place here (far north in New York State) and a place in New York City and a place in Florida. I doubt if they spend more than four months a year up here. (Or there I should say, I'm in England.)

A lot of senior related activities here are based on the college calendar, or part of it, which means that part year residents can participate without missing a beat. For instance, we have a college based further education set up, with an eight week semester in the spring and another in the fall .... people are away in the summer and/ or the winter, and they can still participate. For instance I left the US in mid May the day after my last class, and I'll be back the very end of August, having signed up for my fall classes! And I don't intend to spend the winter there!!

Originally Posted by holly_1948

Cornwall is expensive, West Wales is relatively inexpensive and has similar climate, beaches etc.
Summers in Britain and winters in Florida sounds pretty much ideal to me.
A Florida condo in a gated community with a garage where you can store your American car out of season would be close to ideal.
As others have intimated, NHS entitlement requires nominating Britain as primary residence.
You can do USC in USA 6 months and one week a year and UKC in UK 6 months and one week a year and so be together for 50 to 51 weeks a year.

Originally Posted by not2old

UK price for what you get is stupidly expensive, yet can be dreamy

700 sq ft for £130,000 in Angelsey ($200,000)

3 bedroom cottage for sale in Llanddona, Anglesey. For Sale By Auction 6th August 2015 Subject to Auction Terms & Conditions, LL58

versus in Ireland for approx the same price

A ranch

Kilclooney More, Portnoo, Co. Donegal - Property.ie

A bigger ranch close to the beach

Tank Road, Ludden, Buncrana, Co. Donegal - Property.ie

Originally Posted by not2old

Robin @ post # 42...


So many options

Owner Occupied Croft, 16 Eoligarry, Isle Of Barra HS9, 2 bedroom detached house for sale - 37148542 | PrimeLocation

Isle of Barra properties for sale | Buy houses & flats in Isle of Barra | PrimeLocation

Great place for outdoor life, fresh air, the sea & seafood

Barra - VisitScotland

play the video in the official tourist link below

index

there are many other various youtube videos on this place

.