Dear British Expats,
24 years myself been here in USA (Green card holder British Citizen) , German Partner here 25 years (dual US/German Citizenship) and step daughter (US Citizen aged 16)....we are thinking of moving back to Somerset uk or that area and looking at doing the family visa for partner and daughter. I know on the Uk gov website its asking for combined income of 29,000 pounds or total savings of 80,000 pounds.. i assume i have to be back in the UK earning and resident there to qualify for the combined income part? also if we sell her house here and use our combined savings can we travel back at the same time to settle there or do i have to go there first and get a job or can i do that once we find a rental property and then i look for a job?

Were you born in the UK. If so then i think your daughter (born post 2006) should just be able to apply for a British passport (no visa required).
I'm sure other more knowledgeable people can advise you in the financials of the family visa for your wife.

He said step-daughter, which may make a difference.

Skimreading ....I shouldn't do it!! You are correct 😀

To meet the financial requirements through salaried income, you, as the British sponsor, would need to be earning over the threshold in the US for at least six months prior to submitting your partner's application plus have a job starting in the UK within three months of your proposed move also earning over the threshold.

If you sell your house then you can use the proceeds to meet the financial requirements through cash savings. The amount required is £88,500, not £80,000, so approximately $120,000. There is no minimum period that you need to hold the money following the sale, but the property would need to have been owned by either you, your partner or jointly for at least six months before being sold. If you are meeting the financial requirements entirely through cash savings then you do not need a job, either in the US or the UK.

Find below the document which provides all information regarding meeting the financial requirements:

https://assets.publishing.service.go...equirement.pdf

In summary, YOU as the British sponsor, has to be earning/have an income of a minimum of 29K GBP to obtain a visa for your wife and step child .
If you have the 88,500K GBP in savings then you can apply from the US and when visa issued travel over together.
If you now earn the equivalent of 29K GBP AND have a job offer in the UK with this income then you can apply in the US and when visas issued travel over together.
If you do not now earn 29K and do not have a job to go to in the UK YOU will need to move to the UK, get a job and then apply for the visas

You need to show you have accommodation when you apply for the visas for your wife and child.