Best relocation areas in the UK?
Jun 23rd 2019, 2:02 pm
#511
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
I only ever bought one home in the UK. I bought as soon as I could, as soon as I had permanent employment (a regular employment contract), and the funds for the 10% deposit. I was lucky to have started when I did because 6 weeks later when the contracts were signed and I picked up the keys, the market price in that neighborhood had risen by 20%, and I would not have been able to afford to buy. I lived there until I left to move to New York.
Jun 23rd 2019, 4:11 pm
#512
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,830
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
I only ever bought one home in the UK. I bought as soon as I could, as soon as I had permanent employment (a regular employment contract), and the funds for the 10% deposit. I was lucky to have started when I did because 6 weeks later when the contracts were signed and I picked up the keys, the market price in that neighborhood had risen by 20%, and I would not have been able to afford to buy. I lived there until I left to move to New York.
It's such a beautiful state and probably one of the best places to live in America. I just got off the road from there.
Jun 23rd 2019, 5:55 pm
#513
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,035
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
Sorry to hear about your brother, how awful for all of you.
I'm a few miles from Reading, if you have any specific questions about the area feel free to PM me.
I'm a few miles from Reading, if you have any specific questions about the area feel free to PM me.
Jun 23rd 2019, 6:08 pm
#514
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
Valhalla, just over the ridge (few hundred feet) from the Kensico reservoir. Commuted into Manhattan from the station at the bottom of the hill, but several issues pushed me close to a nervous breakdown, I couldn't sleep, and my boss was an utter a-hole (he was British, so I am not impugning any New Yorkers). So I quit and left. My wife is from Virginia so naturally we headed south, and short of being offered four times my salary or more, there is zero chance of us ever returning.
Jun 23rd 2019, 9:48 pm
#516
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,830
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
Valhalla, just over the ridge (few hundred feet) from the Kensico reservoir. Commuted into Manhattan from the station at the bottom of the hill, but several issues pushed me close to a nervous breakdown, I couldn't sleep, and my boss was an utter a-hole (he was British, so I am not impugning any New Yorkers). So I quit and left. My wife is from Virginia so naturally we headed south, and short of being offered four times my salary or more, there is zero chance of us ever returning.
It's been decades since we lived in the NYC area. When did you move away? Btw, do you like living in Virginia now?
Last edited by UkWinds5353; Jun 23rd 2019 at 9:54 pm.
Jun 23rd 2019, 10:27 pm
#518
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,830
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
I guess we're going to find out soon. If Reading, Oxforshire, Bucks or Hamp have a friendly lifestyle then that will certainly create a home environment. Life is short and I say go for happiness and help people along the way.
Jun 23rd 2019, 11:24 pm
#520
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
New York is not a easy state to call home. It's very beautiful scenically with all the water ways and amazing hills and trees special to that area of the country, but there is a grind and energy to life in NY that can be draining, and especially the closer a person stay is to Manhattan. White Plains and areas 30-70 miles from Manhattan is not far enough away from Manhattan to shield one's self from the fast big city killer instinct attitude of Manhattan. Because a lot of those sharks live 80 miles away from the city. Definitely better for visits than to live near all that for a middle age person like me and my family. Just drove back over 1000 miles this morning . We took a flight there but needed to drive back so we can take care of things for my brother in North Carolina. Time really does move fast.
It's been decades since we lived in the NYC area. When did you move away? ...
It's been decades since we lived in the NYC area. When did you move away? ...
Looking back I am just glad that my house in London didn't sell, otherwise we would have been anchored to NY, and had the inconvenience, and cost, of selling a house there.
... Btw, do you like living in Virginia now?
We only stayed in Virginia until I found another job.Once I found a job, we bought a four bed house on several acres, and a 15 year mortgage for less than the rent for a 1 bed apt in Valhalla!
The annual property tax in NC was about enough to pay property tax for six weeks on an SFH in Westchester Co! 
Last edited by Pulaski; Jun 24th 2019 at 12:32 am.
Jun 24th 2019, 1:22 am
#522
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,830
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
We left at the end of June, 2002, after eight very long months in NY. That the price of houses was accelerating away from us was another of the issues - "acceptable" houses were bearly affordable, the property taxes made them impossible for us.
Looking back I am just glad that my house in London didn't sell, otherwise we would have been anchored to NY, and had the inconvenience, and cost, of selling a house there.
No. .... I live in NC. We only stayed in Virginia until I found another job.
Once I found a job, we bought a four bed house on several acres, and a 15 year mortgage for less than the rent for a 1 bed apt in Valhalla! The annual property tax in NC was about enough to pay property tax for six weeks on an SFH in Westchester Co!
Looking back I am just glad that my house in London didn't sell, otherwise we would have been anchored to NY, and had the inconvenience, and cost, of selling a house there.
No. .... I live in NC.
We only stayed in Virginia until I found another job.Once I found a job, we bought a four bed house on several acres, and a 15 year mortgage for less than the rent for a 1 bed apt in Valhalla!
The annual property tax in NC was about enough to pay property tax for six weeks on an SFH in Westchester Co! North Carolina is beautiful. Ashville is like a gift from God.
That's why we're going to lay my brother to rest in NC. It's peaceful.
Jun 24th 2019, 1:43 pm
#523
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,035
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
For friendly lifestyle, I'd head to a village then rather than a town/city. We have a great community here, neighbours that will do anything for us, it's super safe (we rarely lock our doors), and when we've had trying times we've had people we don't even know dropping off cakes etc on the doorstep. I've lived in towns/cities before but you just don't get that kind of thing happening there IMO.
Jun 24th 2019, 2:11 pm
#524
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Best relocation areas in the UK?
For friendly lifestyle, I'd head to a village then rather than a town/city. We have a great community here, neighbours that will do anything for us, it's super safe (we rarely lock our doors), and when we've had trying times we've had people we don't even know dropping off cakes etc on the doorstep. I've lived in towns/cities before but you just don't get that kind of thing happening there IMO.
Jun 24th 2019, 3:24 pm
#525
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 34,035