Jerseygirl

Don’t get me wrong I was not dissing Didsbury. If we moved back we would prefer to be somewhere a little more rural.

UkWinds5353

I understood! You're good.

There is a difference between lifestyles in the burbs vs the hustle & bustle near city life. Based on everything my friends are saying they love their new area. We are looking forward to the barbeques once there.

Jerseygirl

We lived in a nice little village in NJ for 20 years...30 miles due west of NYC. Now we live in a condo in downtown Toronto. I rather like city life here, but if we moved back to the UK we wouldn’t want to live too near a city.

UkWinds5353

Very cool property. The area is too isolated for us but if it was located in a more convenient place it could work.
Not easy finding a great property in one's target area.

UkWinds5353

UkWinds5353

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/de...0dceec0948a99d

BEVS

Who's going to clean that little lot ?

What about this one?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property...-72142561.html

UkWinds5353

Perfect! I want to send my kids there but no way my wife would let me.

Helen1964

Pistolpete2

Indeed, as Jerseygirl has indicated, everything will always be about Location Location Location, and that is entirely subjective or subject to budget constraints.

The thread is best relocation areas and we are way beyond that.

Many years back there was a thread entitled Location Location Location which became of similar magnitude and did at least try to cover detail of the areas in the UK for potential return to but as I have learned over the five years of my return, it is only due to the things that work specifically for me personally that this area of Dorset works on balance, over other alternatives. Others might call this area a dump but there are pockets of resistance. As for houses and actual homes to live in, well that is only part of it, quite obviously. Here in Dorset, I find practically nobody, as a returning expat, who is anywhere near like-minded and that has been really tough and painful. I've seen this (like-minded issue) said of Dorset in the MSM in relocation articles directed at retirees. In fact I feel like an expat in this part of the UK as much as I did when I left the UK in the 70s and landed in expat-world. Admittedly, 50% of the population at large has been severely alienated by what we are going through at present but that is only part of a bigger issue, in my view.

One thing is for sure. The view on life of those from London and much of the Home Counties is very very different to that out in the provinces, quite aside from the North South divide. That said, the West Country has been 'infiltrated' by down-shifters and flight from urban life in London and the Birmingham area in particular so that the West Country accent is now in the clear minority in these parts. The London area accent pervades.

This all makes it important to check out prospective 'hoods' before you move in permanently if you want in any way to feel part of a 'community' that you feel comfortable in, beyond having a common interest in dogs or the weather of the day.

UkWinds5353

The point of every thread is to learn information about the UK and share common experiences while doing so. I know my friends and I have benefited from many great posters on this site and I'm certain we are not the only ones.

Since when did seeing pictures of property feel like pornography? That is a major leap! But every person has a perspective. Let's try to stay positive and open minded and helpful.

christmasoompa

Property porn is a commonly used expression here, as is food porn. I think Helen's point is that you are looking at properties that are well beyond the reach of the majority of folks on BE.

Once you are in the UK and can research areas, then you can narrow it down a bit (although I do think you need to adjust your expectations somewhat, some of the things you've mentioned wanting just aren't going to be compatible with a country pad, and you might want to look at UK alternatives rather than sticking to your known US equivalents to avoid disappointment!). At the moment you're all over the place and seemingly spending a lot of time on property websites that may end up being fairly pointless until you know an area you want to target.

UkWinds5353

That is a interesting phrase to describe a visceral reaction to, and one which is not commonly used in the States. Thanks for clearing that mystery up. I don't want Helen to be upset because I'm figuring out the UK property market. And it does make sense to me that some people could look at this property search differently than I do, Some might view it in terms of the price tag involved and not see it as simply a family moving over to the UK and looking for a place to call home. I totally get that now!

And let me say I have learned so much about what to look for and what to steer clear of. You, Bev, JerseyGirl and the posters have saved me and my family a lot of time and have made our trip in august tremendously easier for those reasons. We are open to a lot of considerations on the map for sure, but due to your help and other posters, we don't need to wonder if other choices for areas to live are the best fit, or type of homes to consider makes sense, or if certain counties should be factored in or out of our search due to travel distance. It's been invaluable. Those are only just a few of various information gained from this great group of people here. Don't want to embarrass you guys but thanks for that.

UkWinds5353

Helen

Please accept my apology. I probably did go on and on about the property options we were attempting to learn more about. I certainly don't want to upset you in any kind of way. It's a big adjustment moving to a new country and learning how people react to a multitude of subjects in that culture. So please don't be too hard on this American. Usually that's my children's job

All the best to you

Helen1964