carlrush

Yep, like you say, tricky logistics.

I'm trying to keep the number of flights for the 4 of us down to a minimum, especially over the summer. We've got friends who can put 1 of us up but not all 4...they've met the youngest!

Current plan is to all fly out at the beginning of Sept, assuming the house sale is nearly complete, and 'activate' my visa. We can then house/job hunt and, as soon as we've got a place to live secured, I can fly back and tidy up last bits here (complete on house, fly pets over etc.) and then join them.

We're lucky where we are for selling. Leaflets keep coming through the door to buy our house. Neighbour put his house on over the 'quiet' Easter holiday and got 20 viewings on the first day, 3 offers and moved within 6 weeks. I know a house sale can fall through so I want a loan that could flex for a few months if we need to put the house back on.

MidAtlantic

I wish you all the best! My move was not as tricky as yours. We sold our house, but continued to live in it for a month as tenants, which meant we had cash in hand, which is where you are struggling.

Be careful about buying too soon in the US. You want to get it right the first time in terms of commute(s) and schools. Buying/selling costs are much higher here than in the UK.

I would max out your UK credit cards and even look at getting more UK credit.

Don't forget, when moving pounds to dollars, to use the money transfer specialists (transferwise, torfx and several others) which normally give much better value than main line banks. Get yourself set up now because there is the usual ID stuff which will be much easier to do in the UK.

carlrush

Thanks MidAtlantic, that's really helpful stuff. Renting is expensive but feels like it's worth it for a year to let jobs settle. Don't want to keep moving kids & cats!

I hadn't considered selling house and living in as tenants. That could be an option if we sell to someone who is buying to let rather than live in it.

dj6372

I'm sure I'm not the only one reading this forum with many a sharp intake of breath!


I think there are too many if's, buts and connections especially with a family of children.


I understand the need to release equity to fund your move but sounds too scary to me.


My wife (USC) and I were living in the UK when we went for the big move, but she went first, secured a job and accommodation then I followed.
You appear to be relying to much and luck!


I don't want to sound like a damp squib but really you need to think this through, if one thing gets delayed or goes wrong you're pretty much effed!


But hey it may all work, you may all get jobs, and you may sell the house in good time, too many may's for me!!

Wintersong

I'm in the East Bay as well - welcome to the area Let me know if there's anything I can do to help get you settled!

If the cats are the main issue when it comes to timings, just a thought... have you considered contacting an established cat rescue and asking if you can e.g. make a donation to the rescue in return for someone fostering them for a few weeks?

tendril

I took out an unsecured personal loan in the UK from my regular bank (Halifax) before moving to fund the move and immediate expenses in the US. Sounds like that might be your best bet. If you have money from a house coming in, get one with no early repayment penalty and your interest payments will be minimised.

Of course banks probably aren't too interested in giving out loans if you'll be overseas so perhaps don't mention that (I said I was buying a BMW - absolutely true, I did, just happened to be 3500 miles away)... (is this unethical? meh, I paid back every penny)

petitefrancaise

Hope for the best and plan for the worst...

Your plan relies on you getting jobs and selling the house. Can you cope if it takes a bit longer to get jobs and a bit longer to sell the house? Build in a bit of a cushion to pay rent and mortgage just in case. And find out in advance about any insurance issues if the house is left empty. We had to put in a security system with cameras and have 2 local contacts just to get any insurance coverage on the house.

I think tendril's plan is the best one so far.

carlrush

Thanks for the suggestion and also the kind offer. May well take you up on that!

carlrush

Yep, I agree. Borrow a little more to cover off a delay. If I take it over a long term the monthly will be low. Last time I looked personal loans no longer have hefty penalties for early repayment (an EU directive I think - hope we don't Brexit and change that one!).

carlrush

I realise it doesn't read well but we've put a lot of thought in to it. Our house is in demand so sale will be 'when' not 'if' (even in 2008 it went up). For jobs, we have both had a number of approaches but the final offer is easier to secure once in the US when we'll be taken more seriously (that seems the case with other advice I've read on here).

The kids complicate it a bit as spending time apart for too long isn't desirable. So far, nothing too unusual... the main issue is timing the move with the bl**dy cats! Lol

This has helped me realise that we need a plan which sends them on holiday before we sell in the UK and ships them over once we're settled. That way if the move falls through we can hang on in the UK. When we do first get there we can stay in a hotel/AirBnB til we have a better idea of where we'll be working.

md95065

Would it be practical for the kids to stay with you in the UK for a month or two while your wife heads to the US and stays with friends while looking for suitable accommodation and a job?

carlrush

I think I'm a pretty good Dad but not that good! They'd need to be in day care all week with me at work. The hours I do means it would be tough. The 1 year old is still pretty clingy with Mom so can't see it working for thay amount of time.

slices

I can relate we had an offer on the house recently, it should complete a few weeks after we move.

Kids are a year or two older but similar situation. Savings well I had some before I started the process of moving, we have some in my wife's US account but not a lot. Shipping and some other expenses dented what we had in the UK.
Most recruiters I've spoken to are really keen to talk to me when I get there, in the last week or so my employer has announced that they want to keep me on which might make things a little easier but it's not confirmed yet.

Like others on this thread my wife has maintained a bank account and credit card in the US, she did an online check of her rating and it was quite high which is a good sign at least. She actually phoned up the credit card company and asked for an increase in the limit they gave us a couple of extra thousand. She did have an offer on a new credit card from her bank account but as they asking questions about her income it wasn't really viable.

I got an UK Amex card last year, so that will hopefully help with getting a US one, and was useful for booking the flights as well, along with a lot of airmiles I had stored up.

Housing wise my wife's parents are house sitting for someone for a couple of months so we can stay at their place.

Selling my car here should help a bit with things in the UK end, although I'm considering a small loan here as backup.

Getting a car is where I'm struggling, International autosource didn't seem interested unless I had a job lined up. Plan at the moment is to rent a car initially, because at this point even if I go with international autosource there is most likely delay. Air miles are useful here.

carlrush

Good to know there are others in the same boat, sounds like Little Dorrit is too.

I'm going to get my wife to check her credit score as she's always had a bank account and previously a credit card (rarely used), also paid back her student loan. I've had an Amex card for about 10 years now so hope that helps.

Similar car situation too. I'm thinking we'll buy one to start with, using proceeds from sale of UK car. Then, when I've got a job offer go to autosource and get a loan for a used car. We got lucky with selling UK car as my Dad's had his eye on it for a while. He's offered to buy it, drive us to the airport then drive himself back in it...so far the only simple part of our move!