Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

The budget deficit is affecting anything financed by the State (eg education) and the whole country is suffering the same economic fallout as the UK. Standard of living, depends where you will be living, what company will provide eg healthcare and what your priorities are. Some Brits love it here but some find it too different.

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

My inlaws live in S.Cali and have been trying to get out for years, their house is worth less than half it's value from even 4 yrs ago, so they are stuck!

The recession has hit the whole of the US, some states harder than others and CA seems to be one of them, they are basically bankrupt (according to inlaws) If I had a choice (which fortunately I do) I would not be looking to move to S.Cali. Of course, if you have a good secure job to go too and company financial backing, that is different. Renting is a good idea, it's a buyers market, but you could get stuck with a big PITA if you needed to sell up quickly for any reason.

If you have a choice of offices/States to move too, might be an idea to chose a different State...Good luck ;)

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

What does close to LA mean? Los Angeles itself spans nearly 500 sq miles. Obviously you get a lot of variation in that size.

There are some suburban areas in and around LA but I haven't come across any 'small town' feel places.

It depends what you want out of life to compare standard of living. If you love or really want a pool in your garden, that could tick a box for you.

You may get a larger house, if you buy out here though property taxes are very expensive and obviously lots of places in LA are very expensive anyway.

In my experience. Groceries seem more expensive, are more spread out and not always available. Eating out is cheaper, but its more of a eat and run than a nice evening out experience.

Kids don't seem to play out here as much as in England.

Working environments are very different, not as social and lots of its good to be seen still to be in the office at 8.00pm, vacation time also is around 10 days for most people.

LA isn't the most friendly place. Its amazing how many people you come across who have lived here a few years and will tell you they haven't got any true friends.

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

Great reply thanks. I've got lots of homework to do! x

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

Thanks. Note the Stockport origin. Wife is from Sale, we live near Chester at the mo. Has it been a success moving over there?

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

If cost of living is one of your concerns, you can use the following calculator to get an idea of cost of different cities.

http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/...alculator.aspx

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

Well, I didn't have much choice, I met hubby in W.Germany while he was stationed there with US Air Force, fell in love and 4 yrs later we were in Oklahoma. We were lucky enough to do a 6 yr tour back in the UK and have been married almost 23 yrs;)

I think 'home' is where you make it, we have had a great life, but don't really have a home base over here. I miss the UK at times, some more than others, don't have too much family left over there now, but you need to be prepared to feel like a fish out of water for a while, our philosophy has always been to give every new place a year, before we start whining about it :D

Small world huh? Sale was where we kept our canal boat, Chester is a lovely place too;)

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

:confused: the white house

Re: Where best in the US to immigrate..
 

If you don't mind the shit winters, Maine, especially southern Maine would be a good place to bring up kids and despite the really high taxes, not a bad place for cost of living, so if your setting up shop it's worth considering, close to Boston too if you need regular flights.

CT and VT also worth considering.