Has anyone thought about going the other way???

[TracyTN 237]

I found it interesting reading everyones comments. I love living here in California, its beautiful but for us we don't feel we have a great quality of life, we both are recent college grads so we don't own a home, houses are so expensive here, I hate the whole health insurance thing and I hate the fact that we get barely any vacation time. We are planning to move back to England next year as we think we stand a better chance getting on the property ladder and we want to have enough time to spend with our son and take holidays etc. Here I'm currently working 50 hrs per week, I used to work 37 in the UK. I know eventually we'll move back but right now we need the help of my family etc.

California is one of the states where the median value of a home is HIGH - I'm not surprised you are having trouble finding a house there. I'm not sure the UK will be any better (may in fact be worse).

Have you thought of moving to another state - possibly one where the property/land values aren't so sky high?

[Lansbury 19]

California is one of the states where the median value of a home is HIGH - I'm not surprised you are having trouble finding a house there. I'm not sure the UK will be any better (may in fact be worse).

Have you thought of moving to another state - possibly one where the property/land values aren't so sky high?

That really does seem a more practical solution. House prices in the UK are still going up. We sold our 2 bed end terrace 18 months ago for £200000 and thought we had got a good price. An identical house to house just down the road from where we lived went last month for £235000, that is a stupid increase.

As a general rule I think US house prices are a lot less then the UK, with some exceptions of course.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

If I remember correctly, Sammy (beautiful baby by the way!) is from up north somewhere (Manchester?) which probably would compare favorably to CA.

[C and J 1]

If I remember correctly, Sammy (beautiful baby by the way!) is from up north somewhere (Manchester?) which probably would compare favorably to CA.

Even if it could work out favourably with house prices, I still see that as a hard move, at least until you get on your feet.

The main thing for me, is what the move would do to any savings you have... Almost doubling them when you enter the US, halving them when you enter the UK. It makes getting a foothold back in the UK that much harder. Plus, with the recent Northern Rock bank fiasco, I wonder if banks will be as willing to loan people such high wage-to-mortgage ratios.

For me, house prices are greatly in our favour when comparing where I live (south of England) to where Josh lives in Iowa:

The very large (compared to what I am used to) 3 bedroom house owned by hubby's parents has a $160,000 price tag.

A 3 bedroom home (of half the size) here in Berkshire with a £250-280,000 price tag.

For a reasonably-sized house (somewhere between the 2 stated above, still 3 bedroom) we are looking at around $90-100,000. Heck, if I bring that down to a UK house-size, it could be as low as $65-75,000. Of course, Josh wouldn't dream of living in something as cramped as a UK house, hehe

With the US market apparently on the decline and the UK market continuing to grow, the difference in value will just continue to grow.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

SE England to Iowa is very favorable - California to England (even in the Southeast) is not so much. The median price of a house in London is about the same as SoCal, without the need to take out earthquake insurance.

[Englishsammy 17]

Thanks Robinklake! U are right, I'm from lancashire so there compared to Cali is way cheaper. We are in Fresno which is classed as the armpit of Cali and the average 3 bedroom house is $300,000. The main thing for us though is that we have no support system here so in order for us both to work that means Hayden in full time day care....which is expensive making it hard to save for a house (and also someone else taking care of him)... In England we can live with my folks, save for a small house and get on our feet better. I love Cali though - but think we can sell our English house then double our money pretty much and buy one back here eventually!!!

[michmac 0]

I've certainly pondered moving to the UK. My trips there to visit my fiancée have been wonderful. I love the country, the culture, the interesting places to go and see and things to do, as well as the general sense of sanity about the place. What dissuades me is the cost of living. Prices are sky high on everything from food to housing. The health care and retirement benefits are excellent, so perhaps we'll retire there some day. Then again, if by some (new) act of insanity the US presidency goes to another Republican next year, we might choose to exercise that option a bit sooner.

[Lansbury 19]

retirement benefits are excellent

That's an interest comment.

Part of the reason we can to the US was because my wife's retirement package was better than mine and we wanted to exchange rate to work in our favor.

I had a very good government pension but my wife's US pension was 25% more than mine for 50% less years worked in the scheme.