Anyone moved from the UK to live in the USA?

[5ohmustang]

Hoa's are usually ran by power hungry people that get satisfaction of telling residents how to live.

Yes you can get a communial pool and other amenities that have the potential to increase social interaction but you can socially interact with neighbors in a non how neighbourhod.

I have seen rules that include:

No greenhouses allowed
No working on your own vehicle in your driveway
No boats allowed in the driveway
A permanently maintained garden

Actually, just search stupid hoa rules.

It's like joining a fraternity at college, you are buying your friends, imposing rules on your quality of life and adding another unesscessary expense to your budget.

I would take Virginia over California anyday. Visiting and living in California are two completely things. The further west you go in Virginia the better and cheaper standard of living you will have.

I have spent time in both states and you are better off in Virginia in my opinion.

[Matt Harper]

In my opinion, rural VA is so hillbilly that it's not funny.

Re HOAs - thankfully, my neighborhood doesn't have one - however the city (hardly a city - 8k inhabitants) I live in does have code enforcement of certain, not unreasonable rules.

I have to keep my grass at the front of my house irrigated and cut (if I don't, they'll cut it for me and bill me accordingly).
Boats, RVs, trailers etc must be stored in the back yard - not in front of the house.
I cannot park vehicles on my drive that block the adjoining footpath.
No unleashed dogs.
No building rubble, junk, wheel-less vehicles in view from the street.
No felling of trees without permit.

All reasonable and all designed to make the place a nicer environment for all.

My daughter lives in an HOA controlled neighborhood. She occasionally gets some nosey blue-haired old bag suggesting that her house needs repainting (specific color palette) or the roof needs washing, or that her grass is a different length than the neighbors. Couldn't be doing with paying for the privilege of being lectured to on how I keep my home. I'd have punched her in the tits a long time ago...

[unrepentant]

I live in a community with a HOA. They clear the snow, maintain the ponds and trees, shrubs, plants etc.., cut the communal grass, maintain the woodland paths and keep the pool area clean and tidy. They don't allow commercial vehicles to be parked or sheds to litter the landscape and the rules require everyone to keep the exterior of their houses and their yards tidy (not unreasonable). Street parking is discouraged but we all live in single family homes with 3 car garages and driveways so it's not really an issue.

It suite us well, we have a great community and as a bonus the likes of 5ohpreston are unlikely to be your neighbors.

[5ohmustang]

Not everyone wants to be free in the land of the free, especially Mr Moral Superior.

[Dr Gitlin]

Trexthedinosaur said:

I am after a bit of advice to support my google-ing ...

Potentially opportunity in the USA to move with my current employer, locations are Herden Virginia, LA area California or TBC Texas (my current choice).

My partner and I are not married, but plan to in the future, as part of relocation we get healthcare, relocation assistance (no rent this time), accountants, relocation expert, etc.

Now with respect to Visas, my company sort all that for me and my partner, now as I have a permanent job to go to ... what type of Visa will I get, perm or ... and will my partner qualify for the same? (Company will sponsor us both / awaiting their answer)

Are property taxes payable if you rent or only if you own?
Do "HOA" properties usually provide a more social / friendly environment? We are looking for something with a more social aspect as it is something we do not have currently in Germany.
Nice parts of Texas? I think the job is remote based, so nearby a major airport would be best.

What else do we need to consider ... We already live away with no friends / family so we have that experience ... At least in the US we can speak the language, so that is a major barrier overcome ...

Herndon VA is where Dulles Airport is, but unless you're flying international you'll probably prefer flying out of DCA, which is just next to DC itself. And unless you reallt love soulless suburbia, you might find living in Herndon extremely boring. For context, we've lived in DC since 2009, and my wife spent several years working in Herndon.

No, I don't think HOA properties are more social, often people find the restrictions on what you can and can't do very chafing. Be warned, the weather in this part of the world is unbearably hot and humid from late spring through to late autumn these days, and the winters can be cold and miserable. But it's still a thousand percent better than living in Texas (for a thousand different reasons).

[5ohmustang]

California worse place for business

http://m.ocregister.com/articles/california-716365...

California state income tax, highest in the republic, VA is more than half CA
https://taxfoundation.org/state-individual-income-...

Failing healthcare
http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-03-07-californias-...

Traffic jams worst than the UK
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/02/20/los...

Opulent wealth surrounded by widespread poverty.
Http://www.thedailysheeple.com/you-wont-believe-th...

More homelessness
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-counci...

Lawsuit climate
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201509090067...

Extreme cost of living
Https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/27...

Mass migration from California
http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/04/5-million-people...

Ultimately if you was left with CA as the only choice, take it, serve out your time, get your green card and at the earliest opportunity leave to another state. If you like it, then fair enough, stay. I've still to meet a Californian family that liked living (not vacationing) in California.

[Polarbert]

5ohmustang said:

California worse place for business

http://m.ocregister.com/articles/california-716365...

California state income tax, highest in the republic, VA is more than half CA
https://taxfoundation.org/state-individual-income-...

Failing healthcare
http://www.naturalnews.com/2017-03-07-californias-...

Traffic jams worst than the UK
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/02/20/los...

Opulent wealth surrounded by widespread poverty.
Http://www.thedailysheeple.com/you-wont-believe-th...

More homelessness
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-counci...

Lawsuit climate
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201509090067...

Extreme cost of living
Https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/27...

Mass migration from California
http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/04/5-million-people...

Ultimately if you was left with CA as the only choice, take it, serve out your time, get your green card and at the earliest opportunity leave to another state. If you like it, then fair enough, stay. I've still to meet a Californian family that liked living (not vacationing) in California.

I've been in San Diego for the past few years and so far I've found it to be flipping fantastic, but can understand other places being better. I've been to Arizona and I couldn't imagine living there. Utah and Colorado sound like nice places.

[fivepointnine]

My family and I are from California (Live here in the UK) and might eventually go back. I love the lifestyle, recreation and weather in California, but hate all the stupid laws, regulations and general high cost of EVERYTHING. We are going to Georgia when we move back to the US. Its cheap, the food is great, good weather and recreation opportunities (although not as good as California)and people are friendly. Did I mention that it is cheap to live in Georgia?

[The jiffle king]

fivepointnine said:

My family and I are from California (Live here in the UK) and might eventually go back. I love the lifestyle, recreation and weather in California, but hate all the stupid laws, regulations and general high cost of EVERYTHING. We are going to Georgia when we move back to the US. Its cheap, the food is great, good weather and recreation opportunities (although not as good as California)and people are friendly. Did I mention that it is cheap to live in Georgia?

I live in Georgia and it is cheap, the weather is pretty good and you do get a little bit of winter. Atlanta and surrounds are booming which is making the traffic terrible for commuting, but house prices are relatively low and "gas" is cheap as chips

[Polarbert]

fivepointnine said:

My family and I are from California (Live here in the UK) and might eventually go back. I love the lifestyle, recreation and weather in California, but hate all the stupid laws, regulations and general high cost of EVERYTHING. We are going to Georgia when we move back to the US. Its cheap, the food is great, good weather and recreation opportunities (although not as good as California)and people are friendly. Did I mention that it is cheap to live in Georgia?

The laws are incredibly stupid. And people are so utterly and unnecessarily reliant upon law enforcement. I heard of someone calling the local police because there was an unknown car parked on their street with two people inside for half an hour. They weren't doing anything, just sitting there. Can you imagine if you called the local English police about that?

[vsonix]

mikal83 said:

vsonix said:

dvs_dave said:

In summary, the USA is a great place to be if you're rich, so-so if you're middle class, and terrible if you're poor.

So basically, the same as every other country?
I can't think of many places where it sucks to be rich but is awesome if you're poor.

from November to today we switched our heating on 5 times for a max of 4 hrs during the morning. Whats your heating bill for the same period. Oh and I'm having steaks tonight, rib eyes at $8 for the 2.

My heating bill is a sore point at the moment, it's an old 1980s gas boiler system, heating a 5-bedroom house with four adults living there, plus hot water and cooking (gas hob & oven too) is currently costing about £40-50 per week when the central heating is on, otherwise about £30. It's eyewatering when totalled up for the year. It's an old house, single glazed. Loft insulation is OK, no cavity wall insulation possible. We've had one new double glazed window made up when we rebuilt an end wall, it cost £800 to make and fit! To do the whole house would cost maybe 7x that based on the overall area of glass! Desperate for new hybrid gas/electric cooker, modern boiler and to get a solar installation on the roof as well i.e totally modernise the place and make it consumption & cost efficient but it's beyond our means at the moment and loans aren't an option. Just got back from Australia where feeling warm was not a problem. Sucks to be home The steak situation is OK though, Aldi do decent quality Aberdeen Angus Rib Eyes for about £4 a pop too In fact, their steak is better than Waitrose for the same money! ...so I suppose it's not all doom & gloom.

Edited by vsonix on Thursday 6th April 20:51

Edited by vsonix on Thursday 6th April 21:04

[anonymous-user]

So, looks like I have been selected for the next stage, after more research my understanding is the roles are in the La area.

Waiting to see what the package is, salary + house ... and go from there!

[GavinPearson]

Los Angeles or Louisiana?
Congrats anyway.

[5ohmustang]

Trexthedinosaur said:

So, looks like I have been selected for the next stage, after more research my understanding is the roles are in the La area.

Waiting to see what the package is, salary + house ... and go from there!

Congratulations indeed. Just get your foot in the door and decide if you like it or not.

Next you are going to have to make a decision on what muscle car to buy. Tough choices.

[Matt Harper]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Waiting to see what the package is, salary + house ... and go from there!

Your employer is offering you a house as part of your package?

[anonymous-user]

Matt Harper said:

Trexthedinosaur said:

Waiting to see what the package is, salary + house ... and go from there!

Your employer is offering you a house as part of your package?

Best had do or I am not interested, by house I mean living allowance that is tax free on top of the salary. I get my house paid for in Germany (3years 100% rent paid, 1year 75%, 1year 50%), and I would expect the same in the USA, as a similar house to my current one yet local to the area I would be working (Huntington Beach (ish) +/- 10 miles) is $3-4K per month for something half decent and that's a fair dent in any salary.

Interview Tuesday anyway, perhaps still some opps in Texas / Virginia but those would require more travel, California / L.A. would require less travel as closer to the business so a better home life but much more expensive living costs / taxes.

Really excited and a real once in a life time oppurtunity ... but I do not want to impact our lifestyle / quality of life just for a chance to live in the sun, there are one or two in the South of France that could support that!

ETA;

Opportunities in Washington State, Seattle (area), now if I could pick anywhere it would be Florida, but I cant so ...

Texas role has been filled, prior to my application.

Confirmed locations;
Washington State, Seattle
California, L.A.
Virginia, Herndon.

Currently I like Seattle, but its cold and rainy ...

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Tuesday 11th April 11:50

[The Moose]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Matt Harper said:

Trexthedinosaur said:

Waiting to see what the package is, salary + house ... and go from there!

Your employer is offering you a house as part of your package?

Best had do or I am not interested, by house I mean living allowance that is tax free on top of the salary. I get my house paid for in Germany (3years 100% rent paid, 1year 75%, 1year 50%), and I would expect the same in the USA, as a similar house to my current one yet local to the area I would be working (Huntington Beach (ish) +/- 10 miles) is $3-4K per month for something half decent and that's a fair dent in any salary.

Interview Tuesday anyway, perhaps still some opps in Texas / Virginia but those would require more travel, California / L.A. would require less travel as closer to the business so a better home life but much more expensive living costs / taxes.

Really excited and a real once in a life time oppurtunity ... but I do not want to impact our lifestyle / quality of life just for a chance to live in the sun, there are one or two in the South of France that could support that!

ETA;

Opportunities in Washington State, Seattle (area), now if I could pick anywhere it would be Florida, but I cant so ...

Texas role has been filled, prior to my application.

Confirmed locations;
Washington State, Seattle
California, L.A.
Virginia, Herndon.

Currently I like Seattle, but its cold and rainy ...

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Tuesday 11th April 11:50

Have you been? Wouldn't be a bad place to hang out

[Prohibiting]

Give us an update then

[anonymous-user]

So if anyone is interested

Found out Friday I am into the next stage, passed selection in Europe and first stage in the US, next stage is an assessment centre!

New locations too;
North Carolina
South Carolina
California (I said no)
Washington State
Florida (so I heard ...)
Virginia

[K8-600]

Some may disagree but I personally loved North/South Carolina as long as you can deal with the humidity. Given the choice, I'd move there in a heartbeat.