Move to states - what should we consider | ExpatWoman.com
 

Move to states - what should we consider

pet-partner252
10
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 20:36

Heya

In considering a move to the states what should we be considering when looking at wether or not a package is good or bad. Are there any hidden costs we can expect, things that people might not consider having never been to the states etc.

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SarkySue6236658
212
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 11:07
Canada is really nice!
sophia0710134
521
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 11:02
pet-partner- sorry you are right, thought the op was open to opinions on all states back to east coast then
pet-partner252
10
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 10:37
Just to refocus we are talking east coast of america here not central or west coast.
bornconfused34509
542
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:34
Nope experienced something just as equally bad. But I will not get into it as I don't want to turn this into a bashing thread.. :)
gleekfamily24043
481
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:29
I saw so many things in the time I was there. And it was all based on what little suberb you were in at the time. Have you ever seen a group baptism at your own community pool...where everyone not being baptized was asked to step out? And did you happen to be with your Muslim friends who you consider family? And did you get blasted by your community when you voiced how inappropriate it was to hold a sacred religious ceremony in a community pool? ;) There are things I've seen and witnessed in TX that I have never seen before. How about the checkout girl that asked me if the 12 pack of beer I was buying was for me...when I was 8 months pregnant! Ummm no! But I guess I should be glad she cares enough to say something? Living in TX is like living in a whole new world...that's for sure. Kind of like living here...
Chick Chick36147
130
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:27
My sister lives in Houston and it is nice, but ditto what Gleeky said about the guns. My sister and her daughter both carry guns, and go for regular target practise too!! The rest of the family are in Dallas and I like Dallas.....it has a 'feel' to it that I cannot describe, just nice being there. As for taxes etc, I have no idea. As for religion, both Dallas and Houston are quite 'churchy' and they will enquire......my family are well trained, just say 'church of christ' and you get bothered no more.
bornconfused34509
542
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:21
lmao.. Texas is a huge state with a massive political agenda. Believe me, it was hard to think about moving there coming from CA! But Austin is a little blip of "blue" in a massive sea of "red" and it is blatantly obvious. I know.. I have relatives living there. We spent many many summers, and school holidays in Texas. And when i was moving here I was flown to Texas by my work to spend 3 weeks with someone in our Texas office to train her to do my job via computer since the corporate office was in California. I saw so many things in the time I was there. And it was all based on what little suberb you were in at the time.
sophia0710134
521
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:18
That's quite a sweeping generalization about Texas especially since it could be applied to many states and countries. What's referred to as "the good old boys" in Texas could be called "wasta" in UAE. I'll say it again, Texas is a HUGE state and includes people from all walks of life and all over the world. It's not just a bunch of country bumpkins. If it's not your cup of tea then that's fine but there must be something good about it for 25 million people to call it home. Texas is like 5 states in one so to speak. I have done numerous roadtrips all over Texas and was based in Houston. There was really something for everyone there. If looking into Texas make sure you lok at facilities. I stayed in a "city" there for a week once and although it was called a "city" and big bold print on the map the nearest department store was just under 2 hours away! As for Dallas, not sure exactly why but many I know who moved from New York were not happy there. I did not really come across the "good ole boy" mentality there. i actually saw a lot more of that in Memphis, TN
gleekfamily24043
481
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 09:17
lmao.. Texas is a huge state with a massive political agenda. Believe me, it was hard to think about moving there coming from CA! But Austin is a little blip of "blue" in a massive sea of "red" and it is blatantly obvious.
bornconfused34509
542
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 08:57
lmao.. Texas is a huge state with a massive political agenda.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 08:54
That's quite a sweeping generalization about Texas especially since it could be applied to many states and countries. What's referred to as "the good old boys" in Texas could be called "wasta" in UAE. I'll say it again, Texas is a HUGE state and includes people from all walks of life and all over the world. It's not just a bunch of country bumpkins. If it's not your cup of tea then that's fine but there must be something good about it for 25 million people to call it home.
bornconfused34509
542
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 08:06
There are more issues in Texas that go beyond the religious beliefs. The backwards way of thinking in many areas of Texas is concerning to say the least. The "Good Ol Boys" mantlity is alive and well there. <em>edited by bornconfused on 02/02/2011</em>
sophia0710134
521
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2011 - 07:47
Autin Looks great! very affordable! after reading this thread I went on some real estate sites! About South Dakota- I stayed in Rapid City and was very imprssed. gorgeous and some of the most spectacular scenery within minutes. Iit had a much busier nightlife and art scene than i imagined and what a variety of people! you have bikers (Sturgis) , yuppie (Spearfish), , more free parks than i had seen anywhere geared for children. you also are bordering Wyoming which although has small towns it is a spectacular drive. as is Badlands now i am sure the winters are tuff! another gorgeous and impressive state was Montana, Missola was very up and coming University section
gleekfamily24043
481
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:50
That depends on where you live. You can live very comfortably in my town on $60K-$70K a year but that won't even scratch the surface of what you would need in areas like CA or NY. My son goes to private PreK and we pay $235 a month for that. My sister in law lives in Houston and she pays nearly $1,000 a month for her son's PreK. Some states don't levy an income tax but their property taxes can be a little higher but you can deduct property taxes from your federal tax. So it's not an easy cut and dry answer. You would need to say which area and then go from there. But remember, if you are renting you don't pay property tax (and therefor don't claim against them on your federal tax either). Also, if you plan on being a stay-at-home mom, school is not compulsory at age 5 like it is here. So you don't have to put them in school until Kindergarten or 1st grade if you don't want to spend the money. Re: Texas. Yes there are a lot of religious folk (it is the Bible belt)...and churches on every corner it seems. Lots of family activities are centered around Church gatherings. However, I was never asked what church I went to nor did I feel pressured into being a part of one. But it is on the conservative side (well, not Austin) and just about everyone I knew in our neighborhood had at least 1 gun in their home. They take their Constitutional rights seriously! We lived just outside of Austin in a suburban area. The schools were great, the facilities new, crime low, fantastic parks that sprawled acres, etc. I LOVE Austin for it's quirkiness and UT pride! Our home is on a 10k sq ft lot...so lots of room for the kids and dogs to play. :)
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:44
It depends on your taste. If I could live anywhere in Texas it would be Austin. Great town with a good night life, known for it's live music venues, great weather with a heavy emphasis in that town on being outdoors and enjoying mother nature. Museums for the children, wonderful art scene. Excellent shopping, great schools, a large river and huge lake for water sports. Home of the University of TX which is a top notch university and home of the top ranked Longhorns if you are a sports fan. It's a very diverse town. Many celebs call it home like Sandra Bullock but can blend with the crowd and go unseen b/c Austin isn't impressed with that type of stuff. It's a casual town at heart. But a lot of people love the big cities like Houston and Dallas. Houston is by the water but can be very humid. Dallas has a lot to do but other's will say it's very pretentious and snooty. San Antonio is a great city and has sports teams and a lot to do outdoors. San Antonio has a lot of Hispanic people so it's influenced by that culture; fantastic Mexican food! Texas is so big and so diverse that there is something for everyone.
GoldinGlitterPunk
271
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:38
And if you live in Columbia Maryland, you don't need to pay for schooling because howard county schools are pretty awesome. We don't have a choice here, the only children that get public PreK in our town are the children of military families or low income children. The rest of us have to put our children in private PreK. dope, forgot about that. but then, i've never raised children in America, only in the UK. blah.
sophia0710134
521
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:37
The northeast has 4 of the top 5 worst places for taxes! The best are Nevada, Wyoming, Texas, south Dakota, and I am not sure of the 5th. Reno is lovely! I've considered living in a lot of places but never in a million years would I consider South Dakota, cheap taxes or not! LOL Wyoming is pretty but not very populated but some people like that rural feel, Nevada is nice and has Las Vegas and it has good weather but their housing market is in the tank so you could pick up a house pretty cheap, and Texas just rocks!! I love Texas! where in Texas do you recommend?
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:19
And if you live in Columbia Maryland, you don't need to pay for schooling because howard county schools are pretty awesome. We don't have a choice here, the only children that get public PreK in our town are the children of military families or low income children. The rest of us have to put our children in private PreK.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:18
The northeast has 4 of the top 5 worst places for taxes! The best are Nevada, Wyoming, Texas, south Dakota, and I am not sure of the 5th. Reno is lovely! I've considered living in a lot of places but never in a million years would I consider South Dakota, cheap taxes or not! LOL Wyoming is pretty but not very populated but some people like that rural feel, Nevada is nice and has Las Vegas and it has good weather but their housing market is in the tank so you could pick up a house pretty cheap, and Texas just rocks!! I love Texas!
sophia0710134
521
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:11
The northeast has 4 of the top 5 worst places for taxes! The best are Nevada, Wyoming, Texas, south Dakota, and I am not sure of the 5th. Reno is lovely!
GoldinGlitterPunk
271
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:07
And if you live in Columbia Maryland, you don't need to pay for schooling because howard county schools are pretty awesome.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 23:03
That depends on where you live. You can live very comfortably in my town on $60K-$70K a year but that won't even scratch the surface of what you would need in areas like CA or NY. My son goes to private PreK and we pay $235 a month for that. My sister in law lives in Houston and she pays nearly $1,000 a month for her son's PreK. Some states don't levy an income tax but their property taxes can be a little higher but you can deduct property taxes from your federal tax. So it's not an easy cut and dry answer. You would need to say which area and then go from there.
pet-partner252
10
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 22:56
Also what is considered a good monthly/annual salary in the states?
pet-partner252
10
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 15:29
Thanks guys this is the sort of thing to know about ie different taxes in each state etc. SueR please email me anything you think I need to know it is such a big decision my email is kim at pet-partner dot com. Would really appreciate any help and advice and also different points of view.
SunDevil
774
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 06:55
But that's Texas for you. Texas is a VERY big state. It will take you two solid days to drive across it. Never in all my years living here have I been asked which church I go to, which the answer would be none. The other thing to consider is some states in the US don't charge a state income tax, with Texas being one of the states that does not have a income tax, so that's more money in your pocket. Virginia is beautiful but they do have some pretty high taxes in that area. So keep that in mind when you are picking your state.
guinness24707
1238
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 06:35
Wow, mc, I've never heard of that! But that's Texas for you. You won't find that on the east coast, except maybe towards the south. If I were you, I'd look at Virginia, particularly Arlington and Alexandria. Beautiful places, close to DC (and Dulles International for good flights), good schools, etc. Alternatively, Jersey is nice, especially if close to New York City, as Sue R did. Make sure you get excellent health insurance for you and the kids, including dental, and perhaps a stipend for preschool - many kids around 3 or 4 start to go to preschool in the US and it's really expensive. And your car - possible to get a company car? Unless you live in the city (although arlington and alexandria, you might be able to do without), you'll need a car.
marycatherine
1759
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 06:26
The religious aspect was more of feeling uncomfortable at the constant questioning about their own beliefs and why why why? People were pleasant, but where I come from, people don't discuss their religious lives with people outside their own circle - certainly not with casual acquaintances or other mothers at parent/teacher night. Where they were, they would still have prayers just before varsity school sports etc. This was a public school btw.
Sue R14887
1046
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 23:08
We are Brits and lived as expats in New Nersey from 2001 - 2004. Am happy to fill you in via email if NJ is of interest to you. We had the most amazing time and lived in a very safe area, commutable for NY etc.
Cookie
1
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 23:03
I could offer advice on your move but you don't need to read me giving loads of advice you don't need. If I were moving to the East coast I would choose North Carolina due to cost of living, weather, schools, nice people and neighborhoods. At first the friendliness of the people might seem too much but you would get used to it. This state allows you to live in a nice neighborhood close to a big city with many ethnicities due to its many Universities/ Research Centers without breaking the bank. You can drive to the ocean and the mountains for a weekend trip from Charlotte. Look at websites to compare "cost of living". Avoid New York, Washington DC, Boston- too expensive and really hectic for family life due to commute times etc.
pet-partner252
10
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2011 - 22:05
We need schools but our kids are 3 years and 5 months and we will only be there a few years so although important its not everything. Safety is important with the kids but we are from joburg so crime rate can only be less. We are not religious at all but dont want to end up in a very religious area where we will be austricised for not being religious. We would like four seasons but preferably not bitter cold. We wont be able to afford to go home alot but maybe once or twice over the time we are there. Hubby will travel alot for business up and down east coast and possibly to middle east and europe a bit so that is kinda important.` It will be east coast we look at
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