A home in the USA

[stevechase]

Hi there

last night on sat tv we watched a couple of programs about buyinh homes abroad. Its quite common here now for tv progs to cover purchasing a holiday home somewhere else in the world. Some times they cover the US, which they did last night. They didnt cover the usual Uk getaways, like FLorida, but Oklahoma and Virginia. I was amazed at the prices of the fantastic properties they had, esp in Oaklahoma. For sometime now in the uk, it has been accepted that it is getting a very expensive place to live. I guess part of it is the fact that we dont have as much land as you guys and so there fore its more expensive.

It goe4s without saying that I dont know all the details, but there were some fabulous properties in Oaklahoma for 70-80,000 pounds. Now here in the Uk, that would buy you almost sod all, (uk terminology, for very very little)

We live in a family 4 bed house, and the rooms sizes dont even begin to compare to yours, in fact some of the walk in closets (wardrobes for uk viewers) were bigger than our small bedrooms. Our house is not big by any means, single garage, living room, kitchen, deck area (becoming very popular here now), 4 beds, just big enought to get bed and wardrobe in, one bathroom and a nice garden, in the centre on the uk, yours for approx 230,000.00 uk pounds.

My question, how true are the progs we see here in the uk? It seems we could be living an absolutley idilic lifestyle in the US if we up and sold.

Cheers

Steve

PS, How nice is Gin and Tonic? hic

 

[helenm29]

WELCOME! Oaklahoma sounds like a wonderful place to choose! I am sure that the prices are correct but be sure to check with a realestate broker first. DEFINATELY don't look into a place like California! TOO BUSY, TOO EXPENSIVE! in our area which is sort of in the country you can expect to pay $350,000 starting (older home) on up to $600,000 or more for the new houses with no land between them! Personally, I would love to move to Europe. Good Luck with your search!

 

[stevechase]

Hi Tracy

Never been that far west anyway, but from what I hear I dont think it ould suit a normal family life.

Oaklahoma looked beautiful, almost English in some ways.

Thanks for the reply

Steve

 

[helenm29]

WELCOME! Oaklahoma sounds like a wonderful place to choose! I am sure that the prices are correct but be sure to check with a realestate broker first. you probably don't want to look into a place like California! don't get me wrong, it can be a nice place to live and there are a lot of things that are very convenient. In our area which is sort of in the country you can expect to pay $350,000 starting (older home) on up to $600,000 or more for the new houses with no land between them! of course, I don't know what you are willing to pay or anything. Personally, I would love to move to Europe. Good Luck with your search!

 

[SleepingBeautyDreamr]

Hi Tracy

Never been that far west anyway, but from what I hear I dont think it ould suit a normal family life.

Oaklahoma looked beautiful, almost English in some ways.

Thanks for the reply

Steve

Word of advice they probably only showed the Eastern side of Oklahoma, Most of the state is flat with few trees. Now Arkansas has some beautiful land too. But if you want something more like England stick to the East Coast like Virginia and North and South Carolina

 

[stevechase]

The trouble is for us brits, the thought of having your own outdoor pools is amazing, will the Eastern side allow for this, will it be warm enough!. Plus, South Carolina! not sure, I have seen Deliverence!

Canoe trip anyone?

lol

Steve

 

[SleepingBeautyDreamr]

The trouble is for us brits, the thought of having your own outdoor pools is amazing, will the Eastern side allow for this, will it be warm enough!. Plus, South Carolina! not sure, I have seen Deliverence!

Canoe trip anyone?

lol

Steve

All of the US is warm enough for a pool (well maybe not Alaska ). For that matter most areas could use them during the summer and some all year long

 

[stevechase]

thanks, a pool in the uk is not really much use unless it is covered. It rarely gets hot enough (apart from the very odd day) to use an out pool in the uk.

Steve

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Steve, I suspect you'd feel right at home in Seattle. Lots of rain and green vegetation. High prices, too. Alas, probably not what you're looking for...

Some dear friends of ours recently moved back home to Seattle from Atlanta. Their home in Georgia was large (maybe 3800 sf?), gorgeous, on a huge property in a nice area, and I think they paid less than half what we paid for our home, which is older, not as large or nice, and on a much smaller lot. They had quite the sticker shock when shopping for a home in Seattle!

 

[6mouskateers]

I know I am an east coast snob and most Floridians and southerners in general will call me a "damn Yankee", but if I am thinking vacation home I am not thinking Oklahoma! Sorry, not intending to offend anyone at all. It is quite possible that I have no idea what Oklahoma is like, but all I can think of is great open plain (alrighty then , let's all break into song..."OKLAHOMA! where the wind comes sweeping down the plain") farms and cattle. While I am sure it is all quite lovely, what would one do there? Really, someone please educate me.

On the east coast there is beach all over the place, parts of S Carolina may actually still be affordable. Friends of ours bought a vacation home there last year (they live in NJ and it is about a 12 hour drive for them) North Carolina is gorgeous also. Would love to know where in Virginia they were showing, Steve. Virginia is a beautiful state--coast on the east and the Blue Ridge mountains to the SW, horse country in northern VA and then of course our nation's capitol in Washington DC.

When we were growing up (in NJ) it was quite common for people to live "up north in the city" northern NJ and New York, and come "down the shore" for the weekend. Where I grew up , we had "summer friends" and year round friends. Lots of folks had vacation homes either at the shore or in the Pocanoes (mountains in Pennsylvania). Now I can only think of 2 of our friends who own vacation homes.

We just bought DVC-so I guess that is sort of a vacation home. We live at the beach so we don't need a beach house.

Another interesting thread, Steve! Thanks!