Retiring to the US - A quick question...

[Mr Mystery]

Afternoon.

After a quick read of a BBC article, I was genuinely startled at just how cheap housing can be in the USA.

Anyone know if I'd have much in the way of trouble retiring to the US? I'd be claiming a UK pension, and essentially just taking advantage of a cheaper cost of living. And this isn't likely to happen for oh....33 years or so!

[Kyban]

The areas with cheaper living costs are cheaper for a reason, it may appear to be a good idea at first but I'd look closer, you tend to get what you pay for. It might be a bit of a headache to get citizenship as well.

[DarkLink]

Not necessarily. I live in California, which has several of the most murderous cities in America, and housing tends to be very expensive even there. Go to Texas, much less murdering and much less rent.

America's a very big place, and state governments have a lot of say in their local economies. A poorly run state like California will have a crappy economy and high rents, but a well run state like Texas will have a much stronger economy and cheaper rents. California and Texas are just two examples, but there are plenty of options.

[Mr Mystery]

Stuff renting! I'd be buying!

I'll be able to buy something here in the UK, but I'm thinking I can buy a better house, and of course, quite possibly better weather! All about later quality of life!

[Kirsten]

but a well run state like Texas will have a much stronger economy and cheaper rents.

and only a small chance of exploding.
I have friends in florida who insist I should move there, prices are much less than Britain.

[Mr Mystery]

As for Texas.... I fear I'm much too liberal for Texas, which I understand to be a rather conservative state. Rather not risk upsetting people where possible!

[DeadPanda]

Afternoon.

After a quick read of a BBC article, I was genuinely startled at just how cheap housing can be in the USA.

Anyone know if I'd have much in the way of trouble retiring to the US? I'd be claiming a UK pension, and essentially just taking advantage of a cheaper cost of living. And this isn't likely to happen for oh....33 years or so!

If I were you I would be heading to Canada instead. That's the plan for me and the mrs when the times right in 20 or so years. Victoria on Vancouver island is the plan. We already have family there and love the place.

[Mr Mystery]

If I were you I would be heading to Canada instead. That's the plan for me and the mrs when the times right in 20 or so years. Victoria on Vancouver island is the plan. We already have family there and love the place.

Possible. But there's something about the US. Like the weather!

[Chronowraith]

The general trend for cost of living in the United States is that the further you move inland from the East or West costs the cheaper the Cost of Living. If you are looking for cheap rent, avoid the Atlantic Northeast and the entire Pacific Coast except Alaska.

As for the original question of retiring to the United States I am uncertain. I know that the US (unlike many other countries) does not have a retirement VISA.

I'd suggest going to the US Customs and Immigration service website and poke around. Admittedly, this will likely change long before you ever retire :-)

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

[Wolfshade]

Living costs are lower, but then wages are also. Comparitively, though there are huge differences between state and urban/rural, even more so than over here.

[Mr Mystery]

Indeed. Though at the risk of sounding a bit racialist, I guess the US is more accepting of Brits than people from less affluent countries, mostly because the chances of me being a benefit tourist are basically nil!

Shall have a shufty.

[Wolfshade]

Plus you would obviously know the queen and live in a stately home

[Mr Mystery]

Flat is part of an Edwardian, possibly Victorian townhouse, and I know a queen of the 'vicious old' variety!

[DarkLink]

As for Texas.... I fear I'm much too liberal for Texas, which I understand to be a rather conservative state. Rather not risk upsetting people where possible!

You might be surprised, places like Texas are, well, big. I live in California, but despite its reputation as one of the most democratic states, the county I live in is pretty conservative. Anyways, I was just using Texas and California as examples of how diverse America can be. You can find somewhere for just about anything as long as you look around a bit.

I would suggest, say, Colorado, particularly if you like the mountains.

[Mr Mystery]

As long as the weather is nice, I'm interested!

[Bigred]

As for Texas.... I fear I'm much too liberal for Texas, which I understand to be a rather conservative state. Rather not risk upsetting people where possible!

And that's why god invented Travis County - and Austin TX!!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_County,_Texas)

Come be weird with all the BoLS crew...

[Psychosplodge]

But more importantly as a resident and not necessarily a citizen, do you still get a gun?

[Bigred]

If you buy the horse, chaps, and the hat - we throw in the lasso and gun for free.

[Psychosplodge]

Sounds fair...

[DarkLink]

Yeah, that's something most people don't know about America. You don't buy guns here, you just acquire them simply by living here for a while. They literally grow on trees. A Glock here, a murder-death-assault-weapon there, and soon you're ready for the North Korean invasion;).

[Chris Copeland]

..A poorly run state like California will have a crappy economy and high rents, but a well run state like Texas will have a much stronger economy and cheaper rents...

Wow. I am a resident of Texas and I'd never say that Texas is a "well run state." Dear God, have you seen what our b@t**** crazy Gov and legislature have done to education over the last couple of years?! Cope

[scadugenga]

And that's why god invented Travis County - and Austin TX!!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_County,_Texas)

Come be weird with all the BoLS crew...

Austin is the one big saving grace of Texas. You can get great music (more than just....*shudder*...."Country and Western), amazing multi-cultural food. (Great Thai places, good Tex-Mex, of course, etc. etc.) And beyond that, the people there are actually nice.

Just don't go up into the panhandle (Amarillo and/or Shamrock County...)

If you go further south, you get Houston--which is, as far as I can tell, the Strip Club capitol of the U.S.A. When I was deployed to respond to Hurricane Ike--some of the first things that reopened? Strip clubs. I kid you not.

And, for the love of all that's holy, stay away from the Mexican border towns. Great way to get shot.

[DarkLink]

Wow. I am a resident of Texas and I'd never say that Texas is a "well run state." Dear God, have you seen what our b@t**** crazy Gov and legislature have done to education over the last couple of years?! Cope

Have you been to California? Trust me, you count as well run.

[Bigred]

All you need to know about Texas in 60 seconds...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JREkqCvLzSo

[DarkLink]

http://seismogenic.net/caforbeginners.jpg

[Bigred]

Darklink,

Now I can't tell if we're trying to attract people to our states, or send them screaming into each others... :)

[DarkLink]

Heh, I'm not sure either. California is a great place to live, not such a great place to work or have to spend money in.

[Psychosplodge]

Yeah, that's something most people don't know about America. You don't buy guns here, you just acquire them simply by living here for a while. They literally grow on trees. A Glock here, a murder-death-assault-weapon there, and soon you're ready for the North Korean invasion;).

Really?!?
How can you possibly legislate for that ? :D

[Wolfshade]

Yeah, that's something most people don't know about America. You don't buy guns here, you just acquire them simply by living here for a while. They literally grow on trees. A Glock here, a murder-death-assault-weapon there, and soon you're ready for the North Korean invasion;).

I've seen the Family Guy episode, it must be true!

[White Tiger88]

Afternoon.

After a quick read of a BBC article, I was genuinely startled at just how cheap housing can be in the USA.

Anyone know if I'd have much in the way of trouble retiring to the US? I'd be claiming a UK pension, and essentially just taking advantage of a cheaper cost of living. And this isn't likely to happen for oh....33 years or so!

If you move the USA you have more screw's lose then most of my Fellow Canadians......(And we have screws lose they are trying to open Asian only schools here!)

[Psychosplodge]

We effectively have them in places like Dewsbury, and look how that worked out...

[White Tiger88]

We effectively have them in places like Dewsbury, and look how that worked out...

What the hell is a Dewsbury?

[Psychosplodge]

The place were the 7/7 bombers lived...

[White Tiger88]

The place were the 7/7 bombers lived...

Ah i see...... (we don't get your news over here or any info.....)

*cough*

[Psychosplodge]

You probably got it at the time, but it was a while ago now...

[Wolfshade]

We effectively have them in places like Dewsbury, and look how that worked out...

I'll leave this here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Birmingham_riots



What the hell is a Dewsbury?


https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Dewsbury&hl=en&hnear=Dewsbury,+West+Yorkshire,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=12

[Denzark]

Yeah, that's something most people don't know about America. You don't buy guns here, you just acquire them simply by living here for a while. They literally grow on trees. A Glock here, a murder-death-assault-weapon there, and soon you're ready for the North Korean invasion;).

Yeah, I sympathise with you when that happens. Didn't you need to conscript Charlie Sheen and some other kids into child soldiers last time the Russians came over en masse?

[DarkLink]

Thor fought them off this last time. I don't think anyone really noticed.

[Wildeybeast]

Thor fought them off this last time. I don't think anyone really noticed.

Your country is invaded practically every other day, so unless it's aliens it's not worth reporting. By the way, when did you demote Morgan Freeman from President to VP? He'd have never let North Koreans take the Whitehouse.

[Kyban]

Actually, I think he was the Speaker. Wasn't a very good movie though, the action was okay but everything was completely unrealistic. The next one looks better, at least it has some humor.

[Wildeybeast]

It's being invaded again? Turns out us burning the place down wasn't such a triumph after all.

[Psychosplodge]

Well we did it first...

[jgebi]

you people seem to forget about AUSTRALIA, we have everything you could need beaches and beer what ales dose any man need I ask? and for the women some of the best wines are made here.

But on a more realist view I would just buy a small island somewhere (about 500,000 US last I saw(make it a warhammer 40k island) as the worlds going to hell anyway. But with very one gearing up for WW3 I think don't make plans just make planes :P

so much for being serious...

[Wolfshade]

Oz also has the worlds suply of deadly spiders/snakes and don't forget the deadly drop bears!

[Psychosplodge]

Everything's deadly, poisonous or both...

[Wolfshade]

Everything's deadly, poisonous or both...

I think it was the real world basis for the catchen regiment

[Psychosplodge]

Quite possibly.
At least it wasn't the planet Birmingham...;)

[Wolfshade]

Quite possibly.
At least it wasn't the planet Birmingham...;)

Like these: http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Imperial_Harbingers