Buying Property in the US

Originally posted by petrosianpupil
I will be in the states later this year, looking at buying a property.

I want a place that I can rent out but use myself. It has to be relatively easy to get to from England.

I had thought about Florida as it is easy to rent out to Brits as well.

Any advice?

Originally posted by eamon o
my other thought on this is that your aim is fuzzy. if you want to rent it out, then go for long term rental. if you want a place to stay go to a hotel.

Originally posted by petrosianpupil
My aim is very fuzzy. I am only in the initial stages and I am not looking to make my final decision for a while.

I would be looking to spend a lot of time in the States and also i see the market as heading towards a great investment opportunity.

Originally posted by monster truck
If you can hold out for another year or so, I think the housing market will be ripe for the pickings.

If you like variety in weather, New England is great. New Hampshire and Vermont are my 2 favorite states. Lots of wilderness to play in, and if you like the urban scene, Boston is close by.

Originally posted by masscat
My personal preference in Virginia, but that’s because I’m a Civil War buff. The Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland is also nice.

With Florida, as far as an investment goes, it's hard to go wrong, if you stay near water. The rates just keep going up, ever since the end of WWII. The land is getting more expensive there every year. Some people don't care for it because the Cuban influx is heavy.

There are lots of Brits there on holiday, all times of the year. I go to Fl every week for work. I have family there too. The schools are not known to be the best in the world if you are looking to settle there with kids. One drawback, LOTS of sex offenders. I am serious.

So there is a give and take as far as Money, and quality of living. Areas differ immensely in cost of living. Miami is off the charts expensive, while an area like Lake City, or Immokalee(Farming) will be much much cheaper, yet there is not such a demand for renters there. They are further from the coast. Hope this helps.

Boston weather can be brutally cold, wet and lots of snow during the winter.
I travel the East Coast for work every week, for the past 20 years. I know the Coast well. Its pricey there.

Originally posted by kwjoe
With Florida, as far as an investment goes, it's hard to go wrong, if you stay near water. The rates just keep going up, ever since the end of WWII. The land is getting more expensive there every year. Some people don't care for it because the Cuban influx is heavy.

There are lots of Brits there on holiday, all times of the year. I go to Fl every week for ...[text shortened]... here is not such a demand for renters there. They are further from the coast. Hope this helps.

Originally posted by petrosianpupil
Thanks.

I don't like it too hot, especially humid.

Looking at New England, it looks great, Boston is very easy to get to.

Most of the time I will spend will be from Nov. to March. What's it like then?

Reading all these posts it looks like there’s no ideal place along the East Coast. Worse where I live (next to Lake Erie). Wednesday it was 65 with thunderstorms and a tornado hit 3 miles from here and did some damage. Today it’s below freezing and snowing.😠 I’d like to live in Arizona except for the 100+ summer heat and gila monsters & rattlesnakes in the yard. English weather is starting to sound good!