questions about possible relocation to PA, USA

[rootscan]

we (dh, 5mth old dd & I) are looking to move to the States in the next year or so - probably just outside philadelphia. would anyone be able to advise on the following:

1. how much would it cost to ship the contents of a small 2 bed house (v rough estimate - hundreds? thousands?)? i know shipping is expensive but would anyone be able to give me an idea of just how expensive it is? we've gots lots of books, papers & clothes that we would definitely want to bring with us.

2. how expensive is the cost of living in that area? we currently live in north london & i know that it probably is cheaper in the States...is it possible for the 3 of us to live on 1 salary? i know that would depend on what dh's salary would be & what kind of lifestyle we would want. any ideas on what sort of 'minimum' we would need to live?

any advice would be greatly appreciated. or if you could point me in the direction of some good websites, that would be helpful too...we're really keen on relocating but just a bit concerned about the finances...

Anoah ? thanks for the info. If you could give me your email addy, I?d really appreciate getting more info about various things in hte Philly area. Would you mind me asking what?s made you decide to go back (to the US)?

Dodgykeeper ? thanks for the info re: housing. Asking the colleagues is a good idea. I?ll have to have a look @ realtor.com when I have some time. How do you find the sites for the new build houses? They both sound like fun ? I love looking @ that sort of thing! The whole process of moving sounds so complicated. Visas, interviews, shipping & packing, getting rid of stuff you don?t need, etc. it seems endless. Are you on your way over to Dayton soon? Or are your already there now? Hope it?s the latter. It must seem like you?ve waited forever at this point.

The realtor websites should list land for sale, as well as houses.

What is quite popular in the US is to get in early when someone is developing a new community (eg when a builder gets a large plot and puts, eg, 10 houses on it). If you can get in at the beginning, you can really personalise the plans in a big way (not just decor, but major structural stuff).

Hi Again!

Basically I am moving back home because I am an RN and I want to get paid for the hours I work and have a safe number of patients rather than more than I can handle. Impossible in the UK.

Plus my whole family is there, and I have 3 young kids. Dh's parents here in the UK have passed on recently and we have no other family here...that we are on speaking terms with anyway.

My email address is [email protected]

I love this website.

WWW.pattwhite.com

If you want to look at houses a little farther out and north from philly check out Parkland school district,East Penn SD, Saucon Valley SD, and Southern Lehigh SD. Those are the good ones.

Avoid Allentown anything like it is a fatal disease. The areas outside of allentown are great. Those are the school districts I posted.

Sorry I don't know the area exactly outside of Philly a little better. I just know that the main line is gorgeous but expensive. The lehigh valley (allentown suburb) area is starting to get a little expensive as well because we have been discovered by the new yorkers and they are flocking in. Still cheaper than philly though.

You can also check out www.realtor.com.

I am also stressed about the number of things we need to do for this move i.e. DH's visa, sell the house, get rid of stuff, ....it is overwhelming but at least I am going to a familiar place.

Good luck with everything.