Moving back to US, money no object -- where should we move?? (sales, real estate)
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We live in London and are ready to move back to the US within the next year or two.
We're in our mid 30s. We are lucky to be independently wealthy so money isn't a consideration anywhere except NYC (since it cost $12m or so for a place to live) but we are still considering this too.
Jobs / local economy is not consideration since we don't have jobs.
Where should we live?? Places we have talked about so far: La Jolla and RSF in San Diego, Manhattan (where we used to live), Miami, Palm Beach... We have a real aversion to taxes so NYC and CA turn us off. We want somewhere with tradition, history, and that is a very nice place to raise a family with nice private schools. We want to pick somewhere where our kids will want to stay around when they grow up so we aren't left alone as empty nesters.
If you want to be closer to the mountains and lakes you could live in Knoxville TN and send your kids to Webb School, but in Franklin you will be surrounded by more wealthy families. It is a small town just south of Nashville.
We live in London and are ready to move back to the US within the next year or two.
We're in our mid 30s. We are lucky to be independently wealthy so money isn't a consideration anywhere except NYC (since it cost $12m or so for a place to live) but we are still considering this too.
Jobs / local economy is not consideration since we don't have jobs.
Where should we live?? Places we have talked about so far: La Jolla and RSF in San Diego, Manhattan (where we used to live), Miami, Palm Beach... We have a real aversion to taxes so NYC and CA turn us off. We want somewhere with tradition, history, and that is a very nice place to raise a family with nice private schools. We want to pick somewhere where our kids will want to stay around when they grow up so we aren't left alone as empty nesters.
Where should we go??
You are gong to paying taxes one way or another. States without income tax typically have higher real estate taxes and sales tax. In those cases housing values become a real issue. Florida doesn't have an income tax but luxury housing values will soak you yearly via real estate tax if you buy a home in the millions. But, then again, it certainly may not be as bad paying on a $12M property in Manhattan. If you are rich and and live in Florida, I am guessing you'd want to get out in the Summer and have a second home somewhere cooler and for a change of pace.
On the other hand, you can always move to Alaska where they pay you per person just because you live there. I can't decide whether that's an entitlement program or a socialistic program. I'll have to ask Sarah the next time I see her.
Take a look at the Chevy Chase and Barnaby Woods neighborhoods in the upper Northwest section of Washington DC. It has tradition/history, easy access to world-class cultural amenities, less taxes than other prestigious urban neighborhoods of the Northeast US, excellent private schools (see links below), is safe and family-friendly (like most of the entire NW quadrant of the city), and is a community that understands and appreciates the cultural perks of living there (with many expat and government families).
Perhaps somewhere in the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia and you could send your children to Penn Charter or one of the Friends schools, among others. William Penn Charter School
If you don't want to be left alone when you're older, then you should probably move to a city with a lot of things for young people to do and lots of energy.
Manhattan would be ideal as you've stated. Boston and Los Angeles are also good cities. I have friends in LA who were born and raised there and say they'll never move out of the area.
We live in London and are ready to move back to the US within the next year or two.
We're in our mid 30s. We are lucky to be independently wealthy so money isn't a consideration anywhere except NYC (since it cost $12m or so for a place to live) but we are still considering this too.
Jobs / local economy is not consideration since we don't have jobs.
Where should we live?? Places we have talked about so far: La Jolla and RSF in San Diego, Manhattan (where we used to live), Miami, Palm Beach... We have a real aversion to taxes so NYC and CA turn us off. We want somewhere with tradition, history, and that is a very nice place to raise a family with nice private schools. We want to pick somewhere where our kids will want to stay around when they grow up so we aren't left alone as empty nesters.
Where should we go??
If I were in your position, then I'd choose the NYC metro area. But if not NYC, then DC or Boston.
DC has a traditionally strong economy and is growing and dynamic. It also has lots of history and things to see and do. Boston is very good too.
Other cities to consider are Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Last edited by BigCityDreamer; 07-02-2012 at 09:45 AM..
I Co-Sign on San-Fran area, also the San Fernando Valley area in California and La Jolla is beautiful no denying it. For more history I would say DC also, New York if you can find the right niche. Also Chicago is a vibrant city also and the lake can be great.
We want to pick somewhere where our kids will want to stay around when they grow up so we aren't left alone as empty nesters.
Where should we go??
No matter what you do, it will be up for your children to decide that. I'd say all bets are off as far as that goes in today's mobile society. I mean, my parents live in Florida but I wanted to leave that whole area of the country as soon as I could and moves thousands of miles away. People will do the same thing whether they grew up in NYC, SF, Florida...doesn't matter. It's their life.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnc2mbfl
You are gong to paying taxes one way or another. States without income tax typically have higher real estate taxes and sales tax. In those cases housing values become a real issue. Florida doesn't have an income tax but luxury housing values will soak you yearly via real estate tax if you buy a home in the millions. But, then again, it certainly may not be as bad paying on a $12M property in Manhattan. If you are rich and and live in Florida, I am guessing you'd want to get out in the Summer and have a second home somewhere cooler and for a change of pace.
On the other hand, you can always move to Alaska where they pay you per person just because you live there. I can't decide whether that's an entitlement program or a socialistic program. I'll have to ask Sarah the next time I see her.
As you probably know though, Coastal Florida is actually cooler than most of the southeast during the summer hovering a bit above 90, and never seeing those high 90s or over 100 temps. Florida gets a worse rap than it should for "heat"... the problem is the heat doesn't die off in the Spring or the Fall, it doesn't get "worse" in the summer. If anythin the more frequent rain storms help to keep it cool/breezy breaks. Places like Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana are worse in the summer than most of the Florida population. But if you are rich... you could just live wheerever, why need a big house like this person? Why not just get a studio...live in Paris for 3 months, move to NYC for 3 months, explore the world...
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