Moving To Mi From England (Boston, Framingham: real estate, low crime, credit)

[yatesy2005]

Hi can anybody help me with info about the best places to live in MI, also how the job situation is in MI/How much you pay for petrol/gas. Me/wife+2 kids are looking to move in the near future any info would be helpful.

[Vagus]

can anybody help me with info about the best places to live in MI

Ummmm, where are you moving exactly?

You posted this on the Massachusetts forum, but "MI" is the code for Michigan . . . Massachusetts is "MA" . . . so which one is it?

[yatesy2005]

Sorry about that the area is massachusetts. Could you help?

[ChunkyMonkey]

Places to live depend on your budget and your priorities/likes and dislikes. Are you a city person? Do you prefer the country? How far are you willing to commute? Do you prefer to live near the city? Coming from England, you shouldn't worry about gas prices as European prices are outrageous when compared to U.S. pricing despite all the whining about high U.S. gas prices.

The job situation really depends on which industry you are in. Currently, the economy nationwide is not that great, possibly in a recession. However, if you are part of the knowledge economy such as biotech, tech, etc, you have a good chance of getting a job as there are reported labor shortage. Boston's and Massachusett's other big industries, education, healthcare are also good bets. Financials services, real estate, construction, on the other hand, are not looking too great. Generally, Massachusetts has a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the country.

If at all possible, you should definitely try to land a job before moving though, that will help determine best places for you to live also. Good luck.

[scarletfire]

Welcome. What kind of work are you looking for?

Gas prices are around $3.00-3.50/gallon

[yatesy2005]

I am currently a TRAM TECH TEAMLEADER (BACKGROUND MULTI-SKILLED ENGINEER IN ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS/WELDING/FABRICATION/HYDROLICS/PNUMATICS ETC.), My wife is a DOCTOR OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY. We currently live in a place called Cheshire in England where a 4 bed house will cost between 325,000-450,000 English pounds,the housing market has taken a decline lately, In a place called Goostry in Cheshire a 2 bed small house will cost between 350,000-400,000 English Pounds. I currently travel 60 miles a day to work, in which i costs me approx 65 English pound a week. We would like to go to an area where it is good for kids and low crime, can anybody suggest anywhere.

[pondhopper]

a house will run about 300,000 BPS in a very nice child friendly community. It will likely be about 3000sq ft 4 bedrooms (real ones, about 150 sq ft each) with about 1 acre (smaller house and garden closer to Boston). You do realize you can't work here without a visa and you need the job first. You can use a high street bank and move your credit history to America through affiliates (HSBC is my favourite). You can find jobs in most major companies to fit your skills I imagine though a true manufacturer sounds closest or something with the Boston T. Your wife should be able to find a good job through the private schools or other educational facility (not sure about with the schools direct). TO kick off try the route 495/MA Pike corridors: Holliston, Hopkinton, Southborough, Westborough, Norhtborough, Framingham areas to start. I live in Southampton UK and Hopkinton MA so have pretty good comparatives.

[yatesy2005]

Thanks for your information.

[amyalta]

Hi Yatesy. Please be aware that unless you are USC, one of you will need a job to come to - and it will need to be demonstrably a job for which a USC is not qualified or available! If you come over on a job visa your wife will then have to qualify - not all that easy. And you cannot transfer credit history! My husband is USC, I am Legal Permanent Resident, both with 34 years faultless credit record with Barclays here, but it means nothing - we have to start all over, with Bank of America! Good luck!

[pondhopper]

amyalta

And you cannot transfer credit history!

From the HSBC website, I believe NatWest has a similar program and several other High street offerings:
In breaking down international barriers, HSBC Premier addresses consumer challenges by offering seamless cross-border banking and providing customers the ability - for the first time - to take their accounts, credit history and banking relationships with them wherever they choose to live and work and manage all of their global accounts online in one place.