Moving to the US 1

[WIM32]

Hi all,

I've been asked by my current employer to start up a branch office in the US. Our (potential) customers are based all over the place, the East-coast (Virginia to NY), Texas, Arizona and Oregon.
We still need to define where our HQ will be, and this will also affect my future living location. From the company's perspective, best location would be Texas, since this is more or less in the middle. For me personally, the east-coast seems more attractive (let's say more European, I'm from The Netherlands). The first months I will be on my own, then my family (two small kids < 4yrs) will be coming over (if all goes well with immigration of course).

Now my question is, if there are real big differences between the mentioned locations, from a family live perspective? What I've experienced is that although the US is one country, there are major differences between states.
My experience is of course only limited to fairly short business trips.

If you have any other comments as to where my attention should go out to, please let me know! The intention is to stay for at least 3 yrs, if all goes well maybe longer.

Thanks,
Wim

 

[davidbeach]

Portland Oregon would be a good place to look. Intel's main development operations are here as are the operations of other semiconductor companies; the silicon forest. Climate wise, Portland will be far more benign than any place in Texas. Politically, you will find Portland to be closer to what you might find in the Netherlands than you would find Texas.

 

[HgTX]

He's right.

Hg

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[Ashereng]

When we moved to my current city, we decided to rent for a while befor buying.

We were thus able to "figure" the city out, where all the good daycare, schools, neighbourhodds, shops, restaurants, movie theatre, etc. were, and then we bought.

It seems to have worked out. We're still here.

 

[planedr]

Put down the list of your primary requirements. Then screen the cities you are considering by those requirements. Then apply your personal considerations.

A State with no income tax is great till you see the property taxes and user fees. Do you love your car or prefer public transportation? How much do you travel (ie airport connections)?

North Texas is alright but......

 

[SomptingGuy]

A State with no income tax is great till you see the property taxes and user fees.

When I was touring in Montana (a state with no sales tax) I asked a shopkeeper how the state was financed. He said something about HUGE car taxes. A state has to be financed somehow. It seems to me that a tourist economy should be taxing its tourists rather than its residents.

 

[Jabberwocky]

It's been touched on previously, but I'd have to say the most significant difference between EU and US is the distance between things. Up in the New England area it's not quite so much, but pretty much anywhere south or west of there your car will be your best friend. The country was designed with highways in mind, as has been stated many, many people work in the cities and clear out to the suburbs to live. Search for fora on 'average commute times' as that could make a difference.

Another thing is how different state laws can be, make sure to familiarise yourself with them. For instance, the vast majority of banks and credit card companies are registered in Delaware, just because their state laws are conducive to such.

My personal two cents are for Oklahoma, it's a very calm, laid-back place with wide open spaces and quite friendly people. Plus it's one of the few places left that has a sizable Native American population. Can't get much more American than them!

 

[WIM32]

Thanks all, for your interesting comments and advise. Looks like corporate interests are converging towards settling down in the Dallas, TX area.. Seems not like the best place to live, but there must be some nice communities there as well. By the way, is it common practice to rent furnished homes?

 

[MintJulep]

Dallas is unbearably hot in the summer. The city center of Dallas is pretty much office buildings only. I don't think anyone actually lives in the downtown area. There are some very nice suburbs. Traffic is bad.

My sister and her husband lived there for a few years, decided they hated it, moved away, moved back, decided they still hated it and moved away again.

You can find furnished houses, although they are not that common. Renting an unfurnished house is no problem, and there are plenty of places to rent furniture. Furnished appartments are much more common.

 

[HgTX]

My friends in Fort Worth seem to like it. FW has a little more of an artsy element than Dallas does.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[cadnutcase]

WIM32,

Let me welcome you to Texas.

My advice to you.
Make sure you get a car that is very comfortable. You will be seeing the inside of it quite a bit.

Cadnutcase

 

[Ashereng]

WM32,

If you are going to live in Texas, I'd suggest that you get a truck - a real truck; full ton, 4X4, super crew (if you have a family), A/C, heater, 6-pack CD changer. (Note that I left out the make.)

Smiley emoticon here.

 

[planedr]

Dallas isn't too bad. Not maybe my first choice but not so bad. We moved to the North part of the metromess and quite like it. Good access to both airports, good shopping and relatively good access to downtown. My wife met some very nice people in our community and has found it to be very friendly. Cost of living is reasonable. The biggest factor is housing is quite cheap compared to the rest of the US.

July August suck. The rest of the year isn't too bad. You can hop on a plane to basically anywhere that isn't Dallas.

Enjoy.

 

[GeoSmith]

Anyone knows the costing of living, house price of the Austin, Dallas and Houston in TX?