It’s so beautiful over there. Watch Escape to the Country. It’s all about house hunting in UK ( countryside).

There are a couple US gardeners living in UK, they are often on Antique Rose forum.

It’s the more expensive location of the two countries. Housing and taxes, food, etc. Most people do the reverse and retire to a lower COL location.

Actually, we've run the numbers and we'll be MUCH better off in retirement in the UK than in the USA - just for healthcare expenses alone! Food is MUCH cheaper there. We'll buy a home outright, so that's taken care of. :)

I know a lady on Rose Forum moved from UK to Greece for retirement. The healthcare is super cheap over there. Hopefully UK is a good place for you guys.

I lived in the UK (outside of London) for several years. We were renters rather than homeowners but many of our friends owned, some who were both US citizens. I don't recall anything differently that they had to do. Obviously the tax ramifications would need to be researched. You can't run away from the IRS no matter how hard you try! In addition, food was not cheaper, nor was the cost of fuel, purchase price of a right hand drive car or housing. The real estate market has appreciated considerably since we lived there. Additionally, healthcare is free but as with any universal health care, there are long waits for testing, doctors visits and procedures.

I do recall that in the actual purchase of the home there was a time frame before contracts were exchanged while inspections were done, surveys completed, financing arranged,etc. During this time frame both the buyer and seller were free to change their offer/ accept another offer. In gazumping, the seller accepts a higher offer from someone else and you are pushed out of the purchase, even after incurring expenses. In gazundering, the buyer lowers his offer price very close to the contract exchange and forces the seller to accept less as they have already moved forward with moving, purchasing another home, etc. Why this time frame is allowed without a hard contract is unknown to me but it did make for some very fragile home sales. There was also a concern about chains, in which one party to the transaction was gazumped or gazundered and set off a chain reaction that affected all the sales/purchases further up the chain.

https://www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk/media-centre/articles-sept-dec-2016/gazumping-and-gazundering-explained/

Canada has free public health care too. ........ and it’s beautiful. The housing there is expensive than the US though. If you are interested there watch What’s for Sale.

summersrhythm - Canada does have a public health care system, but it isn't exactly "free." You pay a monthly insurance rate to the provincial health care system (except in Alberta). It's not prohibitively expensive, though - but that means the quality of care isn't going to be up there with the very top private hospitals in the US, and it also means waiting lists can be lengthy for non-acute medical conditions. All of that said, the health care system works better for the average Canadian than the average American.

Generally, everything in Canada is more expensive than in the US (but both pale compared with Australia, which is really quite expensive to live in - ask me how much I have to pay for food, medical care and housing!! ;(

My QUESTION WAS: "How difficult is it to buy a house?" Nothing more, nothing less.

As for cost-of-living - DH and I spend weeks at a time there (in a rented pied-a-terre), and have found that groceries are absolutely cheaper. This is personal, first-hand knowledge.

We've already researched the tax issues. You don't know what our citizenship status will be when we retire, but we do.

We know how much cars and gasoline cost.

Our healthcare stands to cost us upwards of $1.6 million in retirement in the USA (that's premiums, co-pays, medications, etc). In the UK, it will be virtually free.

But thanks for ALL the unsolicited advice about why we shouldn't do this.

I know many US people who have lived in the U.K, and many Brits who have lived in the US. What one must understand is that a middle class standard of living means different thing in the two countries. Many Americans have a hard time giving up familiar US brands - they are very expensive in the U.K. People eat and shop differently in the two countries. Refrigerators in the UK are far smaller than those found in the U.K. Dishwashers are far less common, even in rather expensive houses. Garbage disposals are rarely seen.

Then there is the "tumble dry". Electricity is costly in the UK and few people own them, and if the do, thy use them only for bath towels. Some washers are combined with the washer, but they are quite small and take forever to run. People don't just wear something once and toss it in the laundry basket. Doing laundry for a family is a continuous thing, involving multiple drying racks.

Then there is heating. Central forced air furnaces don't exist. Rooms have radiators which are turned on when needed. No keeping an entire house at a toasty 72 degrees. There's a reason for those small doors into rooms off a hall - they are kept closed for warmth. Curtains are interlinked and closed at night. There are often even curtains that cover the front door to keep out drafts.

Gasolune is costly and having the nearest supermarket 10 miles away, means spending a lot. Villages typically have few grocery shopping options, if any at all.

Clothes are expensive. One of the first thing English judges at US dog shows ask for is a trip to JCPenny's to buy everyday clothes to take home with them!

If ones income is paid in US dollars, one is subject to the whim of currency exchange. I've seen the pound as low as $1.10 (34 yrs ago!) to as high as $2.50 to the dollar (of course this was when my daughter was in school there!).

Then there are taxes. The IRS will follow you, and even if you ultimately get U.K. Citizenship (can take 5yrs), tax rates are quite high.

As for the free medical care...well rarely does a day go by that The Times does not have an article about nursing shortages, long waits and more and more people going private and paying. Add to that the fact that in rural ares, the nearest hospital might well be 30 miles away. And there are age limits for much of the orthopedic surgery so common in the elderly in the US.

i adore the U.K and am never happier than when I'm visiting there. But I would not want to live there unless I was very, very wealthy.

I cannot imagine how your health care could possibly cost you 1.6 million in retirement. I have a chronic pulmonary problem, see doctors often, take a ton of meds, but I rarely pay much out of pocket. I am lucky to have Tricare for Life due to my husband's 20 yrs in the Navy Reserve, but even without it, I know no one with that kind of expenses, and the people in my pulmonary rehab are not a healthy bunch.

But you know what you want to do. Perhaps this web site will be helpful? https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/United-Kingdom/Buying-Guide

The question is ABOUT BUYING A HOUSE —- from anyone in the UK.

imstillchloecat - sorry, I wasn't telling you not do it - I was
simply pointing out a couple of things you need to think about, and the
implications of Brexit certainly count when it comes to living costs, as do currency fluctuations. The UK might be cheaper now, but there is no guarantee at all that it will remain so, particularly not when the exit happens. You need to bear that in mind.

Speaking as someone who retired to a different country (Canada to Australia), there's much more to moving than just buying a house. You will be required to pay tax on your global income in the UK, just as
I am taxed on my global income by Australia. Your UK tax rate may or may not be higher than your US tax rate - something else to check into. I don't know what your
tax obligations will be to the US, but there will be some; I have to
pay tax to Canada on my Canadian income even though I haven't lived
there for years (fortunately, there's a tax treaty between Canada and
Australia so my Canadian tax paid counts towards my Australian
obligations). I don't know if the US has similar treaties, but if it doesn't, you have to factor that into the equation. It is something you need to have sorted before you make your move.

Likewise, you need to be prepared for the impact of currency fluctuations - as I said, most of my income is from Canadian sources, which is great when the Canadian dollar is higher than the Aus dollar, but not so great when it sinks like a stone, which has happened a couple of times since I've been here. Fortunately, the two economies are fairly stable, so it tends to even out, but there have been a few months when things were a tad tight (Australia is much more expensive than Canada, I might add - didn't stop me from moving here, but I fully understood the implications of doing so).

As for buying a house, listen to mihelene above. Gazumphing was a well known real estate phenomenon when I lived in the UK some 35 years ago. It's an annoyance, to say the least. You can, however, buy a house at an auction (but you'd better have a pretty good idea of local prices first, for obvious reasons). Also, bear in mind that the price agreed to doesn't include "stamp duty" which is an extra tax, for want of a better word, added to the purchase price.

I’m insulted that you think we don’t know about taxes, Brexit, currency fluctuations, or moving to another country (because I’ve lived outside the USA—in Europe, but not in the UK). Your tone is patronizing and condescending. My husband is a Brit, so he will be going HOME.

Youre talking to me as though this decision is a WHIM. It is not.

Frankly, I'm a bit insulted that you are taking well-intentioned advice this way. A great many people move countries without doing their homework, and end up with some nasty surprises. Since I had no way whatsoever to know how much you do or do not know about taxes, currency fluctuations, Brexit or anything else, I was simply trying to offer some insight from the perspective of someone who's been there, done that. I'm sorry you find that offensive, but not sorry I wrote what I wrote.

And I asked a VERY CLEAR question, which still has not been answered.

You could of course go to the bottom of the page and click on United Kingdom. Although I did not have enough information from your postings to know what kind and size of dwelling you are interested in there is under Advice an entry for "smaller homes". You might ask there. It appeared more of a what to do than buying and selling but you can always ask your question and see what answers the regular posters give you. They may be able to direct you to a better place to find your answers. From old friends that lived there a while DIFFERENT AREAS have different laws and customs so while it is easy for you to ask about buying a house/apartment not knowing the area would be impossible. You have been given good advice and I hope you find what you are looking for.

Hello,

I don't know how much I can advise you, but I'd like to comment on a few things mentioned here.

I've bought property many times here and on the subject of gazumping and gazundering, yes it happens here and there but nothing like as rampant as has been implied. It's never happened to me. In most cases the only time some renegotiation can take place is after you've had a structural survey done on a property and you find some fault that could work out expensive to repair, then you might look again at the price agreed. Transactions have been speeded up lately, but yes you can be stuck in a 'chain', for a while, but we get there in the end. Best to buy a property where 'no chain' is advertised, but that's not always possible.

I don't know what price range you will be looking at. Most of us here will go to an 'Estate Agent' in a town where we plan to live, there are always several of these, and most often now you will already have seen properties on line that appeal to you, so you go to the agent to arrange a viewing. If you like what you see you make an offer on it. Some haggling can go on here for a short time. When agreement is reached, you arrange for a structural survey to be done and both sides will employ a solicitor to do the conveyancing. When all is satisfied, Exchange of Contracts take place when 10 percent of the agreed total is handed over by the buyer to the seller's solicitor. 1 month later [28 days] Completion takes place, they move out, you move in.

In most cases, things run reasonably well, but you will always hear of nightmare stories, concerning delays mostly, if stuck in a chain.

Just to correct some points made above by some members. Yes we have huge Fridge Freezers, usually called 'American', we used to have one but it was too big for us. Yes most of us have dish washers, they are so popular and essential for many people. Yes we have tumble dryers, sometimes within our washer or separately. I use mine nearly every day. We are an older couple, just us and a dog, and my electricity bill every 3 months, is about £100.00 which I think maybe $130.00 U.S.

Most people here have Central Heating, which means you have a modern dual purpose condensing boiler in a cupboard, or on a kitchen wall, this takes care of your constant hot water and central heating to radiators. The price is about the same as the electricity, depends which supplier you are with.

Doesn't matter where you live, many of us do 'home shopping' these days. We order nearly everything online, get the supermarket to deliver it to the door. Clothes are very cheap in supermarkets and other more budget outlets, most of the stuff is made in Bangladesh after all.

Health care is free. Medications are free even if you need 20 different ones [if you are aged over 60]. Everything is free medically, except for medications if you are under 60 and can afford to pay them. Yes you have to wait for appointments, but in my experience, if they know it's 'urgent', i.e. something serious, they move you along. There are major problems with Accident and Emergency at the moment due to the time of year and pressure on the system, but I have found the medics that come out to your home, in the rare event you might need one, to be expertly trained.

If you can afford private health care on top of this, then so much the better.

One of the taxes we pay here which nearly everyone hates with a vengeance, is the Council Tax, which is a tax on property. It's paid monthly for 10 months of the year usually, lots of people don't pay anything much if they are on low incomes with no savings, and then others who do pay have to pay more to make up shortfalls, which causes resentment. I'm in a Band A property which is the cheapest. I pay the equivalent of about U.S.$1600.00 per annum. Larger properties are Band D to Band H and they pay more.

We're all just getting on with our lives regardless of Brexit. Who knows how that will turn out.

If you'd like to tell us which part of the UK you will be buying in, I might be able to advise you further. I hope this has been of some help.

Wales is often more cheaper than England to buy in, [they get more rain]. As a cash buyer you will be welcomed with open arms. Everyone likes a cash buyer - no mortgage issues.

We hope you will enjoy living in our country when you get here, and that all goes well for you both.

THANK YOU, Marlorena-z8! We're looking in the £400-500,000 range and will be paying cash. I love north Wales, and that's one of two areas we are strongly considering. The other is the Oxfordshire / Wiltshire area. We're not picky, though, and would happily live nearer London if what we want can be had within our budget. Regardless, getting to London will be much easier from Anglesey or Salisbury than it is from the USA. :)

And a huge thanks for explaining the "no chain" designation. :) And also for a real-life quote on the electricity costs. We'll just be two in our house. Perhaps with a dog or a cat, but likely not until we stop traveling for fun.

I've been laughing at those responses where people have "heard" things about living in the UK. Yes, every place we've viewed has a dishwasher. Even my in-laws in a tiny/crappy/former council flat have a dishwasher. :)

Thinking further, if I may offer you some advice.

There are 3 main types of property here that you would be likely to buy.

1. Freehold - these are houses and bungalows where you own the land that the house sits on. There will be a garden, large or small. Boundary fences may be yours to maintain, or in part by a neighbour. Buying Freehold is the most straightforward, usually.

2. Leasehold - these are apartments/flats/ or manufactured homes. Those at ground floor level will often have a garden. They pay a 'ground rent' to the landowner, who may be an individual or a company. Ground rents can be expensive and will be there for all the time you live in it. They go up every year too. However, external maintenance is usually the responsibility of the landowner, as it's included in your 'ground rent' payments. Don't consider anything under a 99 year Lease. 999 years is common too.

3. Freehold apartments - these used to be Leasehold as above, but where the tenants have bought out the landowner and now own the land collectively between them. They usually employ an Agent for administration purposes, collecting rents and payments towards external repairs. These may have a 999 year Lease attached.

Take my advice here, I've lived in all 3, and stick with option no. 1 only. Freehold.

The other two get complicated. It's by far the simplest. However, millions of people live in Leaseholds, and they manage, but where options exist, stick with Freehold, providing you want a garden. Lots of people don't want to do that, so they move into a Flat [or Condo as I think you call it?], and therefore Leasehold. Choice is yours on that one.

oh ok, I've just seen your post above. You're most welcome. In that price range, in north Wales, you should be able to get an outstanding property - Freehold - of course. Probably with good sized garden, but the weather you know in Wales, well, as I said, it does rain more there, can be quite damp, can also get quite snowy in winter.

I prefer sunnier climes, so the southern and eastern parts of England always appeal more to me. Salisbury I absolutely LOVE. If you could find something there, then wow! and as a cash buyer in that price range, I think you would. I also like East Devon, Cornwall, Suffolk, parts of Norfolk, and even parts of Essex [ all close to London]. Wiltshire and the Cotswolds - dreamy!.. My sister who of course is English, is married to an Australian. She lived over there 40 years, but they came back to England recently, now live in Cornwall, bought a house with garden, maybe worth £350,000 now. They were cash buyers too. He now has British citizenship, in fact they both have dual nationality now. He didn't wait too long to get it, just a few years I think and it was easy enough, just had to answer a few questions.

I think he needed to prove he was financially stable - i.e. not going to be a burden on the State.

My mom and dad, both US residents, bought a house in Scotland in the 1970s. They conducted the entire transaction through a solicitor (lawyer) who was also an estate agent. They used phone, snail mail and a certified check. They bought the house never having seen it in person. Back then, without computers, it was an easy process. It just took time because of snail mail.

I inherited the house and ultimately sold it in 2005. I used email and phone to communicate with the same solicitor. I had to use snailmail for paperwork. During the time I owned the house, I had a UK bank account so that’s where the proceeds went at closing.

Selling was an easy, quicker and smooth process because of the solicitor/estate agent. I would never do a foreign real estate transaction without a lawyer/solicitor.

Marlorena excellent advice and exactly what I found when I did a simple search last night. I will point out one difference between countries. In the US for many Central Heating is not the boiler system you described. For those in the East Coast area it can be but for the rest of us central heating is a forced air furnace which may or may not have a cooling system attached. One of the differences that make life interesting.

Our current house in the USA has central heating with a boiler and radiators. :)

At the price range the member will be looking at, and in North Wales, it may well have an Aga range in the kitchen. Lovely and warm, quite expensive to run and maintain though, but definitely an upmarket choice for many, and something of a status symbol for some people. Obviously, the property you choose will be much larger than mine, I have a 2 bedroomed bungalow [single storey], so the costs to run such a property will obviously be much more than mine here.

The main expenditures that we have here, which exist for most people are:

Council Tax

Electricity, usually paid quarterly, a choice of many different suppliers. Shop around.

Gas [natural gas] usually paid quarterly [as above], or Oil [some places have Oil fired central heating, a large Oil tank sits in the garden and they have to get it filled up periodically]. This is where natural gas is generally not available [in out of the way places].

Water rates [this is for your tap water and sewerage]. It is cheap where we are, about £200 per annum, but larger properties and some areas, much much more, maybe £500 or £600. Usually on a meter, and paid quarterly. The bigger the family, the more water used, more money to pay.

Television Licence fee [about £150 per annum]. Compulsory if you have a t.v. most people do.

Sky T.V. an extra for most people and commonplace today. We pay about £32 a month for a minimum package. You get lots of American t.v. on this too.

Insurances: Essential buildings insurance, to insure the whole property against damage, plus another insurance for Contents, your personal stuff, in case of theft etc. We pay about £250 per year for ours combined, but likely more expensive for larger properties. Depending on area.

Car tax and Car insurance. Everyone has a car, so these are compulsory. Tax isn't much on economical vehicles, it depends on environmental emissions the car makes. Insurance depends on many factors, age, sex, etc.

If one of you is severely disabled, and needs mobility, then over here you can get a Mobility vehicle. Many people I know, elderly folk, get these if they have trouble getting about. The Government gives 2 options, either to have a sum of money paid, or a new car every 3 years. You only pay for the petrol [gasoline], nothing else. Most people opt for that. You know who they are, as you see them in a new car every 3 years. Some people are not as immobile as they make out, so it can be abused somewhat [you see them digging their gardens when they think no one is looking]. When they go for assessment, out comes the zimmer frames and walking sticks. It happens.

If you are in receipt of a State Pension, the Government pays you a Winter Fuel Allowance in December of £200. For us this pays our Autumn fuel bill, both electric and natural gas combined, which at that time usually is about £200. So in effect we only pay 3 quarters out of 4, for our fuel utilities. Everyone gets it, regardless of your personal circumstances. Even the rich. The qualifier is getting the pension, which means you would be over 60 or so.

I can't think of anything else right now. Just thought you might be interested in this information, for future reference.