Advice Needed - Living in America

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Ron Mummert

Or anywhere in Wiley Ford, WVA!!!!

Actually, Danny might like Annapolis. Four seasons, lots of water, lots of crabs, lots of wealth to spend in trendy restaurants, lots of taxes to support Baltimore.

Outragious taxes, no carry laws,no, not MD!



Hi Ron, Happy New Year, my friend!
A little South of Annapolis in VA should be nice!

[cozykat]

If I were to base where to live on climate alone: I would choose Texas (which is why I live here still). However, I would not recommend Houston - their good and bad neighborhoods are interweaved like a shuffled card deck and their traffic is terrible.
In Texas, I would recommend Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or College Station. Austin is the most peaceful, with some beautiful hill country and is the most like the good parts of California in weather/culture without the high cost of living. Depending on the climate you want, the more north/south I'd recommend. San Antonio and Austin have three season.. fall, spring, summer - no real winter but it gets into the 30's sometimes. Dallas actually has four seasons (including snow) which is why I avoid living there. I generally prefer not living in any environment where mother nature tries to wipe you out (i.e. flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earth quakes). I can deal with a small drought or two.

Regarding restaurants, they seem to do well in San Antonio as it is a tourist city. Austin/Dallas have already established diverse restaurant genres while San Antonio seems to be getting there. All three cities would welcome a Lebanese restaurant. College Station is a small city but it's considered a college town so a restaurant would either big a huge success or a big failure.

Great communities with good job opportunities exist throughout the US - there isn't any one state or city that has it all. I have enjoyed my visits to South Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and California. They all had some peaceful locations with beautiful views. A few also contained some very bad locations (New Orleans, Louisiana and downtown Detroit, Michigan especially) where I wouldn't get out of my car and really preferred to not even stop.

If I had to leave Texas... I think I would aim for Colorado, California, or North/South Carolina.

As for Australia, I have always wanted to visit as I have some wonderful friends all over the country and it has always seemed like such an amazing /friendly place. They generally seem to have a relaxing culture. The only down side is that the most deadly/poisonous creatures (snakes, spiders, etc) are also residents there. So purely for that reason, I think I would seek residence in New Zealand, instead of Australia. New Zealand seems to be very similar in terms of friendly people and it has some of the loveliest country side.

[Huskymaniac]

Marisa has some good ideas. Here is the deal. You need to know for sure what climate you want. Do you want to avoid weather extremes like tornados, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, etc? Does living near the ocean matter to you? If so, do you want warm waters? Then I would ask if you have children that are school age. The correlation isn't 100% but, in general, quality of education is proportional to taxes paid. Having said that, you can find good private schools almost anywhere that is reasonably populated. You pay for good education one way or another. Then you need to look at college options for when that day comes. NY, for example, has some great school districts for k-12 but our state colleges are pretty mediocre. North Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia and Illinois have some really good state colleges. And you are already aware of business taxes. Finally, look into the cost of housing. And, if you want to look really far ahead, search on states that are good to retire in.

Personally, if the cost of housing wasn't so crazy, I would live in either southern CA or Napa Valley. Aside from Hurricanes on the coast and some areas with flooding issues, NC has a lot to offer. I have heard good things about Austin, TX but I am not a big fan of heat. I have also heard nice things about Denver, CO but that is nowhere near an ocean. I love Maine but the winters are pretty cold and the schools are pretty mediocre. Don't let anyone talk you into the pacific NW. The ocean water is frigid and the weather is more gloomy than they will admit.

[SilverSpear]

Sorry guys, couldn't answer before. Between New Year's, the recent explosion and making the SVX roadworthy again, things got mixed up.

Originally Posted by donmac45

Hi SilverSpear,
Best wishes and luck
New Zealand sounds a bit like Lebanon!
A range of climates depending on latitude.
Also distinct seasons, more so as you move south.
Govt friendly -democracy that mainly works, little corruption -taxes manageable.Good education system
regards
DonMac45

Thanks Don. How about work opportunities? Business opportunities? Would you think a Lebanese restaurant might work?
I know no one from Lebanon living in New Zealand, so I cannot judge.

Originally Posted by flamestone

I think it's a very personal thing, getting up and moving like that, so I can't help with exact destination. However I can say that I have several Lebanese friends here in Australia, and they're generally very happy here.

There's a massive Lebanese community here, and already lots of well established Lebanese restaurants.

But strangely, I also know some that can't quite fit 100% here, and therefore travel back to Lebanon regularly. But don't know how that works out financially. Must be a killer!

Do you have friends of family here in Aus?

I know, Lebanese are abundant mainly in Brazil, Canada, Australia, UAE, Nigeria amongst others.

You see? We have one of the best countries in the world ruined by corruption and some idiots. There is no resource that we don't have and all our neighbors are working round the clock on stealing it.

Originally Posted by svxfiles

I would tell you where NOT to go,
Detroit,
Chicago,
New York City,
Washington DC,
ANYWHERE in Maryland,
New Orleans.
What kind of weather are you looking for as far as Summer high temperatures and Winter low temperatures?
What % of humidity do you like?
How many days of Sun per year do you like?
Tom

Tom, my Uncle's family prefer SUN all year round if possible. They lived in the GCC area for almost 25 years, so they are used to it.

As for me, what is really annoying is extreme humidity, high winds, extreme temperature or extreme snow. Whatever is extreme, I try to evade.
As for temperature, whatever is between 25 and 95 by your scale, is fine by me. Humidity over here is between 30 and 80%, but I lived in Qatar where humidity is 10% at best. I can say that I like non humid weather, BUT not a requirement. What really matters for me is the lowest taxes possible, good opportunities to startup and run a business mainly a restaurant (Lebanese, Italian, Sushi/Sashimi) and a French bakery at a later stage.

Originally Posted by Ron Mummert

Or anywhere in Wiley Ford, WVA!!!!

Actually, Danny might like Annapolis. Four seasons, lots of water, lots of crabs, lots of wealth to spend in trendy restaurants, lots of taxes to support Baltimore.

LOL

Originally Posted by cozykat

If I were to base where to live on climate alone: I would choose Texas (which is why I live here still). However, I would not recommend Houston - their good and bad neighborhoods are interweaved like a shuffled card deck and their traffic is terrible.
In Texas, I would recommend Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or College Station. Austin is the most peaceful, with some beautiful hill country and is the most like the good parts of California in weather/culture without the high cost of living. Depending on the climate you want, the more north/south I'd recommend. San Antonio and Austin have three season.. fall, spring, summer - no real winter but it gets into the 30's sometimes. Dallas actually has four seasons (including snow) which is why I avoid living there. I generally prefer not living in any environment where mother nature tries to wipe you out (i.e. flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earth quakes). I can deal with a small drought or two.

Regarding restaurants, they seem to do well in San Antonio as it is a tourist city. Austin/Dallas have already established diverse restaurant genres while San Antonio seems to be getting there. All three cities would welcome a Lebanese restaurant. College Station is a small city but it's considered a college town so a restaurant would either big a huge success or a big failure.

Great communities with good job opportunities exist throughout the US - there isn't any one state or city that has it all. I have enjoyed my visits to South Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and California. They all had some peaceful locations with beautiful views. A few also contained some very bad locations (New Orleans, Louisiana and downtown Detroit, Michigan especially) where I wouldn't get out of my car and really preferred to not even stop.

If I had to leave Texas... I think I would aim for Colorado, California, or North/South Carolina.

As for Australia, I have always wanted to visit as I have some wonderful friends all over the country and it has always seemed like such an amazing /friendly place. They generally seem to have a relaxing culture. The only down side is that the most deadly/poisonous creatures (snakes, spiders, etc) are also residents there. So purely for that reason, I think I would seek residence in New Zealand, instead of Australia. New Zealand seems to be very similar in terms of friendly people and it has some of the loveliest country side.

Awesome deal of info Cozykat! I know Austin is good, I have few friends there who can vouch on this.

Time to start brainstorming and researching what you guys recommended above. Thanks again guys.

[SilverSpear]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

Marisa has some good ideas. Here is the deal. You need to know for sure what climate you want. Do you want to avoid weather extremes like tornados, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, etc? Does living near the ocean matter to you? If so, do you want warm waters? Then I would ask if you have children that are school age. The correlation isn't 100% but, in general, quality of education is proportional to taxes paid. Having said that, you can find good private schools almost anywhere that is reasonably populated. You pay for good education one way or another. Then you need to look at college options for when that day comes. NY, for example, has some great school districts for k-12 but our state colleges are pretty mediocre. North Carolina, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia and Illinois have some really good state colleges. And you are already aware of business taxes. Finally, look into the cost of housing. And, if you want to look really far ahead, search on states that are good to retire in.

Personally, if the cost of housing wasn't so crazy, I would live in either southern CA or Napa Valley. Aside from Hurricanes on the coast and some areas with flooding issues, NC has a lot to offer. I have heard good things about Austin, TX but I am not a big fan of heat. I have also heard nice things about Denver, CO but that is nowhere near an ocean. I love Maine but the winters are pretty cold and the schools are pretty mediocre. Don't let anyone talk you into the pacific NW. The ocean water is frigid and the weather is more gloomy than they will admit.

Let me give you a hint about housing costs over here, first of all there are NO wooden houses, all is concrete: From private villas or buildings, all is 100% stone/concrete. I have a 2400 sq foot apartment, furnished worth about US$500,000. Non furnished around US$450,000.
My parent's apartment is around 5000 sq foot, worth around US$1.5 million fully furnished. Here we are talking in apartments in a 5 story building around 10 minutes far from Beirut District. Municipal taxes per year are around $250 per apartment (and that's it).
Inside Beirut, in some areas, a 2500 sq foot apartment can reach US$2 million.

Now assuming a 2500sq foot house in a good "affordable" area, what amount needs to be spent to own it (including breakdown details), and what does it include as yearly taxes?

Anyone can assist too with the taxes related to restaurants?

[Huskymaniac]

So you don't appear to be scared off by expensive houses. SERIOUSLY consider southern CA or, possibly, central CA. It is the closest thing the US has to mediteranean climate. You need an Italian cook?

One thing I forgot to mention is the benefit of living AWAY from the larger cities. Move a little more into the rural areas to save money on housing. Specifically search for rural college towns. The people are better educated, the schools are better, the economy is more stable and people appreciate good food more than what you would find in generic rural areas. Relative to the city, the housing is cheaper, the traffic is lighter, the people are nicer and crime is lower. In the state of NY, a great example of this is Ithaca. In PA, you have state college. I'm sure such places exist in central and southern CA. I just haven't personally looked to know.

NC and most of the southeastern US is probably out for you if you don't like humidity. I don't know what the humidity is like in Austin but you can easily get climate data. I do know that the central US is drier in general BUT they also have temperature extremes. It can get REALLY cold in north-central US and REALLY hot in south-central US. I have heard that it is dry and not particularly extreme in CO. I know it is dry in most of NV, AZ and NM but it can get REALLY dry and it isn't very green there at all. I like some green, personally.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by cozykat

In Texas, I would recommend Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or College Station. Austin is the most peaceful, with some beautiful hill country and is the most like the good parts of California in weather/culture without the high cost of living. .

I totally agree with Marisa. The area around Austin, Salado and College Station is absolutely exquisite; I would move there in a minute! I visited my sister, who has a very large cattle ranch in Salado, back in May. My niece was graduating from Texas A&M, so I got the tour of the entire area. Low crime, affordable living and the friendliest people I have ever met. Lots of culture and a great educational system. Plus people there really know how to drive. A large and diverse population, yet it doesn't feel crowded.

I guarantee you will be greeted with genuine warmth and respect. As my sister says, "everyone who lives here is a Texan, some just don't know it yet"

.

[SilverSpear]

Originally Posted by Huskymaniac

So you don't appear to be scared off by expensive houses. SERIOUSLY consider southern CA or, possibly, central CA. It is the closest thing the US has to mediteranean climate. You need an Italian cook?

One thing I forgot to mention is the benefit of living AWAY from the larger cities. Move a little more into the rural areas to save money on housing. Specifically search for rural college towns. The people are better educated, the schools are better, the economy is more stable and people appreciate good food more than what you would find in generic rural areas. Relative to the city, the housing is cheaper, the traffic is lighter, the people are nicer and crime is lower. In the state of NY, a great example of this is Ithaca. In PA, you have state college. I'm sure such places exist in central and southern CA. I just haven't personally looked to know.

NC and most of the southeastern US is probably out for you if you don't like humidity. I don't know what the humidity is like in Austin but you can easily get climate data. I do know that the central US is drier in general BUT they also have temperature extremes. It can get REALLY cold in north-central US and REALLY hot in south-central US. I have heard that it is dry and not particularly extreme in CO. I know it is dry in most of NV, AZ and NM but it can get REALLY dry and it isn't very green there at all. I like some green, personally.

We are scared by housing costs, don't get me wrong. I was lucky enough to buy my apartment when it was worth US$180,000. In 2008, where the world was sinking into depression, everything around here was going up. Now mine is worth 500 large.

Originally Posted by svxcess

I totally agree with Marisa. The area around Austin, Slado and College Station is absolutely exquisite; I would move there in a minute! I visited my sister, who has a very large cattle ranch in Salado, back in May. My niece was graduating from Texas A&M, so I got the tour of the entire area. Low crime, affordable living and the friendliest people I have ever met. Lots of culture and a great educational system. Plus people there really know how to drive. A large and diverse population, yet it doesn't feel crowded.

I guarantee you will be greeted with genuine warmth and respect. As my sister says, "everyone who lives here is a Texan, some just don't know it yet"

.

Awesome, this is what is needed. So far then, I will focus on Jacksonville, FL and Austin, Tx.

Time to start prepping for our visit trip, my uncle needs to apply for a visit visa. Hope he gets it or else all this effort will go south...

[92 SVX]

I would stay far away from southern, or any part of California. The Taxes will be extreme, the state is doing everything it can to pull in money.
I have not had a chance to talk to my neighbor yet, but I do recall him saying he pays about 1500 per year in property tax he has several acre's though.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by SilverSpear

We are scared by housing costs, don't get me wrong. I was lucky enough to buy my apartment when it was worth US$180,000. In 2008, where the world was sinking into depression, everything around here was going up. Now mine is worth 500 large.



Awesome, this is what is needed. So far then, I will focus on Jacksonville, FL and Austin, Tx.

Time to start prepping for our visit trip, my uncle needs to apply for a visit visa. Hope he gets it or else all this effort will go south...

Find out if the Palmeto Bugs go that far North.
Unless you are OK with 2.5" long insects crawling over everything.
Lots of crack houses too.

[Blacky]

What about Canada? Eh?

If you don't mind 4-5 months of snow it's amazing here.

Also almost no guns like our crazy southern neighbors.

No poisonous snakes like Down Under.

In the Ottawa area where we are from there is a huge Lebanese population. My wife has worked for 4 or 5 Lebanese families at their restaurants and the owners of the grocery store where she works now are Lebanese also. She even speaks quite a bit of Arabic from all the exposure.
Do you have any family in Canada?

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Blacky

What about Canada? Eh?

If you don't mind 4-5 months of snow it's amazing here.

Also almost no guns like our crazy southern neighbors.

No poisonous snakes like Down Under.

In the Ottawa area where we are from there is a huge Lebanese population. My wife has worked for 4 or 5 Lebanese families at their restaurants and the owners of the grocery store where she works now are Lebanese also. She even speaks quite a bit of Arabic from all the exposure.
Do you have any family in Canada?

So when bad guys come to take your stuff you just let them, OK.


An armed society is a polite society.


Tom,
Eh.

[Blacky]

I knew I'd get a response from you. We throw rocks and feces and jab the robbers with pointy sticks.
Actually here you can't even shoot somebody robbing your house or you get arrested too.

P.S. You can have as many long guns as you want (I have 5)just not handguns. Only cops, drug dealers and thugs are allowed to have those.

[LarryIII]

Northern Delaware is a nice quiet place to live.

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by Blacky

I knew I'd get a response from you. We throw rocks and feces and jab the robbers with pointy sticks.
Actually here you can't even shoot somebody robbing your house or you get arrested too.

P.S. You can have as many long guns as you want (I have 5)just not handguns. Only cops, drug dealers and thugs are allowed to have those.

TeeHeeHee, snort!
Having had my right arm shattered by a bad guy
(REALLY REALLY BIG bad guy)
trying to crush my scull with a big rock (Pgh pavement brick),
(never had to duck a feces)
no pointy sticks either but have looked down the noisey end of a barrel more times than I can count since I was 16 years old.
I have some long guns, but when I am allerted to something out of the ordenary I grab a pistol.
good acuracy, convienient, and they weigh less than a 200# cop.
quicker to get to too!
Tom