San Francisco to London help!!!

I know all companies are different, and even within companies there are differences, but we'd lose most of our housing allowance if we bought here.  It sounds like you're here longer term, so probably moot, but in our case, the company doesn't want to subsidize our investments.   

I figured I should give everyone an update!

I am heading to LHR on Monday for my first neighborhood hunting trip. Granted I will only be there for 48hrs, but it is a start!

I would love to meet with some letting agencies, but I'm not sure how serious they will take me since we will not be looking for long term housing until May 1st. Thoughts? Advice?

My operating plan right now is to wonder around Marylebone and check out Le Courdon Bleu cooking school, but would love an suggestions.

Also, we are still up in the air regarding rent vs buy. I think we will make a 'game time' decision depending on how quickly our house in SF sells. DH company has no issue with us using our allowance to pay a mortage, we did check.

I'm so excited/nervous all at the same time! The last few months have been a roller coaster ride of are we going/ are we not going etc. It feels so surreal that we will be leaving in the next month and a half!

Thanks again for all of the help!

I can only speak to rentals, but six weeks out isn't too bad, but it's a little early.  We found our current place about that far out, though, as did a few friends.  The whole process is such a crap shoot and comes down to dumb luck much of the time. 

You do get more bargaining room closer to a move-in date, but that can also mean inventory has been snapped up.  Our current place had been on the market for a while and priced too high, so we were able to negotiate on several points.

I'd definitely try to see some places while you're here next week.  We had a much lower price point than you for rent, so I have no doubt (or at least a strong hope) you'll be saved some of the awfulness I saw, but it'll still give you a good stating point on what's acceptable for you and what's not.

Good luck with your trip.  Le Cordon Bleu is only a block off of Marylebone High Street, so spend some time walking around and getting a feel for it.  It's a wonderful neighborhood and I really love it here.   

 

I'm so excited! I can't wait to just wonder around.

I would love to see some placs but if I don't I'm going to be coming back in April so I can look then. The way DH temp housing works is we can stay as long as we want but the firm pays for the first 6 wks. So, we don't have thr crushing pressure of maybe being homeless!

If you see a red headed American wondering around Marylebone on Wed stop and say 'hi'!

With temp housing, you'll be just fine!  No pressure at all.  I always forget about it, because I arrived 4 months after my husband so I never stayed there.   Have a great trip! 

The trip was great! We have officially narrowed the search to the area around Marylebone High Street and Mayfair close to the Bond Street station.  I was only there for two days so I had limited time to check things out, but I really fell in love with Marylebone High Street. It reminds me of where we live in SF :-(

The relocation company is pressuring us to make a housing decision before we move, I assume so DHs company doesn't have to pay for temp housing, but I put the kibosh on that very quickly. DH will be moving into temp housing May 1st and I'm going to fly out with him and spend 10-14 days house hunting so we will have our own place by June 1st. I picture DH using moving boxes for tables and sleeping on a futon until I arrive in August with all of our stuff!

Now we get to deal with our properties in SF! What a freakin nightmare this is!