Fun Topic, Where Would You Live?

The hills of Tuscany - very impractical

The Chiltern Hills of England - extremely unlikely unless somebody gives me several millions of pounds, but it would have me a short hop into London, an equally short hop to Oxford, and more National Trust estates around me than I could count for visits and long walks....

Umbria, north of Assisi. It calls me, listen, can you hear it?

If I could live in Venice 6 months of the year - regardless of the tourist hordes - I would. Then in the colder months, I could see myself on the Cote D'Azur - not sure where...just...somewhere...in one of the little villages!

Wait wait - but Venice is so hot in the summer...hmmm, but then again, so is pretty much everywhere!

I can't make that decision yet. First I need a full year to travel around France. Then another year devoted to Great Britain. And probably another couple years while I explore Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. And then...

I do know that I'd need to be in or near a city. Small village life looks so peaceful but it's not for me. I don't even want to live in a small town here, where I have resources and good language skills. A small town in another country would just be too isolated.

Pennan, Scotland.

If you are serious, then there are EU countries that offer Golden Visas.

Spain: Golden Visa Spain with €500,000 investment.
An investment of €500,000 in real estate will gain family residency. The Spanish investor visa can be renewed every two years and after five years it is possible to gain permanent residency and after ten years citizenship. It is not necessary to live in Spain in order to retain and renew the investor residency visa.

Portugal: Golden Visa Portugal with €500,000 investment.
An investment of €500,000 in real estate in Portugal will gain a residency visa for a family including dependent children. The visa can be renewed every two years providing the applicant spends two weeks in the country every two years. One of the most attractive options is that to apply for permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship after 6 years without the need to reside in Portugal.

Cyprus: Golden Visa Cyprus. EU Citizenship €2.5 million.
An investment of €2.5 million in real estate is required. Cyprus is offering of citizenship within 2-3 months of such an investment. This grants a Cypriot passport and EU citizenshipThe investment can be reduced down after 3 years to just €500,000.

Greece: Golden Visa Greece offering residency without citizenship.
The Greek golden visa program grants a five year residency visa in return for an investment in real estate. There is no minimum stay requirement and children up to the age of 21 are included in the family application. The visa is granted for five years and renewed every five years if the property investment is retained. It is not necessary to live in the country in order to retain and renew the investor visa. However citizenship can only be granted after seven years of residency.

Malta: Citizenship through investment.
Individual investors must make a minimum contribution of €650,000 to the national development fund set up by the government, invest €150,000 in government approved financial instruments and commit to a residence in Malta for a minimum of 5 years. The property value for purchased real estate needs to be a minimum €350,000. Each family member also has to contribute a sum to the development fund of €25,000 each. The benefits after one years’ residency are citizenship and a Maltese second passport. This in turn grants European citizenship and the ability to live, work and study anywhere in the EU.

Hungary: Residency bond investment in Hungary.
Permanent residency is available in Hungary through investment in the Hungarian Residency Bond Program. This fast track investor program grants a five year residence permit to applicants investing €300,000 in government bonds. The capital is returned in full after 5 years. The amount excludes government and processing set fees of €60,000 per family irrespective of family size.

The residency can be renewed after 5 years at no further cost. Citizenship can be applied for after 8 years but under strict conditions including a language test. Hungary is an EU Schengen visa country and this visa allows freedom of travel throughout the EU Schengen zone. The visa applies to the full family

I told my hubby years ago, if he came home from an out of town trip and I had run away that I would be in Venice or Rome.
Have since decided it would be Rome with side trip to Venice. Also told him he didn't have to hurry to come find me. unless he wants to stay, too.

Edinburgh so far, though I am still shopping :-)

New England 6 months and Paris 6 months per year.

Something for you all to think about: I talked with a retired couple one year in Paris who repeatedly live 90 days in Paris, then 90 days in Florida. I thought that was a brilliant idea since then they can change Paris apartments or location every other time, other than their Florida home.

Practical (sort of): Toulouse - mid size city, love France, lots of tech/engineering jobs, nice climate

Impractical: Donegal Ireland (village TBD) - when I want to ignore the negatives of living in a beautiful village in the countryside

James,

I'm not considering moving from my Boston-area home but the information you provided is interesting - thanks.

Wow, this is a hard one. I'd probably choose somewhere in England with easy train access to London. Someplace similar to the Cotswolds without all the tourists. I could also go for Edinburgh. I'd be tempted to look at France too just for the food. Probably Normandy or Brittany.

Hüttenfeld, Hessen in Germany. Why? Because the four years I lived in this quiet little village, halfway between Frankfurt and Heidelberg, were close to paradise. This is not the Europe of your travel dreams, this is just an ordinary place, clean, well-ordered with good services, easy access to outdoor activities and decent restaurants. The kind of place where everyday life, although not thrilling, is extraordinarily pleasant. I'm probably moving back to Germany in a year or so, and I can only hope to live again in a village or town such as Hüttenfeld.

My ideal place would be somewhere in France, in a smaller town (but not a village) with good train connections and no more than 2 hours from Paris.

Tom,

I've had the privilege through work to spent several weeks in Zwingenberg and Alsbach and concur that the area is uniquely pleasant. I would happily move my family there if the opportunity arose.

Matt

Great topic! My current choice would be Edinburgh. Although that is always subject to change after I tour around the rest of Scotland next year.

Barcelona, without hesitation. I have a ready made family there, as well as (nearly) speaking the language.
To be honest, I already have a bedroom (shared study) as well.

What a fun topic indeed, Matt. I choose Paris!

York, England. Lots of old English charm. Right on the train line south to London. Right on the train line to points north; Edinburgh, etc. Not too far from the coast. Beautiful countryside all around.

Interesting information, James! Isn't there also the same type of deal for Europeans coming to the U.S.? Like if they invest an amount in a business, or somesuch? Seems that is happening in west coast Florida, and likely elsewhere. Maybe not citizenship, but work visa, etc.??

I like mountains and natural and other beauty. That's why I live in Seattle. Let's assume I have to move to Europe: then impractical: Switzerland: Luzerne, Berner Oberland or Zermatt. But I don't have enough money for that move, neither I speak the languages there.
Practical: I would have to move somewhere where I speak the language and where my money stretch. That means some nice mountain area in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. In C.R. Bohemia I especially like Stozec (small village) in Sumava mountains on Bavarian border, not too far from Cesky Krumlov or in Moravia Karlova Studanka in Jeseniky mountains or in Slovakia High Tatras and concretely village Tatranska Polianka.

My husband would love to go into the highlands of Scotland. Somewhere he'd have to go into Inverness a very few times a year to stock up on supplies (or so he thinks- he's never been in Scotland during 'real' winter weather or had to deal with midges, etc.). But I think I might like to live in York or maybe on the outskirts of London (Richmond, or similar maybe).

Cumbria, Lake District, England 6 months of the year.
Paris, France other 6 months.

I am assuming theoretically with none of the Schengen red tape and restrictions...great! In that case, living (and traveling ) in Europe means from April to early November. It has to be where I can function in or am able to use the language, ie, my using just tourist language isn't good enough. My choices in the "practical" sense are France and Germany, ie, somewhere in northern or central Germany, even eastern Germany depending on the town. The other choice is central or northern France, ie north of the Somme, or in Alsace-Lorraine.

Paris. Again.

Darcy, that's a brilliant way to do it. For me, it would be Paris/Sausalito (Marin)... : )

In a dream world I would absolutely go for a small village somewhere . . . but I will never convince my husband, who thinks he needs a city! I'd love to live in Dublin or somewhere in rural Ireland, maybe Edinburgh or somewhere rural in Scotland . . . would love to live a few months in Helsinki or somewhere rural in Scandinavia. All places he would never go because they would be too cold and dark for him.

More realistically, I really think I'd like to live in a "second-tier" French city -- i.e. Bordeaux or Montpellier or somewhere that's not as big as Paris and where real estate is exponentially cheaper, but I don't think that will happen either and don't know what kind of work I could find. So I guess I'm stuck here! : )

Sorry, winters are just too darn cold, except in places where summer's way too hot.

People are getting greedy here, so I might join in by saying ...

Xmas to Mar - SYDNEY
Apr to Jun - PARIS / LONDON (alternate years)
Jul to Sep - BARCELONA
Oct to Xmas - SAN FRANCISCO / NEW YORK (alternate years)

Roma, Roma, Roma, and Roma.

How cool to see I'm not the only one who fantasizes about this! Great topic!

If I won the lottery for millions of dollars and could retire right now, I'd buy homes in Amsterdam, Florence, and San Francisco. I would want to be in a city, as opposed to a small town, with lots of art and old buildings and restaurants and cultural stuff. I could also easily travel to other cities and countries from these places.

Lauterbrunnen . That's my "happy place"!

Somewhere damp and drizzly. For real. I love cool damp weather. I'd choose somewhere in northern England, I think.

Motorgirl, you would love it here in Seattle. I know, it's not in Europe.

Somewhere else.....

Ilja - I do indeed like Seattle a lot. Also Vancouver!

Frankly, I can't think of any place better than Frankfurt. It has the best combination of everything I enjoy. Tons of history spanning over 2000 years, a lively, friendly population, great food, fun festivals and wonderful markets. The only other place that would be tempting would be somewhere in the Netherlands. Mainly because of the people. They are laid back, funny, liberal, and darn attractive.

Looks like I'd be eating gelato with Zoe: Rome, Rome, Rome!
But Florence is a close second.

I'd go for Tuscany, centrally located to most other areas in Italy! Actually, pretty much anywhere in Europe since it is all fairly easily accessible, unlike the US.

After nearly 3 decades outside of Italy, I have come to the conclusion that Italy is not as bad as I used to think when I was living there. Sometimes you have to move across the fence in the neighbor's house to find out the grass isn't that green after all.

Having said that, after living so long in the mild SF Bay Area climate, I don't know if I could again get used to the extreme heat of Florence in summer. Maybe if I could afford a villa with swimming pool somewhere along the Viale dei Colli (or Fiesole). For sure winter will have to be in Hawai'i.

I would pick somewhere near to skiing, northern Italy or Chamonix. In summer time I would visit Paris, Amsterdam and castles. Spring or fall in Rome. Naturally, in this scenario, money is unlimited, no need for a job and there are no 90 day limits! :-)

Fun to dream!

Not practical...but both are lovely to look at! Murren, Switzerland or Donegal, Ireland

Vienna. Had a one-year trial run in the early 1990s and have been back many times since.

Venice, with regular visits to Florence.

And I know this is supposed to be limited to Europe, but spending every autumn in NYC would be so enjoyable.

Let's say you have to move to Europe

If I HAD to move to Europe, I don't guess I would care much as long as there were direct flights back to my home in the States so I could return often. .

I choose Paris but only if I can live in a large Haussmann apartment in the 16th or 17th arrondissement. What the heck, if we're fantasizing I may as well do it big time.

Well, James, but then you would not be able to live in Budapest since there is no direct flight from Budapest to your city in the US.

A castle on one of the islands without the costs. Or a white washed villa, with terracotta tiles on the roof, with a pool over looking the olive groves and vineyards of the (my) estate, with in the distance the Duomo of Florence against the Tuscan hills, or the Alhambra against the snow capped Sierra Nevada.

I have simple tastes.

I'm with you Norma!

Susan , you'd be welcome any time for a nice cup of tea.

Norma, can I pop in when in Paris? If so, I will keep a nice vintage for you.

Oh, good .... looks like we'll have a party! All welcome.

When you have the house warming, invite me.....

Nigel, if I can stay in your house in the Chilterns, of course!

I have a posh estate agent I go to to 'spend' my lottery winnings. Drools

And is not even anywhere near why I want it to be!

Ilja, you are correct. I enjoy the place, but I know how good I have it here.

Roma, in the Monti district

Emma, I am ripping out the carpets, and changing the kitchen to something more Tudor!

MC. What a gorgeous Downton-ish place. Love those ceilings. I will have ceilings like that in my Paris apartment.

A small apartment in Kreuzberg, Berlin, preferably close to Görlitzer Park.

Emma, I am buying you a mop. And a knotted headscarf.

We should ask this question again in mid November 2016

Summer, somewhere around the Ardennes, let's say Spa. Can get my fill of beautiful countryside.
Rest of the year, Sant'Elena, Venice. Not over-run by tourists, but close enough to walk and see all the beauty of Venice.

The more I travel, the more I think France strikes the nicest balance of attributes, and a medium-sized city in Provence would work for me on so many levels. Pretty good weather, maybe even more temperate than the S.F. Bay Area (at least where I live on the peninsula). Good train connections in the region. I have only spent two nights in Provence in perhaps close to a year of international travel (personal/business), but it's definitely the place that if I had to choose today, I would consider. Arles is the city where my wife and I stayed in 2003, and that would be a strong possibility.

Either the French or English countryside.

There is a little house (nothing fancy) that sits on a cliff in Riomaggiore. The terraced garden and lemon trees are surrounded by twig fencing. The view of the Mediterranean is goegeous! That's where I'd live.

I saw a "FOR SALE" sign Jeanine.

Norma, as soon as you start making that tea, I'll be right over. I'll be living close by so we'll be neighbors... : )

On our recent travels I fell in love with cities where there were lots of things to do... Amsterdam, Florence, Paris. One part of my mind loves the idea of a small home in a quiet little hamlet off the beaten track, but another embraces a vision of a life in the big city, lots of things to do at minimal cost, the ability to shuck the auto and either walk or use public transportation. Off the top of my head I would pick Amsterdam or Paris!

I would live on a mountainside south of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road--north of Lintz, Austria. This is in the shadow of the second highest peak in Europe, and absolutely the most beautiful place I've ever seen. It's just a short distance to the Italian border and Cortina d' Ambrezza to the southwest.

Grossglockner is not by far second highest peak in Europe. I hope I am not mistaken but it looks like 10th tallest peak in Europe if I consider only Alps and don't consider Caucasus is in Europe, then Grossglockner would be much farther down.
Nevertheless I would not mind living there.

I haven't narrowed it down quite enough yet to pin point an exact location but in a French village somewhere in the Grenoble/Lyon area or maybe heading up toward Dijon. In a farmland type area but in fairly close proximity to the mountains.

Dinkelsbühl, Germany or another town of the same size in Southern Germany.

Most likely Vienna because it's my husband's favorite -- and he's the one with the EU passport so we could live there for more than 90 days. But lots of trips to Paris...and Italy...and Spain...and...

I would love to live on a bit (just a bit) of land ... my boyfriend (by then he will have popped the question in some rediculously romantic way) and I watching our two german shepherds jumping through the snow, looking out at mountains whilst walking (not too far) up to the letter box with my dogs running around my legs to collect the mail. My partner he loves the colder weather, rain and why not the snow (dont get much of it in Australia) and I am partial to a smaller sized town where you can go to the pub on the weekends and catch up but still have all the neccesary ammenities, an airport somewhere nearby would make for excellant connections for quick vacations (and visiting friends from AUS), or some scenic roads to travel around with our dogs in tow ... So i think that makes me a Southern Germany type of girl :)

Either Salzburg Austria or maybe Lucca Italy. Salzburg is a beautiful city and Lucca is in a great location to travel to other parts of Italy.

Dießen am Ammersee, Bavaria. Small-town charm, but just a short boat ride to the end of the S8 in Herrsching for an easy trip to Munich for big-city amenities.

I note several folk have mentioned my home city of Edinburgh as a place to live.I cannot blame them and have spent much of my life living here apart for a period in my 30s and 40's when my work took me to other parts of the country.
Edinburgh however is not a cheap place to live especially when buying property.
Personally my own desirable place is Prague and I visit their several times a year .Once I finally retire in a few years time I will be spending much more of my time there.