50/50
Posted by Lopsided-Steak5372@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Are there any expats who live (roughly) half the time in the US and the other half overseas? What does that look like? Do you rent or own in both places?
cp4905@reddit
The more time you spend time out of the US, the less you want to be there
Top-Half7224@reddit
True, I went back for 6 months, then 3 months, then 3 weeks.... Not visited since the last election and have no intention of doing so. The things I miss now mostly don't even exist any more, the forests that haven't burned down are all over run with idiots with loud music, guns, and unleashed dogs, a good restaurant needs booking weeks in advance and costs you more than airfare, people telling me to "go back to my own country" because my accent is different lol.
thatsplatgal@reddit
I’m currently splitting time between Europe and US. US/EU citizen. I’ve done Italy for six months, then a couple of months back to US for visits and restocks, then late summer in EU beach town.
This year I’ve gone beyond my 183 days in my current country so we’ll see how this shifts my future plans.
I rent in the EU. Sold my home and all my stuff in the US about a decade ago so I just stay with family or rent STR or sometimes a van when I return.
Chinacat_Sunflower72@reddit
We are 6 months in the USA. Own a house. Get a housesitter when we’re gone. The other 6 months are in France and Greece. We rent in both places, different towns each year. (We have EU /USA passports)
Jwoot1111@reddit
You pay the sitter or they basically rent? Or it’s jst free and they look after things?
Chinacat_Sunflower72@reddit
It's just free. I know the housesitters. They are in there; 30's but live with parents are are happy to have a place for themselves from time to time. I'd love to actually rent but as it's only 6 months I don't think I could find anyone. And then to put everything away... etc... it's too much hassle. So yes, I pay for things like utilities even when I am not at the house. But they also do stuff like keep the bird feeders full, water the garden, shovel the snow, etc.
baskaat@reddit
Similar. But I use TrustedHousesitters.
Chinacat_Sunflower72@reddit
Have you had good luck with that? There is a sub here for trusted house sitters but it seems like everyone complains - both the sitters and the people who get the sitters.
baskaat@reddit
I have had excellent luck with it. I’m a house sitter myself and I use the service when I travel. Some of people on that sub are a bit dramatic. Sitters are rated on the site as are homeowners. The reviews are blind, so people should be honest. I find most people are “easy graders” so sometimes you do have to read between the lines.. Plus, I always do a video chat just to make sure we’re a good fit.
Chinacat_Sunflower72@reddit
Thanks for the reply. I read about people unhappy they can't walk to a lot of night life, or being pissed they couldn't use the car.. I am not sure I'd want someone to use my car, tho I am sure it would be covered by insurance if something happened. As we don't have pets it seems like it would be a great sit for someone (or a couple). I may look into it if the folks I know can't do it. I have a lot of neighbors who would keep an eye on things and let me know if something went astray as well. Video chat is a good idea.
Loreen72@reddit
I live full time in Mazatlan and the majority of expats here live here 4-6 months then go back to the US or Canada for the rest of the year.
bravohotelechomike@reddit
Is there narco activity in that area?
Loreen72@reddit
Noire than there was mafia activity in New York in the 80s and 90s. If you aren't part of it, you are fine.
Jwoot1111@reddit
Yes if you want to get involved in it. If you don’t, you won’t see much or any of it.
greattobeus@reddit
Our home base is a Condo in a small Florida beach town. We lease it furnished for three months at a time, usually to traveling nurses or digital nomads, and that pays for our travel. Last year we were home for six months, and spent the other six months in Vietnam, the Philippines and Hawaii.
WideSize1@reddit
Alternating 1–3 months in both places
Rent in both
Eli_Knipst@reddit
Where are you a tax resident?
fortissimohawk@reddit
do you have any strategies for finding quality shorter-term rentals? (and would you mind noting which countries you'vd had short-term rental success in?)
realty agencies i've corresponded with all want year-long leases, and i've searched second-tier cities in 3 countries. thanks in advance for any insights.
WideSize1@reddit
Usually websites targeted to college students offer 1-6 month leases. My only experience is Taiwan.
But I did Airbnb for a couple weeks, while I toured local apartments then signed a year long lease
fortissimohawk@reddit
thank you so much!
Few-Improvement9978@reddit
I’m basically becoming 6 months Thailand and 6 months USA.
Short term rentals are not too hard to find, but quality can be. Subleases are typically the best option
baby_budda@reddit
Yes. But they do it mainly for tax reasons.
WideSize1@reddit
Depends on the countries bruh… tax law is different everywhere
baby_budda@reddit
Thats true.
Small_Dog_8699@reddit
Lots of US/Mexico snowbirds
HVP2019@reddit
I had known about 3 separate families where this was done.
In all 3 cases it involved naturalized adult children living in US who have their elderly parents coming over to stay for long visitors visa ( occasionally green card, occasionally dual citizenship).
So they would split their time between their house in their home country and staying with their kids in US. .
This worked reasonably well because American houses tend to be big enough to accommodate long stay guests. Also in many cultures living with parents is culturally accepted.
Meanwhile elderly parent’s property in their country of origin is tended by their other children ( other relatives).