Moving to the 1st world

[Alien]

Z - you may find this interesting reading......

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/301721-what-earth-does-electricity-cost.html

Within the USA, there are tremendous variations in electric-grid costs. Some areas are still very low, with some painfully high.

Incompetence, deliberate mismanagement, and corruption are not confined to SA, but the trajectory of what you describe makes moving understandable. That said, Can. $1 Billion scandals are fairly routine here, and I'm just talking about my province, Ontario. If I were to move from here, it would probably be to either Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba in terms of Ag provinces.

I plan to be off-grid in my retirement property. In general, if I was settling down in Australia, the American SW, or any other location with strong annual sun exposure, even w/o my personal interest in alternative energy sources, I'd be taking a serious look at solar PV panel systems.

Obviously, there are many more factors to consider in a major move, but most of us do not want to live w/o electricity !

Rgds, D.

Yes we have solar. Plenty of sun in Queensland. My last 2 power bills we have been in credit around $60. We feed back into the grid. We only have a 4kW system. Our neighbours just built a new house and are totally 'off grid'.

 

[Zerk]

I read somewhere that Canada is very welcoming to those that no longer like the US?

Actually they are fairly strict about immigration. Something that liberals pretend not to notice, when talking about how great Canada is.

 

[Zerk]

Power is another topic that can go on. Some parts of the country may be good for solar. But keep in mind big panels and large up front costs. Some times in US you can get welfare to help pay for it though.

 

[buickanddeere]

Actually they are fairly strict about immigration. Something that liberals pretend not to notice, when talking about how great Canada is.

Immigration is strict but it is a free for all regarding refugees.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Zimbo, sad to hear of the corruption in your country...

I would say that you could end up in any of your places, and that, even down to the last kilometer or residence within such, can make all the difference in the world. Getting good neighbors are a blessing.

Many of the states within the USA have differing ideologies. Do your research, ask questions online here. Recommend you private message those here that live in areas you are interested in. We can't get political on this thread unless it is moved to the "Friendly Politics" and then it will go downhill fast.

Texas has had an influx of Californians moving here in the last 10 years. They are changing the political future. We also have plenty of illegal/undocumented immigrants here.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Yes we have solar. Plenty of sun in Queensland. My last 2 power bills we have been in credit around $60. We feed back into the grid. We only have a 4kW system. Our neighbours just built a new house and are totally 'off grid'.

The movement in the USA against connected-to-grid solar is to lower the credit given or refuse any credit whatsoever for power pushed back onto the grid.

 

[3Ts]

Another thing to consider when you are selecting an area to live, is your religious beliefs. There are areas in this country that are secular, muslim, christian, and just about any other religion that there is. In rural areas, the church also serves as the community center and frequently is the source of help when you need it.

 

[tcreeley]

In the US consider the temperatures you deal with now, the available water. Know your requirements, then do a search basedon that and soil types for farming. After that do a search on equestrian activities in those areas. Then follow up with the social and school situations.
- Year round equestrian is difficult without an indoor riding ring in the colder areas of the country. Yet other areas (south and west) are too hot- 100+F temps. The east coast has the milder temps - less extremes.
The price of land varies as well - more costly in populated areas that are doing well financially. Use online real estate searches like zillow to give you a snapshot of what is out there.

Bringing the horses with you- or saying good bye to them?

 

[Wagtail]

A couple of things I found out: Tasmania has 58 blueberry producing properties/producers (according to the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association [TFGA]). Mostly they're towards the Northwest.

Because Tassie is an island State, that means that we've got a bloody big MOAT around us! It works for and against us; against us is the transport costs of sending things to the mainland (or, to borrow the Kiwi's expression, the North Island! :laughing. Commercially, there is Government equity payments to try and offset that but if you want to visit the mainland on your own, it'll cost you out of your own pocket (vehicle ferry or flight).

For us is the moat is a barrier to bio-diseases and pests, which the State promotes and allows/promotes "organic" produce as a marketing feature.

Speaking of 'power'... your appliances will work here in Aus as we're 220AC. If you were to choose to move to North America, you will need to replace all of your electrical white goods as they run 115AC.

 

[Redneck in training]

Hi all

With the troubles getting more prevalent in Africa, and to give our young son a chance at a better life, we are contemplating leaving Africa to carve out a life somewhere else. Our list of potential countries is Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Sitting at home and looking at pictures on the internet is all very well, but it only tells a little of the story abut a place. I'd like to get opinions from people of what they consider suitable areas we should look at with respect to climate, distance to markets, education, stability, way of life etc

I am a farmer, and produce blueberries (southern high bush and rabbit eye) Passion fruit, row crops and cattle. so Id like somewhere I could keep doing what I know best.
My wife is a professional show jumper and coach and has been on the national team, and would like to keep doing what she loves and knows.
Our son is 2, and needs years of good schooling, friends, university, and the opportunity for a career based on merit.

If you had a reasonable amount of money to get started, but would still need some pretty big loans where would you recommend we look at, and why?

You got a lot of answers. I read only a few of them so I might repeat what was already said elsewhere. I am immigrant from Czechoslovakia to the USA so I have some experience with starting in a new country. The US is a great country if you have skills that are in demand (I had those) or money (I had none). Otherwise it is hard and it takes great effort to succeed. I used to work offten in Australia and think you would be better off there than in the USA. It has climate similar to SA, it is as large as US lower 48 states, has low population, high standard of living and I think (I might be wrong) the ag land is way cheaper there.
Elementary and high schools in the US are a mixed bag. Many are very good and some very bad. High education such as universities are generally good but are expensive.
I live in an ag area in Iowa. Land values are very volatile. Our land more than doubled in value in past about 8 years. Currently, in my area, 1-acre cost around 2500-3500 USD but I saw few smaller lots (40 acres) sold for 4850 USD/acre. Farther north, where the land is more productive, it is even more expensive. Needless to say that climare in Iowa will not support any tropical fruits. Just for reference average Iowa farm is about 2000 acres and there will be only two people working full time. I have a friend who farms 6000 acres. Only employees are him and wife. He does only corn and soy. No animals. In the winter him and few neighbors build aluminum grain trailers for sale. My neighbor has 250 acres where he plants corn or soy and grazes cattle. Both him and wife have full time jobs outside of the farm. I also heard that if you don't have college edducation in ag field or you are not a farmer with proven track record it is very hard to get a loan.
Current land sales are public record and can be viewed on the Internet. Google "county accessor" of a county you are intersted in and find accessor's web site. There are maps and spreadsheet or pdf file with current sales. In example Warren country Iowa:

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