Urban condominiums to bespoke waterfront villas, there has never been a better time to buy in the US.

There has never been a better time for UK buyers to check out the range of property on offer in the USA. The pound is strong against the dollar and the US property market is slow, so chances of a bargain are very high indeed.  Investment-wise, it might be a longer term prospect rather than a ‘quick flip’, but it is an investment well worth considering.

There are obvious and immediate advantages of a second home in the US, such as sharing the same language, the number and frequency of flights from the UK to the major US cities and holiday destinations, fantastic shopping (especially attractive at the moment, due to the strong pound), and the huge choice and variety of available properties and locations.  Try to think of a typical US home, and you soon realise there is no such thing.  The range spreads from condos in Miami, lofts or brownstones in cities such as New York and Boston, apartments in Chicago, family houses in the suburbs, cabins in Maine, whitewashed clapboard houses on Cape Cod, beach houses in California, ranches in Montana…  The list is almost endless.

Florida has been the most favoured location for property-buying Brits for some time now, and it is not hard to see why.  The climate is beautiful all year round, the beaches are stunning, flights from the UK are cheap and frequent.  Miami is a vibrant, exciting city, full of colour, music and other entertainment.  Tampa is a thriving, lively university metropolis, steeped in history, but it is also a tourist hotspot close to magnificent resorts and the white beaches of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. 

For those with children, and for the young at heart, Florida also houses the US capital of family fun, Orlando.  The list of attractions in Orlando is too long to be given full justice here, but includes The Disney World Resort, Epcot Center, Bush Gardens, Sea World and The Kennedy Space Centre.

Florida is, however, by no means the only location worth considering.  The big cities are also easily accessible, bursting with cultural offerings such as theatre, opera, live music and some of the most famous museums and galleries on the planet, as well as being the world’s business and political hubs.  Worth noting is the fact that, due to the nature of the US corporate system, employees of major companies are moved around a lot from city to city, thus effecting a high demand for good rental properties.

Chicago, for example, is well worth a look.  According to a 2007 Financial Times report, Chicago is second only to New York in terms of the number of the biggest US companies which locate their headquarters there.  Often overlooked by UK buyers, Chicago is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated city with much to offer residents and visitors alike.  Like New York, the property market has not suffered the same slowdown as that of the rest of the country, but fabulous bargains can still be found, thanks to the currency exchange situation, and the fact that the country’s property market as a whole is set to improve in the coming times.