Feb

27

I have finally moved from Rome to Norfolk with my family. A big change! I have a NATO assignment for a three-year tour.

I am really excited although it is not easy to settle down. The culture, the food, even the simplest things are different. The fact that houses are made of wood is also quite interesting. Last night there was heavy rain in the area. I have just rented a home and was still asleep on a mattress as my furniture has not yet arrived from Italy. Suddenly, I noticed that water had infiltrated through the roof and had come down to the living room. Very nice start I have to say!

Electrical outlets are different, so I had to buy all new electronic devices. Heating is different. Even the washing machine works differently. And in Italy, dryers are not very common.

What really impressed me, however, as soon as I arrived last month was the housing market in general. There are so many houses for sale in the area that you are brought to think that something is wrong. I do not know the US market and this area in particular, but the volume of housing for sale is huge. From what I understood, however, prices are still high and sellers, I have tried to test them, are not so inclined to reduce the price.

The rental market is different. I could not find so many houses for rent. And prices are quite high. Eventually, I decided to rent the house for the next 3 years. Currency risks and the weak housing market led me to make a very conservative choice. But with this type of market it might also be possible to find good bargains. I need time to search, and patience.


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