Long Term Home Exchange
 

I live in Nashville, TN and am interested in a long term house swap in Europe (preferably England) -- for 6 months to a year. It seems the swappers at Homelink (which is supposed to be the best) are only looking for a couple of weeks. Also, I wonder if anyone would be interested in a year in Nashville -- unless they want to write country music. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions to share? Thanks.
PS. I'll be doing a short vacation to Rome and then a Mediterranean cruise later this summer. This site has been fantastic in helping me decide where to stay. Thanks!

I think the chance of finding someone to exchange for Nasville for that length of time is small - but, you may want to try your local universities - long-term exchanges are frequently visiting faculty or grad students.

A better choice might just be to sublet the house and use the cash to at least partly defray your hotel costs - IMHO a much more likely option.

Most would-be exchangers at Homelink are indeed looking for shorter stays (a month or less), but Homelink does offer a "Transaction offered" code option for longer stays. They already list 4 offerings of LT exchanges in TN, but those listings offer accommodations for only 2 adults, so if your place can accommodate more, you'll have a distinct advantage.

Are you british or do you have a job.
How do you stay for 6-12 monthes legally?

StephenG's point can be made more tactfully.

Assuming Songdoc is American, hasn't a passport from an EU country and wants to obey the law, Songdoc can't come into the UK for more than 6 months without a visa. And the British system doesn't recognise tourist visits of over 6 months.

Now many Americans chose their ancestors cleverly enough to qualify for a passport from an EU state.

Otherwise, an intending 12-month visitor has to get a visa - for work (which, with reasonable qualifications or experience is virtually automatic in the UK these days), investment, as a visiting artist, academic or some such, or as a retired person of independent means.

My understanding is that for many rich-country citizens, getting such visas can be bureaucratic and slow, but often needs only to convince the system that you're not going to work illegally or be a call on public funds. But it can be a messy and time-consuming business, and may need professional help (browse heavily through the options at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/def...sp?PageId=3185)

But Britain these days is the easiest country in the affluent world for rich-country foreigners to get into, and it's likely to be tougher in most of mainland Europe. It's far, far, tougher for us to get to stay in the US for 12 months. And one of the penalties of being a home-owner is that you've inevitably reached a stage in your life when being an illegal alien has lost its charm.

So, Songdoc, you might find the bureaucracy of a 12-month stay a hirdle. Your swap partner will probably find it worse. And this may depress the market for what you have in mind.

Which is not to say there isn't a record-company executive in the Chilterns who, right this minute, is trying to work out where he's going to live in his next job as head of A&R at TrailerTrash Sounds Inc.

...though you'll more likely find the bureaucracy a HURDLE.

Oops.

Flanneruk Message: StephenG's point can be made more tactfully.
Geez, thought it was not that bad1
Must be my Cheshire born Mother that came through.

Try homeexchange.com

..would second the idea of going to the university (if you live close by)..go to each dept head's secretary and leave info..there is almost always someone on sabbatical...if there is a research institute this is almost certainly a prime target for people looking for long term housing...good luck!