If you are planning to spend any length of time in the US, have a family with you and buy a property, be very careful about going the J-1 visa route.
The J-1 visa was originally devised to allow 'third world' teachers/professors to benefit from the experience of working within the US academic environment for a limited time and with no extensions. It is particularly useful for US teaching & training establishments as it can be arranged and approved very quickly (they do it themselves). However....
You will be taxed as 'married, filing separately' no matter what your marital status - the highest rate going. You will not be entitled to claim for any dependants on your federal return, you will not be entitled to any tax credits on mortgages or property taxes at federal or state level. This can add up to mucho dollero...
Your proper visa i.e. work permit, should be an H visa, but these take much, much longer to approve, if at all.
If you do get a J visa, make sure it has a waiver to allow for a renewal.