[lee mccardle]

hi all, my family are planning to relocate to the South of France region, specifically Pau. We would really appreciate any advice anyone out there has to offer from their own experience in relation to the following:
[*]Potential employment as an electrician (myself) and accountant (my wife)[*]Schooling for children aged 5 and 3[*]Purchase and renovation of a property

We anticipate a challenge in terms of learning the language and culture, having relocated from the UK to Australia previously we are prepared for the upheaval

Any thoughts on the unforeseen would be greatly received.

[dmu]

Originally Posted by lee mccardle hi all, my family are planning to relocate to the South of France region, specifically Pau. We would really appreciate any advice anyone out there has to offer from their own experience in relation to the following: [*]Potential employment as an electrician (myself) and accountant (my wife)[*]Schooling for children aged 5 and 3[*]Purchase and renovation of a property We anticipate a challenge in terms of learning the language and culture, having relocated from the UK to Australia previously we are prepared for the upheaval Any thoughts on the unforeseen would be greatly received.

Hi and welcome to the forum!
There was another thread recently by someone moving to Pau and that poster may come back to help. Is there a particular reason for Pau?
There'd be no problem for your children - both would go to Maternelle and the elder one would go up to Primaire at 6 years old and learn to read and write.
Can't advise on property.
The main problem would be your respective professions - not only they are both completely different in France and you'd both have to learn the French standards and methods (and get qualified), but unemployment is extremely high in all fields and you'd have no chance competing against French job-seekers, especially if you don't speak the language.
Make a forum search (top right) for "accountant" and "electrician" and you'll find similar replies.
Sorry to be so pessimist, but I'm being realistic and you've got 2 small children dependent on you. Come over with savings to cover 1-2 years (to give an idea, you'd need a minimum of 2000€ per month x 12 to SURVIVE, i.e. rent, food and basics). You'd see on the spot whether France is for you, or not!

[lee mccardle]

thanks dmu for the quick reply we had thought of pau primarily as its near the pyranees mountains and there seems to be quite a big ex pat community there but are not set on just pau.

we would be planning to renovate and would be mortgage free after the renovations so this would take some pressure off our living costs. we have spent the last 6 years living in australia so have come accross a few barriers/challenges but obviously the langusge is the big barrier as far as france is concerned.

we would be thinking of renting before we took the plunge and bought somewhere as this would be the sensible option.have already gotten hold of a copy of the french electrical regulations and am aware i would have to get my qualifications transfered in france to be able to get registered. was just hoping that even with the financial crisis they would be enough work about to pay general living costs without the mortgage payments.

you say 2000 euros a month to survive how much of this was rent.

againg thanks for the reply all info is greatly appreciated. lee

[dmu]

Originally Posted by lee mccardle thanks dmu for the quick reply we had thought of pau primarily as its near the pyranees mountains and there seems to be quite a big ex pat community there but are not set on just pau. we would be planning to renovate and would be mortgage free after the renovations so this would take some pressure off our living costs. we have spent the last 6 years living in australia so have come accross a few barriers/challenges but obviously the langusge is the big barrier as far as france is concerned. we would be thinking of renting before we took the plunge and bought somewhere as this would be the sensible option.have already gotten hold of a copy of the french electrical regulations and am aware i would have to get my qualifications transfered in france to be able to get registered. was just hoping that even with the financial crisis they would be enough work about to pay general living costs without the mortgage payments. you say 2000 euros a month to survive how much of this was rent. againg thanks for the reply all info is greatly appreciated. lee

I'd say about 500€ for a house for 4, but I don't know the area and it may be more or less. Not much help, I know! But for food and basics, the official French "poverty threshold" is 1500€ for a couple with 2 children.
Hope this helps, good luck!

[Harvester523]

Personally, I think the only way to get work in France is to be self employed, but the cotisations are high. I believe the Aus system of electrics isn't too different to France so you shouldn't have too much trouble transferring. Your wife on the other hand will have to learn a completely alien system, but possibly will understand it better than the rest of us.
I won't say it would be easy, but around here (central France) especially, it's very hard to get any professionals of any description, but whether the lack of competition would be enough to make a living, I don't know.