Do some research on the Canadian prairies. If you are buying a farm and maybe hiring some employees, you may qualify for the "entrepreneurs" program.

Got me thinkin

Further to my above ref, try: www.lanerealtycorp.com and enquire about the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program.(SINP). Lane Realty are a Regina based company, and the site is very informative. There are even video interviews with British Ex-Pats who have done what you are contemplating.
Good luck!

Hiya Jimilad.......
Another Geordie lad......

I'm also from Newcastle, and still have a place there, but have also lived and worked in South Africa on/off for many years.

I'm not a farmer, but have a 1/3rd share with some good S.A. friends in a small game farm near Hoedspruit in Limpopo.
It's a great little place which makes us no money at all, and is really close to all the touristy things in that area......nice........, but having said that, there are still problems.
Break-ins are a regular occurance, and as others have said, there is always the threat of the farm being taken by the government.

My friends that live there, and look after the place have vast experience of living in out of the way places, and are extremely adept at looking after themselves (ex policeman/soldier), but they still worry when the fence alarm goes off in the middle of the night.

Spending time on an isolated farm in beautiful surrroundings sounds like paradise, but the reality is that you will spend many nights in your bed frozen with fear every time you hear noises outside.



I have always remained optimistic about the future of S.A. (still am long term), but things are turning for the worse at the moment, and things will get even worse before they get better. I would try somewhere else, or even wait 5 or so years before you spend your money.

All the best Dave.

Oh, sorry i forgot to say.
Other friends of friends that i know (S.A. farmers) are now living and farming in Mozambique.
They have only been out there just over a year now, but are very happy.
Relationship with local people is also very good, which i would think is important
I believe that they are renting the land from the Mozabique government on a long term lease.

Of course you will not have the infrastructure that you would have in S.Africa (or should i say that you would have for a while in S.A......it is declining), but depending on the type of life that you wish to lead, this could add to the charm.

Dave.

Not a place to live with a family though. Okay if you don't have kids.

You moving to Canada?

well for whoever 'emmigrates' to Canada, I think they have spelling tests...

I don’t think so,

Had a look at the farm on the link and thought that great for the money, if that is what you can get for CA $ 250.

Not settled in NZ .

We looked at Ca when we moved out of SA. Have a brother in BC who would sponsor blah blah blah.

It was a long waiting game with the Ca immigration, up to 3 years and I couldn’t wait that long to get out of SA.

Must admit was really impressed with UK when were there in Jan and good property opportunities there too.

We are going to have a look at Oz mid year.

Our wee lad is thriving here and we have got him into a very good private school here which is a biggie.

Down side of NZ is the tiny market here for business.

I really thought Scotland in January was going to settle me here, but instead threw me a wobbly !

Cheers

Just one of the horror stories from SA farming

http://www.24.com/news/?p=saa&i=856342

know what you mean.

we hated auckland, loved wellington, but at the end of the day the winters/ humid, damp houses and all the old money/ private school buddies keeping a tight reign on the country became too much, or should I say limited our opportunities.
Kids loved it there- schools were good (much better than aus, for us).

Aus- you can go out and do 'something' to improve your position, but the likelihood of getting shafted big time are extremely high.

ps. did you watch?- good game today

I'm sure the central US has plenty of farmland. Year ago or so there was a state giving away plots of land if people agreed to move there within X years and build a house within X years. Should research a bit.