Mike1001

Hi fellow expats,

Advice needed. I am trying to find a permanent place to settle for myself and family. We are looking for nirvana. Low mortgtge/ rental. Decent education opportunities for two young primary aged kids. Jobs wise the better half ( and she is definitely the better half) is a medical specialist and speaks a number of languages including her native Polish. I have an income of a bit over 1500€ a month. I have a couple of degrees but I am not too interested in working for a living. The young family keep me busy!

We have lived in a number of countries and are looking for a place to finally settle. Currently in Scandinavia which is great but I have heard Slovenia is a stunningly beautiful and may be a better place.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Mike

Sir Harry le Fise Lake

If you are looking for Nirvana, Mike, then best google Nirvana for ex patriates, conditions


How can anyone really start on the advantages and disadvantages for you? you need to do some basic research. why not go to Slovenia for a week or two, and dig around?

But you should know that Slovenia is a high tax country, and very bureacratic. and it's not too cheap, if you are on local salaries - although housing is cheap in the sticks, eg in Prekmurje and Bela Krajina. But then you can't get work.

On the plus side, the people are normally very honest, helpful, often astonishingly capable to carry on complex conversations in English, street crime virtually non-existent, hard working, especially older folk in the provinces.

But, since you say you don't want to work, if they think you are just hanging around, you may not get much respect.

Your wife should soon pick up the basics of the language, both Slavic cousins.

H lFL

Mike1001

Sir H,

Many thanks for the reply, my wife has been to Slovenia and worked there for a few months and she is the one who mentioned we should check it out and go for a holiday.

I saw some pictures and I really was amazed at how stunning and wonderful it all looks. The plus side is the honesty and low crime rate and it also looks to me at least as if the country is from another time. A better time. But maybe this is the usual rosy picture that can enchant those from afar who presently reside in colder climes.

I am used to high taxes and bureaucracy. I intensely dislike both but its a challenge put there so I can become a more decent person I am sure. .

As for work what I do is mid to high management level consultancy work and without the language I am realistic that the demand for my services will be low initially at least. As for other work I am a grafter but again why would I get a job when the younger fitter men who come from the country are seeking employment where language may not be so important but where the competition is fierce. I am being realistic about my opportunities. My wife however is one of those who just happen to have a very good range of skills which are always in demand. I have done my bit and luckily I have a few farthings to spend. All pre taxed!

Hanging around is not my thing as I am always busy doing something but I do get the picture and quite right too.

To be fair I will have a much better idea after I have visited the country. For now at least we will remain in the North and see what and how fate pans out for us. But you never learn anything sitting on your hands and saying what if. As a result I can be a bit of a pest. A bit like a dog looking for a good lampost. It may take me some time and a lot of sniffing but eventually I usually find the best place. I can tell you in the end its a relief for everyone!

One last thought it would be nice to onow how the market really is. I hear things are getting more reasonable for buyers. I need 4 beds and plenty room. 150m2. Is it realistic in the towns or do I have to become a semi subsistence type in the sticks (my dream) to achieve this kind of living space.

Thanks

Mike

Sir Harry le Fise Lake

"Many thanks for the reply, my wife has been to Slovenia and worked there for a few months and she is the one who mentioned we should check it out and go for a holiday."

OK, good start.

"I saw some pictures and I really was amazed at how stunning and wonderful it all looks. The plus side is the honesty and low crime rate and it also looks to me at least as if the country is from another time."

I should note that at the level of "the elite" (I actually hate that expression) there is evidence Slovenia is trying hard to catch up with others in the region as regards corruption.

But on the street, restaurants, etc, the idea of cheating seems to be almost non-existent

"A better time. But maybe this is the usual rosy picture that can enchant those from afar who presently reside in colder climes."

Pictures of Croatia are often stunning and beautiful. And Bosnia. And Turkey. And Iran. And Afghanistan. And China ..........

"I am used to high taxes and bureaucracy. I intensely dislike both but its a challenge put there so I can become a more decent person I am sure. . "

Trying to be legal as an entrepreneur, and then comply with the myriad of conditions and compulsory monthly payments .... when your income is nothing like secure, is a nightamre in many countries of the region.

"As for work what I do is mid to high management level consultancy work and without the language I am realistic that the demand for my services will be low initially at least."

At that kind of work, language should not be a huge disadvantage. But I suspect you would need to network extraordinarily hard to get a foot in the door. You might well have to offer your services in other parts of former Yugo to make it viable.

...

"One last thought it would be nice to onow how the market really is. I hear things are getting more reasonable for buyers. I need 4 beds and plenty room. 150m2. Is it realistic in the towns or do I have to become a semi subsistence type in the sticks (my dream) to achieve this kind of living space. "

See my PM to you.

HTH - H lFL

Mike1001

Great advice

Please see my PM reply.

Moses2013

If she's Polish why not consider Poland?????????????

Mike1001

Oh we did consider Poland.

For about a nanosecond.

There are many many reasons we would not choose to live in Poland.

Moses2013

Just a thought. Slovenia isn't really that cheap and many parts of Germany are even cheaper with better education etc. Corruption is everywhere but it seems to be getting worse in Slovenia.

Mike1001

Thanks Moses.

I must say I am amazed about cheaper Germany. You must mean the old east where they are struggling to keep a couple of the cities viable. I like Germany and love Berlin but believe me job opportunities are very restricted and working conditions are not as wonderful as many imagine. Good point about the schools. Accepted.

Corruption. Thats an interesting word. Most soft westerners who are cossetted by the welfare state and those who are untravelled cannot possibly understand the complexities of that word. Is corruption slipping a man a ten euro bill to ensure he can buy a bottle of wine or his gfriend a posy of roses having ensured your life that day is a little less complicated. We know how it goes. What about a policeman then taking a supplement for his pension. Do any of us believe they are upholders of the law in any case? Or an official making sure the precious official stamp is embossed onto the document for personal profit. I mean against the backdrop of illegal wars, corporate greed, banksters, drones etc etc etc I personally find the concept of corruption in everyday living by comparison a bit of a joke.

If there is a problem with corruption on the ground so to speak its only highlighted by those in power because it stops them having all the profits.

We should worry less about what is seen and known regarding that word and begin to ask ourselves why we allow power to be centralised by collective monopolies which are by their very nature inherently corruptable and corrupt. If anyone thinks they live in a democracy in whatever country they live they are seriously deluded.

Apologies for the rant. I realise its not the place but I did not bring the subject up.

Moses2013

No worries. Germany certainly isn't as good as people think and I've said it before on this forum. Just saying that Slovenia has many problems too and I doubt that you'll find it cheaper than Poland or Germany (not only East). Forget finding a decent paid job in Slovenia too, but as you said you weren't bothered about work, was just a suggestion.

Mike1001

No worries mate. Its very good of you to show an interest and add something to the debate.

Probably the golden age of cheap properties and earning a decent living based upon hard work and free association are in the past. If ever it was possible. We can but do our best.

Thanks again

Sir Harry le Fise Lake

Well, Mike1001, at least you have instigated some action on this board, which was getting somewhat moribund.

Ljubljana is where it all happens, of course. I terms of the UK, Maribor, the second city, is more like Nottingham than Birmingham or Manchester (I mean in terms of relative importance).

then you have Celje - about equal to Gloucester or some such.

Kranj - say Woking

and Koper - the only port, but think more Felixstowe than Liverpool.

Ljubljana is the most expensive housing. and down on the short coast. Can you wife speak Russian? (few Russians down there spending their money.)

If you go to areas around Ljutomer and, especially, north of Murska Sobota, near the Hungarian border, you can find villages with 10 -20% of the houses empty.

But there is, of course, a good reason for that. No work.

booboo24

Hi, prices are dropping here, it was really over priced. Like buying anywhere one needs to research. Slovenia is a beautiful place to live, we are nearly seven years here and love it still apart from the cold Winters but Spring, Summer and Autumn really make up for it. As suggested bring the family for a holiday.

M AND G

Hi Mike, Michael hear.
I know nothing much about lots of stuff but your post interests me.
Just returned from quick trip taking in a bit of Germany, Lake Garda and Trieste area plus of course in Nivarna or even Narnia ( which was filmed in part in Bovec ).
Germany, amazed at the lack of staff in bars and restaurants and service was pants. Couldn't run a pee up in a brewery even though we were in them!
Staff in hotel though fantastic. Couple of coffee stops in Germany proved that they have plenty of rowdy drunks but it was early early Sunday morning...
Italy, plenty of dosh being spent by far far too many people in Lake Garda by all nationalities. Amazed at the closed shops, restaurants, bars , malls, and industrial premises we noticed in Italy.
Been going to Sloland for 15 years and fall in love with it each time. It is just an amazing country and we are still finding places we have not seen before.
The boom in the country after joining the eu did not last long. LJ looks fantastic, new creative designed buildings etc. but look through the reception and you notice they are empty .
There is something strange happening re finance with the Hit Group of hotels. Perhaps someone on this site knows what is going on as the locals don't really understand. Presank and Larix hotels in KG now have Ramarda signs and the nice hotel Mons is the The Sheraton Four Points ?? The locals think it is a finance issue. Houses seem to be still going down in price in the overpriced areas. Many have been empty since built , often 5 or 6 years. Harry and Boo know their stuff and you could do worse than talk to them and take their advice.

Now you are an interesting person....... You clearly have a goddess of a wife, talented, and capable of looking after you as a househusband. I'm at a loss to your age as you mention a farthing ! So many youngish people would have no idea what that was. Me I haven't a brass farthing since our holiday and would love to find a silver sixpence this week.

Anyway, hope to hear more about your investigations into Nivarna and where it is to be found. Got a few lamp posts to investigate I guess.
Glad you have posted just to wake us up on the forum.
Cheers, M

M AND G

Hi Mike, Michael hear.
I know nothing much about lots of stuff but your post interests me.
Just returned from quick trip taking in a bit of Germany, Lake Garda and Trieste area plus of course in Nivarna or even Narnia ( which was filmed in part in Bovec ).
Germany, amazed at the lack of staff in bars and restaurants and service was pants. Couldn't run a pee up in a brewery even though we were in them!
Staff in hotel though fantastic. Couple of coffee stops in Germany proved that they have plenty of rowdy drunks but it was early early Sunday morning...
Italy, plenty of dosh being spent by far far too many people in Lake Garda by all nationalities. Amazed at the closed shops, restaurants, bars , malls, and industrial premises we noticed in Italy.
Been going to Sloland for 15 years and fall in love with it each time. It is just an amazing country and we are still finding places we have not seen before.
The boom in the country after joining the eu did not last long. LJ looks fantastic, new creative designed buildings etc. but look through the reception and you notice they are empty .
There is something strange happening re finance with the Hit Group of hotels. Perhaps someone on this site knows what is going on as the locals don't really understand. Presank and Larix hotels in KG now have Ramarda signs and the nice hotel Mons is the The Sheraton Four Points ?? The locals think it is a finance issue. Houses seem to be still going down in price in the overpriced areas. Many have been empty since built , often 5 or 6 years. Harry and Boo know their stuff and you could do worse than talk to them and take their advice.

Now you are an interesting person....... You clearly have a goddess of a wife, talented, and capable of looking after you as a househusband. I'm at a loss to your age as you mention a farthing ! So many youngish people would have no idea what that was. Me I haven't a brass farthing since our holiday and would love to find a silver sixpence this week.

Anyway, hope to hear more about your investigations into Nivarna and where it is to be found. Got a few lamp posts to investigate I guess.
Glad you have posted just to wake us up on the forum.
Cheers, M