Why so negative,I think it is a great time to emigrate.Wages in the fabrication game are around $80K a year working in Perth,not working the long hours on the mine/construction sites.If the wife goes to work then a household income of $120k per year is not out of the ordinary,a reasonable house can be bought for $400k,say 3.5 yrs wages.Seems to be the perfect time to emigrate.No point in coming here in a recession as I did,doesn't matter how cheap houses or rent are then,if you are not working you're f="?@d.

If you think you can,you can.

If you think you can't ,you can't.

Either way you will probably be right (Henry Ford)

All fair enough. But....IF you are in the fabrication game and IF you want to live in an area where houses are $400K

I've noticed a lot of the discussion has focussed on whether or not you should and/or can afford to move to Oz. What's the view on once you're here, whether or not you can then afford to move back to the UK?

Relocating half way across the world (for a second time) can't be cheap, neither is taking the time off to do it, find a place to live and job in the UK, etc. Also, if you've got kids I assume the education side of things makes the decision more complex??

My thoughts exactly.

just checked easyjet website, London Luton to Mallorca on 30 April, return on 6 May, costs 89.96£ (total cost) per one adult person, lasts almost 3 hours, 1.5 hour is to northern Spain only;
the same days, Jet2, Leeds - Malaga 150£, over 3 hours;


Joho, where do you buy red peppers for 4$? in chinatown? i saw there cheaper for 3$ but moulded;

cars - for my 17 years old suzuki i paid 2500$, in the UK for 1200£ i could buy suzuki 7 years old, and much lower mileage;

I guess most expats (from the UK), like myself, see ***home ownership*** as one of the fundamentals of family life - a necessity.

I'm aware that renting in Australia and indeed large parts of Europe for that matter does not carry the same 'stigma' as the UK and many people, again myself included, accept that they may have to or choose to rent for a certain period of time until them have established themselves in Australia.

Holed-up in a rental, lining the pockets of a greedy, anonymous, faceless landlord?

Why would anybody want to do that in the long term?

The disadvantage for me is not being able to do what you want with the house. The lining the pockets thing doesn't bother me - what we lose on rent we gain on our own rental in the UK. And don't forget in Australia the landlord is liable for rates and local taxes. In the UK, it's the tenant so you do gain in that respect - if you have a house in the UK!.

Paul76

I don't want to sound like a tosser but you sound like someone who, like a friend of mine, measure's his life's worth in $'s

If, at the age of 31 (?) you think and you're confident that your life is mapped out then good for you.

I was there too (once). Funny how things change - quickly and without warning.

Who was it who said "Life's what happens while you're busy making plans?"

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

Cheers

Rushed around today and attended 3 auctions

Very Blue Chip areas

No bids, despite over 100 people on average at each. (I think most were neighbours and reporters).

I mean NO BIDS

all properties passed in

Does not surprise me.

but australian landlord gets money from the tenant, don't be so naive that the aussie landlord spends his own money for land tax or any local council tax;
so in both countries a tenant is charged;

Took the words out of my mouth

!!!

what the hell are you up to now

Lee, what you are doing is ultimately the only sensible path. It absolutely right to debate on the sense of moving your family across the world, in less favourable financial terms than have probably ever been before.