Nursebank

I would be interested to understand what the views are of people, who have made the move, are in the process of moving, and thinking of moving to OZ.

Good or Bad year to make the move?

The current enviroment in the UK, Bad things;

The exchange rate favours the expats moving back to the UK, so making the move in the near future could cost you, in terms of a poor rate of exchange from the pound to the dollar?

House prices seem to have peaked here in the UK, and it does seem to be getting more and more difficult to get that asking price. Houses are sticking on the market longer, no first time buyers, all priced out. So to sell, you have to reduce and be more realistic on the price you are willing to accept?

So you get less for you house, and less when you change your money to the dollar, a lose lose situation.

House prices seem to be rising in OZ still? So you are selling in at best a stagnant market in the UK, maybe even falling, and buying into a rising market in OZ which could stall at any time?


The current enviroment in OZ, Good things;

It just does not stop raining here in the UK, no summer, at least the weather can only get better in OZ?

The cost of living here in the UK is hidden, so we are all feeling the effect of inflation, yet we do not see a rise in our wage packet so to reflect this increase in real inflation; not that fake CPI figure which is sprouted on about?
Your money must go further in OZ? Does it?

If house prices are rising still in OZ, then maybe it is still a good time to buy?

Crime on the increase in the UK, traffic congestion, anti social behavior, spend more time travalling to and from work, than you spend working, food quality is very poor in the UK, or pay out for expensive good quality food, all in the UK. Surely you must be better off in OZ?

I am interested to understand whether we all have picked a good year to make the move or a bad year to make the move, moreso looking at the financial implications?

Thanks.

The Woodcutter

If you want to emigrate, you want to emigrate. The things you mention are a factor but perhaps you need to look at the bigger picture.
What are the fundamental reasons for you wanting to emigrate? if you can tick the boxes then go for it.
My view is that psychologically you must be prepared in order to make a success - otherwise you may well regret the move. Those who emigrate and then return after a short period, I think have not prepared themselves mentally for the challenge.
But to focus on your original question - the right time to emigrate is when YOU are ready to do so.

Kapri

People often want to emigrate to improve their lives though, so the point the OP makes about house prices is relevant.
I think there have definitely been better times to emigrate in terms of financial decisions.
It's not gonna stop us going though

russmcp

Use the search facility there are lots of topics that mention all you're banging on about.

By the way, I think in parts of Oz they still need the rain, many a drought warning in the last few years and crops wiped out.
Crime as prevalant in other parts of the world.
Traffic is bad in Oz, spent many an hour in traffic jams in Sydney, apparently the traffic lights in Perth drive people nuts.
Food quality? Can't agree there, mind you we grow our own veg and find good organic choices.
Some people who moved to Oz work longer hours for less money.
When I go I will in effect be earning about £15000 less a year than I do now, and that's going to hurt.

But i'm not going as I'm not one of those who thinks the UK is a crap place to live, it isn't and it has a lot to offer us still. I just want to do something different. The UK has been very good to me, a good education, a not too bad salary, a house etc.

As some say, same s**t different bucket. Enjoy the move when you go.

alecdel

This sounds like the "when's the best time to have a child?" question. It's going to be different for everybody and will depend on what you want out of life. I personally feel that you shouldn't put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today although I have to agree with The Woodcutter in the sense that unless you are psychologically ready to do something you are not necessarily in the right frame of mind to embark on it.

fiona021

We are moving because it is right for us. We may not have made the most on our house but we could have waited years and for what. Trust your instinct and don't worry so much. You can become obsessed with house prices and exchange rates and missed out so many experiences in the meantime.

jad n rich

Only you can decide if you want to emigrate, preferebly after taking a research trip, some pull out after that, other go with the knowledge they feel its for them, either way better than pulliing out after youve dumped 50 grand selling up moving etc.

But dont kid yourself, House prices brisbane are NUTS, old dumps/wrecks/ derelict in some cases going for $400,000 and $500,000 and agents getting loads of contracts on them, saw a couple of open houses in bris on the weekend (not for me but for divorced mate) OMG nuts. New outer suburbs cheaper if you fancy lego land type living and commute.

Which brings in the traffic in syd, melb and bris. Terrible, actually the brisbane traffic (always laught at this cause of QLD all that space posts) was the subject of a OMG article and pictures in the sunday papers.

Food, more expensive than UK. Drought does not make cheap food nor does 2 supermarket players one of which is now trying to buy the other one out. Lack of competition is a factor as to why the cost of many things is high, airfares is another one. Pay cuts, erm yep 14 a week tax cut, electricity up, food up, petrol up, rates up, think stuff like that is worldwide not a UK or AUS problem.

Crime, cant say we really get terrorism, although aus claims its been the target of stuff in BALI etc. But you do get everything else, violent crime is pretty bad. You dont get chavs, you get plenty of bludgers tho and hoons, and bogons, chavs with a different name.

Weather, probably slightly better overall, but you must keep in mind its not perfect, droughts, floods, cyclones, huge storms, heatwaves and bushfire all very real factors.

Medical and Education, funding probs all there, plus another sunday article was on MRSA in hosptials now a huge problem. Keep in mind you also pay for plenty of health/dental related even for kids.

Its not an escape from the UK's problems it has its own, but it can provide a very different life from the Uk and if your not close to family in Uk its probably as good a change as any.

bcworld

...took a drive out to Wivenhoe Dam yesterday...scary stuff. Still looks like a big lake although you can see that it could probably be 15m higher. What you really notice though as you drive around is the creeks that are supposed to drain into it - every single one of em....bone dry save for the odd stagnant pool here and there....its hard to imagine them ever flowing again.

themerlin

Thats the weather here, flood - drought - flood - drought and so on.

The dams are so empty because no waster infrastructure has been built for 20 years and in that time the population has exploded

Nursebank

Thanks for the reply.

I suppose my question regarding the primary cost to live and cost incurred when making the move is housing cost?

House prices in the UK are lets say "not too cheap" and it seems to be the same in OZ, so yes i agree, we are or have been in a Global BULL run in the property market?

Currently in the UK, it is considerably cheaper to rent, rather than pay rent to the bank, by way of an interest only mortgage. There is also a glut of rental accomodation in the UK, which is helping to keep rent inflation in line with wage growth, and wage growth is well below, what i would call keeping in line with the real cost of living going upward, .i.e. real inflation, not the peddled number, which does not reflect life at ground level.

So, in Perth and Queenland (Brissy), is there a good selection of rental accomodation at a cost to compare well with the average wage earned by the average worker?

When i mention rental accomodation, i am refering to your average two or three bedroom place, which is perfectly adequate to live in for two adults and one or two children, not the four to five bedroomed detached place with a pool, clubhouse and running track?

Thanks

russmcp

In reply to rentals in Perth, apparently there is a shortage of rentals, meaning the cost has shot up; though as I am not there I don't know if what I am saying is just hearsay, but there are plenty of posts on this and other forums that mention the lack of good quality rentals available.

Nursebank

Yes, i have heard this, BTL is not as big over there, i do not know?

But if there is a shortage of rentals, i mean affordable, relatively good quality, then with the high cost of housing (to buy) you are stuffed unless you have a high level of equity to take with you, so to absorb the high housing cost, so take on a smaller mortgage?

Grayling

BTL or investment properties as they call them are huge business in Australia.

Many people have several houses due to the advantageous tax system whereby investment houses are basically subsidised. Many people use them as a means to save for a pension.

The reason for the shortage of rentals in the huge number of migrants to some areas (from many contries including australians from other states etc.).

Not every area is affected.

G

Nursebank

Which areas are not affected, might be a good idea to take a look at these areas?

Grayling

Any place where people do not want to move to...ie. inland miles from the sea, small country towns, Darwin

The big cities are the most popular and any suburb near a beach.

Perth and SE QLD. are very popular at the moment and probably have the most acute shortage of rentals.

Houses are also much cheaper in unpopular areas. Any coastal town will have a lot of investment properties but not always much employment.

G