slimdonnybabe

Come on all you lucky people who have already emigrated to Melbourne. We need to know where you stayed initially. We need good, clean, quiet accommodation with cooking, washing facilities. We also need any bad experiences, so that we don't fall into the trap of staying there.
Apart from getting short and longer term accommodation when we get off that plane what should our priorities be apart from getting a new Sim card for our mobile, a new bank account and a new car.
Where do we get a social security number from.
Thank you very much.
Kim

Bordy

Can't help with accomodation as we stayed with friends until we got a place to rent. Forget the social security number, you will need a Tax File Number which I think you can apply for online.
Check out http://www.ato.com.au/

You will also need a new drivers licence within 3 months so get the booklet from Vic Roads & swat up before your test which is pretty easy.
Remember & bring proof of No Claims bonus as it will be honoured over here. Victoria just announced a further $5000 grant for first home owners so if you buy within next 14 months you get a total of $12,000 grant.
Good luck with it all.

Bret

.....Victoria just announced a further $5000 grant for first home owners so if you buy within next 14 months you get a total of $12,000 grant.....



A 12k grant for being a first time buyer - whats the catch?

We are hoping to be in Melbourne in August for a minimum stay of two years (and for good if thingswork out) and had intended to rent for a bit but it might make more sense trying to buy. How easy it is to get and where could I find more info out?

Does it matter if you own somewhere back in the UK? Is it repayable if you sell up within certin timescales?

We will watch this post with interest as we almost certainly need the same questions answered

Cheers.

Pheobe

Yes we are interested in this thread too, moving to Melbourne within the next few months (visa arrival permitting).

We also have a property in the UK, also wondered what the catch was with the First time buyers grant. Is it just for permanent residents maybe (our visa will be a temporary long-stay visa) but like Bret, we are hoping to make it permanent if things work out.

Thanks Bordy for the info on "no-claims bonus" that will hopefully lower car insurance considerably.

Thanks

HiddenPaw

get your Aussie licence asap - that should also lower your premium (instead of being insured only on a UK licence)

Re the FHOG - there is no catch. It's to help Australians onto the housing ladder. It wasnt really aimed at Brits going over with wads of cash but if you have PR you are entitled to it The FHOG is soon swallowed up by the 7% stamp duty tho on property...but I guess every $ helps.

good luck

wmoore

Here's the catch. Well OK it's still a generous offer so catch probably isn't the right word but......

WhiteRose

When we arrived in Melbourne we stayed in a Short Stay serviced apartment in Southbank. It wasn't the cheapest place in the world, but it was fantastic - own kitchen, washing machine, broadband access, and lots of space to get ourselves sorted.

Being in Southbank, we were near to the CBD, buses, trams etc, but I think the best thing we did straight away was buy a car. Things seemed so much easier to arrange and sort out once we were mobile!

PM us if you want any other info...

Sam and Steve

joh117

We stayed with friends and then has the loan of a holiday home in Rye. Great while we were looking for jobs but now it is too far from the city. We are looking nearer to Frankston so hubby can get the train (1hr into city).

Would agree best thing we did was get a car sorted. Had one within a week of arriving and now have one each. (been here 11 wks).

Get the driving test passed asap we did as the jobs we got required a Victorian licence.

Took 9 and 10 weeks for us to get jobs. So just hang in there it will happen. We took the opportunity while waiting to see some of the country and went to NSW's and the Blue Mountains for a trip. Beat hanging round waiting to hear from jobs.

Anyway if there is any info you need help with PM me

Jo

PS bring plenty of warm clothes as it is really cold here at the moment dread to think what winter is going to be like!!!!!!

ABoulton

We stayed in a great place http://www.55webbst.com.au/

Fairly central, very helpful owner, all creature comforts. Would highly recommend.

Andy

Clare Everest

If you have kids it is also worth you getting registered for child benefits...

It takes the sting out of the outgoings when you see some incomings.

It is also worth having somebody meet you at the airport or getting a cab!! we got lost trying to find our holiday accomodation and Hubby nearly drove into a huge truck due to being jet lagged!!

Bring your no claims bonus with you if you can... it took ages for our UK company to forward it on.

scitta

Hi Bordy, sorry to sound like a bumb-twit... but what is a no claims bonus.

Bret is this offer valid only until the next 14 months?

Sarah

Clare Everest

No Claims is for you car insurance.. they will allow you to transfer any no claims from the UK. makes the insurance on a car much cheaper.

WhiteRose

On the news last night they said that the $5000 was only initially on offer until the end of June 2005, but that they would be reviewing the situation early next year to see if it had had the desired effect - ie bringing 1st time buyers into the market.

WhiteRose

Some useful links....

Melbourne Short Stay - http://www.shortstayapartments.com.au/

Not sure what they are like or what the prices are like, but there are loads of Quest apartments all over Melbourne. The website is http://www.questapartments.com.au/

Troood

Hi Andy

This place looks good. Would it be suitable for an active 2 year old running around? I'm going to email them to find out availability.

Cheers,
Trudi