Hi Ian, yeah that's the info I have. We will have Visa's for upto 2 yrs so we COULD buy secondhand, but I think you have to have had your visa for a min of 12 months, so we'd have to rent for the 1st year.

We're still awaiting confirmation about even getting a mortgage so that could blow us out, but if we can, I know we're gonna want to buy asap. Loads of ppl keep telling us to rent for at least the first 3 months, which IS the right advice i know, but there is a lot of things that point us to buying asap really. One being we're bringing our dog from the UK. It appears to be common knowledge that with pets you cut your available rentals by prob 90% from the off! There's loads of other reasons, but that's just an example.

On the school front, I think we are set We was given a tour round Upper Coomera High School about an hour ago, and we was ALL VERY impressed! The lady was very informative, but also knowledgeable about the school and how it was run. When we had a query about the High school part and she didn't know, she didn't try to bluff rubbish to us, she took us to the person who COULD answer it for us!

The school itself is only 2 yrs old, so VERY modern and full of all the latest bits and bobs inc 'lots of computers'! ...lol. I still think of the lady at Keebra Park goin on about 'lots of computers' like it was everything ...lol, even tho they was all old and stuff. This UCHS is the 'superschool' there and when it is complete, they will take kids from Kindergarden age right thru to University if needed. This isn't an issue for us our 2 will be in the High School part (altho Kurt will go in the 'Mid' section to start) but I know a lot of ppl would sooner their kids do all the schooling in 'one' school, which seems a bit harder to do over here.

Anyway, yeah the school is excellent from what we see. The kids seemed friendly enough and one group of girls about Ashley's age asked her if she was coming to this school when we all walked past them. She replied "I hope so" which was good as I obv see she liked what she saw She was also grinning like a Cheshire Cat once she learnt she WON'T have to do a Foreign subject from now on (unlike UK) In her current school she has just picked her options and HAD to do either French or German. She's good in both, but has NO interest so doesn't see the point. Also she DOESN'T have to do any form of Religious Education. Again, she is quite good at it, but again has no urge to learn about it. We are not a religious family, and have no prob with religion, but why should we HAVE to learn it?!?!

Anyway, so yeah the school up there seems good, and the area is growing fast, but still cheap considering. There's absolutely EVERYTHING being built up there at the mo inc a shopping centre that is gonna be sooooo big it's gonna be the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere! ..... acre's and acre's!!!

As I type, you can buy 1/4 of an acre for $166,000, and have a Low Set 4 bed, 2 bathroom, double garage etc etc built for $141,000. House is 'turn key' and has the lot, kitchen with oven etc, oh everything!

$305,000 equates to 131,000 Sterling (can't find pound sign ...lol)

Gotta be done if you ask me, but if we don't get a mortgage to start, then no prob, we'll rent, but if the option IS there, then we'll see I guess. At least we got to see all the area's with a suitable school in, and that we can afford for a decent sized house and plot.

Blah blah blah ...lol

Oh well, only got the Whale Boat trip tomorrow then we'll be packing everything for our homeward bound trip. We've seen bundles of The Gold Coast and I think I've covered at least 1,600 kilo's since we arrived ...lol. I'm on tankful 5 which should hopefully see us back to Brissie Airport on Wednesday.

Might post again b4 then, but failing that it'll be from the comfort of my own PC next time.

WBG

Have a good flight home

Glad you are still loving it hun!

Claire
xxx

Hi Paul,
Firstly I would like to say thanks for all the updates, they're great to read and it brings back so many memories, we were in the Gold Coast all of Dec 04 and when you talk about certain areas I know where you are!! it's also great to hear that you so upbeat and actually doing something about your dream as I remember at one point you thought you'd never get there, good on ya!

Also when we were there both myself and eldest daughter got to swim with the dolphins but unlike you there were a lot of people swimming with them too (height of the season) but even so it was a fantastic experience and one memory that will stay with me for a very long time. When (and if!) we return I would really like to do the trainer for a day. Better start saving now

Hope you have a nice flight home

Mandi

Paul,

Hopefully I'll speak to you before you head home, if not have a safe Journey and I'll speak to you soon, can't believe thats the holiday over already, but you will be excited to get back and get the ball rolling to get here for good.
Keep me updated on things, and i'll have the places set for christmas dinner .
Love to Nic and the kids

Lisa & Co

[Hi Paul,

Have been reading all your posts and am really pleased that you are all having a fab time. I will also be moving to Oz (Melbourne) in November on a student visa so hav ebeen doing masses of research just like you. I am visiting Melbourne for 2 weeks from next Tuesday.

I just wanted to let you know some info that applies to student visa holders with regards FIRB. Yes you can buy a 2nd hand property up to a value of $300k providing you have at least 12 months left on your visa. So in short you can buy as soon as you arrive. When you find a property to buy you must make sure that the clause "subject to FIRB aprooval" is inserted in the contract, that way if for some reason they said no you wouldn't lose your deposit.

Hope this helps.

Tracy

Also, not sure if you know this but you can apply for your student visa 5 months before your course is due to start and can enter Australia no earlier that 12 weeks before the course starts.

Thanks for the info Tracy, I thought the buying s/h property was only possible after a year, got that bit well cocked up ...lol, but to be honest the total value must be under $300k as you know, and that won't be enough even if we buy land, then put a house on it. I think we're gonna be lookin at $350k, but who knows!

Applying for the Student Visa, I knew you couldn't enter before 12 weeks, but didn't realise you could apply 5 months before! That's interesting cos we thought we'd have to sell our house to fund course etc, apply for Visa, then go, but if we can get our fee money together to get enrolled, to get COE, then maybe we can apply for visa and find out 'for sure!' if we'll even get the visa, b4 we sell the house! ?!?

Oh I dunno, I lost myself there, you got no chance! ...rofl, but food for thought, ta!

I did speak to a broker earlier and he as good as assured me I'll get a mortgage. I might have to do a 'credit' type one where you pay a lump into an account, and draw from that. Sommit like that anyway, but we'll look into all that when, and if the time comes!

Well final post from the wonderful land of Oz

We all leave here about 3pm today. We won't fly till 8.30pm, but we have stuff to do like return car etc.

I dunno really what to say that hasn't been said already! We ALL have really loved our time here. EVERYTHING has been wonderful inc the weather, ppl, food, apartment, day trips out, oh everything possible has gone better than expected I always say I know Oz is for us, but even I have been shocked many a time!

Oh and a quick insert here:

Whale trip yesterday. Well brief version is we went out on a 50 ton boat about 3 miles from the shore (in line with Surfers most of the time) and sat there to see Whales! .... and sat there ... and sat there! ...lol. We see a little movement a few hundred metres away, but nothing worth photographing. This went on for about 2 hours, and the poor bloke on the tannoy was reciting all these facts about Whales etc ...lol. We did see in front of another boat I dunno, 500 metres away about 4 or 5 dolphins jumping in front of it. That pi**ed me right off as 1st no whales, then other boats are getting dolphins! ...lol, but with about 30mins b4 we returned it all kicked off! There was whales doin upside down belly flips ...lol, and allsorts! We witnessed 3 jumps (or as good as whales get/do) called a 'breach' I think ?!?! anyway, yeah they kinda do a jump out of the water, but only their back leaves it, if that makes sense!? ...lol. At one point there was 6 whales in 2 bunches doin their spraying and lil jumps and stuff. In the end I heard one of the blokes say to another "if only EVERY day was like this!"

Anyway, I did get a few decent pics, and a couple of video clips of them

amazing experience! ... well worth the money we all reckoned!

So yeah, where was I, yeah we're off now, a few final things to do, and possible view a piece of land up in Upper Coomera on the way to the airport ...lol, but if it's real good, we could be possibly trying to secure it from the UK once we get back, as always, we'll see!

Anyway, blah blah and all that, next post will be from the UK, and with mutley back next to me I've refrained from mentioning the dog in my posts, but we've ALL missed him badly but it had to be done. It's gonna be interesting to see how he coped with it all as this was also a test to see how he'd take Quarantine ?!?

we'll see!

Anyway, thanks everyone for the replies. Just shows you can be on the other side of the world from your normal hang out, but with the internet and BritishExpats, your friends only as far as your next Dollar lasts! ...lol

Catch you soon

Nothing to do with the topic... but just thought it odd since my birthday is also on the 31st and I too was horribly ill!!

You must have a fantastic mum !

Wow thats a bit weird!
Thanx for that - Yes is is fantastic.
She's my best frined.
I cannot wait to be able to just nip down the street to see her... its been a long time coming!

Great post Paul only just found it and you are probably back in the UK now.

sounds like you had a fantastic time, sparked my enthusiasm again.

good luck with the visa and your plans

Chris

ps didnt feel you were bragging great to know what there is to do!

Wow Paul dare I say it .. it sounds like you've had a whale of a time!

Have a safe trip back.

Possoms

All back safe and sound altho by the looks of the goin ons at Heathrow we just made it in time!

Well I arrived home to a lovely surprise from me PC, a BAD virus! I can't fathom it cos I shut down the thing b4 I left, but whatever. I've wiped and reinstalled Windows as I couldn't remove it, and Norton didn't help much, but sooooo much to do what with installing software etc, and I NEED my PC now to be checking out Oz stuff.

As I type we're awaiting to contact a bloke out in Coomera about securing a piece of land we see literally as we left for the airport ...lol. I can't help feel that we are prob taking things a bit too quick, but at the same time to find land of a decent size near the school we plan to send the kids, well it's moving VERY fast out there! The estate we're looking at has about 50 pieces left out of the 190 odd there was to start.

I'd be interested in anyones opinion on this one tho ?!

IF you had a piece of land that backed onto woodland, would you be more susceptible to 'lil nasites' ?? ...lol. I ask as the piece of land in question does this! It's ideal in every way inc aspect, size etc, but DOES back onto land that is full of gum tree's. Ok, we can handle the odd Koala bear in the tree's ...lol, but not too sure about all the lil nasties I reckon will be floating about in there ?!?!?

Any views??

Cheers

welcome back, glad you had a good time and goodluck with your plans.
hope your'e pc is up and running properly soon.

take care mate

Trish

Welcome back. We've been following your posts from Oz and you all sound like you had a ball. We are looking at Coomera to settle as well. We have 2 daughters (14 and 10)that will be going to Upper Coomera State school as well. Did you like the look of it? Are the junior and senior schools on the same site? How old are your children?

We are hopefully going at the beginning of October. Girls are getting a bit apprehensive about starting a new school, but as you said it is only 2 years old and still growing. I've told them that there will be plenty more in the same boat as them. Anyway, welcome back and good luck with your plans. Mary

Hi Mary, ok to your questions:

School - Yes very much my daughter is 15 in September, and my son was 13 when we was in Oz. We ALL liked the school you'll be pleased to know. It really had a good feel about it. As you know it's only 2 years old, and I think it currently holds about 900 kids (not 100% on that tho, partner will know, I'll update later as they've all crashed out again with the jetlag ...lol) I think it's a 2.500 capacity, but again not 100% ...lol.

The school is very big, and Kinder, Primary, Middle & High schools are on the one site (2 entrances to the school tho) Our two will go into year 8 & 10 but could go a year either way depending on ability. As I say we really liked the school, and we looked around about 5 while there. Pacific Pines High School was similar, and only open since 2000, but UCHS was well above it in our opinion. The school is very modern, and clean! My boy loves the drums and when we walked thru one part of the school we could hear some kid bashing away on a set of drums. There was also about 10 or so kids all sittin outside playing with Acoustic Guitars too. He can play a bit too so was well happy with what he saw

When we asked the lady taking us around about whether our daughter will have to pick her subjects like the UK now, as she's just picked hers over here. What we said about after that seemed really good was she didn't know the answer, but also didn't just fobb us off! She took us to the head of the High School dept and he explained all

The lady who runs the apartments we stayed in (review to follow when I'm done messin with PC) said she'd heard how ppl will be taking their kids out of Private schools and moving to Coomera just so they can get their kids into this school! Big talk I know, but only what we was told. We asked anyone and everyone we came into contact with what they knew about schools on The Gold Coast and UCHS was always spoke of well

In Oz I think all Primary & High schools are separate, but this school is being hailed as a 'Super School' because kids will be able to start Kinder and go thru to High School without leaving the premises!

Hope that helps, but feel free to PM if you have any questions, I'll be only too pleased to help.

Once I get my PC sorted, I'll post a picture of the school. I took a couple from the outside so might give you an idea if you haven't seen it.

PC is starting to play ball with the new install so back to the grind I go with it!