Thats strange, I go there a fair bit and have never seen an Indian person. A lot of Spanish/ Mexican/ South American people though...

True about the English areas...also a lot of the around Rowville too

No, the way I am looking at it is what has happened in the last ten years, is a guide to where the figures may have to balance out.

I 'feel' that the area that has gone up the most, is more likely to stabilize in price, whilst the area that has gone up the least, will at some stage have to come closer to the other area.

I am not sure I am am explaining my thinking very clearly, but the area that I gave the example with only a 7.4% average increase, has already dropped back to 2002 prices. My feeling is that both those areas will, at some stage, have to end up with 'similar' overall % changes, unless there is a specific difference that would cause a permanent value differential.

I feel that either the 7.4% area will rise in price, and/or the 11.2% area will drop in price.

As it happens the 7.4% area is actually beginning to rise again now, even though it dropped in the last year. Whereas the 11.2% area went up by a higher than average % in the last year.

[QUOTE=scotdownunder;7339096]IWe started the process of getting paperwork and meds together back in November and we are still at the 'nearly ready to lodge' stage because OH's work seem to be farting around and taking their own sweet time to get stuff together.

Ha ha. their ears must have been burning I have just been informed that they have got all the papers ready to go and the application can go in tomorrow.
Now it is just the long long wait to see if we get approved for it or not. I am getting a lot of conflicting info on how long an ENS 856 visa takes to process. All the info including meds and police checks are all going in at the same time so hopefully not toooo long.

What about Rosanna, Ivanhoe, Bulleen all nice areas.

My husband was born in Auchterarder

Or 50% of people in that area lose their jobs and all their houses come onto the market at the same time and the price drops 40%.

I'm not saying to ignore historical trends. I'm just suggesting that it would be wise not to depend on them. Complex systems and all that.

I do know that in some areas here in Melbourne in the early nineties crash houses were selling for less than the CIV on the rate notice.

We were told that you can claim the FHOG upto 12months after the date of your house contract, so as long as you get your PR before then you are still entitled to the grant

Where did you hear that?
When I looked on the State Revenue office website it states that, to be eligible for the FHOG,

'You (or at least one applicant) must be a permanent resident or Australian citizen at the time of settlement or completion of construction of the home'

Apparently there is a twelve month leeway for moving into the property, after settlement, and there is a twelve month leeway for lodging your application for the grant after settlement but the 'PR before settlement' condition still applies.
It would be lovely if that was not the case. Ho humm.

The word balderdash springs to mind ... it looks as though we have been given duff info I was looking forward to spending that money

Sorry....
That big lump sum seems to always be just out of reach doesn't it!

The OSR ( http://www.osr.qld.gov.au/first-home...og/index.shtml ) says for eligibility criteria :
"an Australian citizen or a permanent resident (or a joint applicant with someone who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident)"

I can't see the bit about at the time of settlement etc

Can you include the link for that line please ... clutching at straws now

Always double check everything, and if you still don't get the answer you want, then triple check it .......

I can't say for other States, but the QLD FHOG application form states:

Applicants must:

• ensure at least one applicant is an Australian citizen or a permanent resident at the time of completion of this application form

It is the questions on the Application form, and the honest answers given, that create the contract.

Here is the straw you need...
http://www.osr.qld.gov.au/forms/fhog...cation-kit.pdf

 ensure all applicants will reside in the home as their principal place of residence for a continuous period of at least 6 months commencing within 12 months of completion of the eligible transaction.
 lodge a completed application with all supporting documentation within 12 months of completion of the eligible transaction.

Oh Yeah, Thank you ABCDiamond ... I knew I liked reading your posts for a reason

Now all we have to do is hope that DIAC get us a case officer soon

Sorry sunnyMD - I stupidly thought it would be the same across the country.
That is soooo unfair!!! It is obviously different from state to state but it seems strange that the Vic state won't pay us but the Qld one would when it comes out of the same pot of money at the end of the day! It totally sucks!!