cheeky_monkey

Im intrigued to know how many people sold their houses before moving to Canada and who didnt and the reason why you decided to sell or keep?

Alan2005

Not sure if you care about non-contemporary sales but I sold up in mid 2007. Timing wise it was over a year before I came here, the main reason being that I could see what was coming and didn't want to be left holding the baby; Northern rock happened soon after.

GC44

Had our house up for sale before we started looking seriously into Canada. Finally sold after 18+ months on the market. Now in rented awaiting positive LMO .

If the LMO is rejected (this is 2nd attempt), at least its a buyers market in the UK.

JandG

We have our house on the market - we're getting viewings, but it's not crucial to our move. If it hasn't sold within a couple of months of us leaving the UK we'll probably rent...but we would rather the house sold, so that we have money to buy in Canada.

Mickey690

We sold our house back in September and are now living with my in-laws awaiting our ppr. We put it on the market in March when we sent in our full application.

cheeky_monkey

Now see i decided to keep my House in the UK and rent it out just in case i needed or wanted to come back at some point.

Sam-in-Okotoks

We were lucky, we put the UK house on the market and it sold in 3 days (2007) we then used the money to buy in Canada.

ducktastic

Sold house in UK November 2010..investing cash and not commiting to buying here until 100% sure it is for the long haul.

Atlantic Xpat

Even less contemporary than Mr2005......I moved in Nov 04 and finally sold in Oct 05. For 7 months I carried two mortgages, one in UK and one here in Nfld. That's not an experience I would recommend to anyone.

On the what if we move back thing? Well, due to a combination of property inflation here, market downturn (nay collapse) in the UK and the exchange rate going from $2.25 to $1.6ish I could probably move back with more than I came over with. YMMV likely though.

R I C H

Sold it in early summer '05, moved here as a visitor in Aug '05, used the equity to put towards a property/business, mortgaged the rest and got issued a TWP that November.

No intention to move back, but as per AX above, I'd be in a far better financial situation than when I arrived if I ever had to.

ann m

Sold at the height of UK Market in Jan 07. Bought at height of Calgary market in April 07

If we had not sold up and emigrated, we would have sold up and down-sized anyway.

If we returned now/soon, we'd be OK-ish - exchange rates and UK housing market would be favourable, even taking into account a loss on our Canadian home.

I don't think anyone can ever be 100% sure about a big move - take the risks that allow you to sleep at night

Oakvillian

Sold in September 06, had exchanged contracts before moving in July but didn't complete for a nailbiting few weeks after that. Used the money from that to buy here.

Not that I have any intention of moving back, but it'd be a toss up whether we'd be quids in if we did. Would now need a significantly larger place (additional children requiring a place to sleep...) than the 700 sq ft we sold, but would probably want to live somewhere a little less expensive than Chiswick anyway. Exchange rate and property market fluctuations would make it a wash.

zmartin

We sold before moving over in 2007!

Luckily we managed to sell just before house prices dropped, and having bought at just the right time we had a tidy sum to put into property over here.

The OH was adamant that we did not have an easy route back to the UK should things not work out in Canada but, touch wood and , so far things have gone just fine.

Zoé M.

snowshoveller

we sold the house in 2005, which was pretty much top of the market in Suffolk. It was the stimulus to make the move, sat it rented whilst paperwork completed. We also have a small flat which is rented out - mortgage free after a few good years in the UK. Moved to Canada in 2007. The rental income helps to bolster the income a little bit

MillieF

Through all the years of wandering, I have always hung onto my home in London, as a safety net, in case I needed to return to the UK. I really feel that (hopefully if my sponsorship is approved) this move to Canada will be my final move. I am now selling my house in the UK. It has ceased to be home. I also have a buyer, and more importantly Need the money! I think that I need to make the mental commitment and to move from the past to a hopefully better present.