How have your kids coped with the move?
Aug 5th 2006, 5:46 am
#16
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
Vicki-me old buddy-what's the game with the mortgage here? Can you barter for each week in a mortgage market-flapping your arms wildly til someone takes your cash for the week to keep the Govt happy? Not the same as here then!! Do you find it cheaper or not me old Vickster?
Interest rates are much higher - sitting anywhere between 7% and 9%. The main difference we've found is the ability to split the amounts borrowed across different terms to build in lots of flexibility and the ability to pay more frequently than monthly. We took ours out with the ASB - mainly cos it's the bank we're using and by having all our business with them we've got no fees on our day to day banking - and they made a contribution to our solicitors fees.V
Aug 5th 2006, 8:21 am
#17
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by Joshlin
dannyboy - you can have a go at bartering for most things, but mortgage market is pretty much like the UK. There are 3 main types - interest only, repayment and another that I can't remember. Interest rates are much higher - sitting anywhere between 7% and 9%. The main difference we've found is the ability to split the amounts borrowed across different terms to build in lots of flexibility and the ability to pay more frequently than monthly. We took ours out with the ASB - mainly cos it's the bank we're using and by having all our business with them we've got no fees on our day to day banking - and they made a contribution to our solicitors fees.
V
Interest rates are much higher - sitting anywhere between 7% and 9%. The main difference we've found is the ability to split the amounts borrowed across different terms to build in lots of flexibility and the ability to pay more frequently than monthly. We took ours out with the ASB - mainly cos it's the bank we're using and by having all our business with them we've got no fees on our day to day banking - and they made a contribution to our solicitors fees.V
Can remember bout 12 yrs ago the rates were similar here.Does sound quite flexible ,which is good,gonna be a test for Dan-Dan,the Mathematician man!!
All the banks sound pretty much the same to me,did you open up your account before you went? I wanna take advantage of the decent exchange rate-but have been advised I can't til 3 months prior to moving.
Aug 5th 2006, 10:08 pm
#18
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
Can remember bout 12 yrs ago the rates were similar here.Does sound quite flexible ,which is good,gonna be a test for Dan-Dan,the Mathematician man!!
All the banks sound pretty much the same to me,did you open up your account before you went? I wanna take advantage of the decent exchange rate-but have been advised I can't til 3 months prior to moving.
All the banks sound pretty much the same to me,did you open up your account before you went? I wanna take advantage of the decent exchange rate-but have been advised I can't til 3 months prior to moving.
oh - and we used hifx for the transfer - and you can set something up with them which agrees a rate in advance, can't remember exactly how it works but if you give them a call they're really helpful - and they've got offices in both uk and nz
vicki
Aug 5th 2006, 10:14 pm
#19
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by Joshlin
we opened our account on arrival - took about an hour and we walked away with a fully functioning cheque account, an internet savings account and our cashcards - dead easy. the exchange rate was crappy when we came over, so we left the lump sum in the uk till we needed it, given that all indications were that it would improve - it did, slightly - we went from 2.3 to 2.5 to the pound!
oh - and we used hifx for the transfer - and you can set something up with them which agrees a rate in advance, can't remember exactly how it works but if you give them a call they're really helpful - and they've got offices in both uk and nz
vicki
oh - and we used hifx for the transfer - and you can set something up with them which agrees a rate in advance, can't remember exactly how it works but if you give them a call they're really helpful - and they've got offices in both uk and nz
vicki
Aug 6th 2006, 6:24 am
#20
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
I've heard of that-you wait til you get a favouable exchange rate,then the bank protects the rate for 3 months,or summat. We've downloaded an application form,but thought you needed sometax number or something. Will get on to it asap. need to diet and stop drining for a month so my liver behaves-imagine going through all this then being told you're not fit enough for them!! Aaaaaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhh!
Wayne didn't pass his liver function test first time!!!!!
Tea total for two weeks and he pass it with flying colours, just drink plenty of water and no alcohol ,He found it easy because England flop out of the world cup, might of been diff if they had carried on.
cheers Jane
Aug 6th 2006, 10:09 am
#21
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by westies
Just for interest for you guys we bought a house for 400,000 dollars, we have a mortgage of 200,000. the repayments are 680 each fortnight.
Probably a fantastic idea to set up nursery, definately lots of call for it, seems if you do find a good nursey waiting lists are massive, we have 1 in mind, names are down but earliest will be March next year, alot of schools have after school clubs, but again waiting lists!! our daughter is currently no. 18 on the list!!! seems to be alot of waiting games going on.
Probably a fantastic idea to set up nursery, definately lots of call for it, seems if you do find a good nursey waiting lists are massive, we have 1 in mind, names are down but earliest will be March next year, alot of schools have after school clubs, but again waiting lists!! our daughter is currently no. 18 on the list!!! seems to be alot of waiting games going on.
Aug 7th 2006, 5:53 am
#22
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
Incidentally-are these mortgages over 25 yrs,less? Nice deposits people. Need to save a bit more then!!
vicki
Aug 7th 2006, 7:05 am
#23
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
Incidentally-are these mortgages over 25 yrs,less? Nice deposits people. Need to save a bit more then!!
The best value mortgages are fixed rate for two years, here's a lengthy article explaining why.
Last edited by cypherpunk; Aug 7th 2006 at 8:08 am.
Aug 7th 2006, 10:30 am
#24
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Danny
My kids started school virtually as soon as we landed and they love it here and at school.
Schools are multi-cultural and there are many different kids but this is great.....imagine the diversity and the experiences that your children will be exposed it! My eldest daughter's friends are teaching her simple words in Chinese! It's fantastic!
Kids stay kids longer in NZ and bullying is strongly opposed. At least they won't be going to secondary (high) school with stab proof vests on!!!
All the best!
Rich
My kids started school virtually as soon as we landed and they love it here and at school.
Schools are multi-cultural and there are many different kids but this is great.....imagine the diversity and the experiences that your children will be exposed it! My eldest daughter's friends are teaching her simple words in Chinese! It's fantastic!
Kids stay kids longer in NZ and bullying is strongly opposed. At least they won't be going to secondary (high) school with stab proof vests on!!!
All the best!
Rich
Aug 7th 2006, 11:11 am
#25
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
My DS was 19 months when we moved here last year so it didnt affect him too much. My friends who have older kids all say their kids have settled in well..... theyve made friends easily... they do well at school... they dont want to move back to UK.
Aug 7th 2006, 11:23 am
#26
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by SarahB
My DS was 19 months when we moved here last year so it didnt affect him too much. My friends who have older kids all say their kids have settled in well..... theyve made friends easily... they do well at school... they dont want to move back to UK.
Aug 7th 2006, 8:12 pm
#27
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Re: How have your kids coped with the move?
Originally Posted by danny.f
These stories all mirror what I'd seen in Auckland,happy kids enjoying going to school. Happy kids=happy mums and dads. Kids staying kids for longer-just like the good ol' days. Can't wait.
Although I initially didnt like Auckland (too built up for my liking) I was still surprised that even in the middle of Auckland people could leave things in their gardens in public.... the stuff doesnt get pinched!! I can leave my kids stroller out the front of the house and know that it will be still be there later... its just easier going.
