Numptyhead

Hey...which bank is that?

Kiwiprincess

One of the managers at my work got one recently. She is in her mid 50s.

I suppose the logic is that if the house sells they will get their money back. Who knows.

Bo-Jangles

Exactly that, they could not care less, as they will get their money back in the end, no matter what happens.

I was surprised we were offered a thirty year mortgage at our age - actually any of the banks, ASB, Westpac etc were all willing to lend to us.

Gill and Rob

We are with Genesis... better off in NZ.

Gill and Rob

Madmaxdeux

Got another example of being better of in NZ

Retired couple from the UK moved to NZ to be closer to their family.

Had they stayed in the UK they would have been living on a modest pension mortgage free in a small 2 bedroom semi in a city and not able to afford to run a car.

Here they are in New Zealand still living mortgage free in a 6 bedroom house with a couple of acres of land in the country and two cars on NZ super.

So I think they are better off dont you?

Having this discussion tonight we did some maths and worked out that if we did return to the UK (assuming our airfares and shipping costs paid for) there is no way we would be better off.

Genesis

If I stupidly decided to return my family to the UK what would I get for 240,000 GBP? Not what I have here in the quiet leafy cul de sac that is home. A detached house in one quarter of an acre, pool, 300 odd square metres etc? I think not. Perchance an anonymous 2-3 bed terrace in a packed street in a packed town in a packed country. Over and above the accomodation issue life IS easy here. In the UK in most places you are battling crowds, the roads are full and its wall to wall stress and tumult. Life in rural Palmerston North for us verges on Nirvana. Endless things to do, the beach on our door step and virtually no stress..until you want someone to come and fix something...thats when the stress starts!!!

scrubbedexpat094

I wouldn't class us as being poor but we are definitely worse off than we were in the UK. We had a relatively small mortgage in the UK which would have been paid off in 2012 & plenty of money left over at the end of each month. Now we have a mortgage which is more than double that which we had in the UK & will be paid off in 22 years & OH earns approx 1/4 less here. Our situation isn't helped by my having given up work since last April but we are managing. Obviously the situation will improve once I'm working again.

Our financial situation does cause me concern sometimes but I'm one of life's worriers anyhow.

I would still rather live in NZ than the UK though.

Perry Groves

240,000.....that's a bedsit in some parts of London!

zoglet

Its an entire street in some parts of Manchester!

Heavenlyscent

For that amount of money in Licnolnshire which is not so populated you would buy a 4 bed detached house with an acre of land, the countryside, clear roads, less stress, heaven! An asda or Morrisons or Tesco a little bit away but chepaer meals, cheaper clothing lots of disposable income, near the beach about 30 mins away. The only stress you would have is a sunday driver lol

lardyl

Plus it wouldn't be the "suicide capital of the world" and chock full of students.........

lapsed kiwi

If I had to live in Lincolnshire I think I'd add one to the statistics eventually. I spent a week there once in winter, teaching at the RAF college. I think the moon would have a warmer climate, more interesting geography and better pubs.

Genesis

Not sure Lincolnshire has the same allure as the Manawatu and the general locale. Point is I would still be living in a very over populated country. Tail backs do not exist in my life in NZ. Which is nice. Plus I have a mountain to ski down (if I ever get the time) 2 hours away by car. Door to ski lift.

love30stm

Yay...nice it is

Madmaxdeux

Haha spot on and lets see if anyone can beat that

So your not really poor that you can afford to go sking then either