Bo-Jangles

I agree with you Weezer, same observations I see with many people in my workplace and why I'm working beside people who are 75+ and can't afford to retire. Lots of folks live in these old villas in new-monied areas such as Remuera but generally don't have the money or wherewithal to make them comfortable to live in. One lady I work with is older than 65 - lives in a million dollar plus suburb and just spent more than $80k modernising, heating, double glazing and insulating her home for her retirement - she's gonna be working a lot longer yet to pay off the debt.

Mark Smith

Top notch post Davros.

Hokey-pokey

She'll probably flog it off for a few million, clear the mortgage, then head to the BOP to enjoy a comfortable retirement. There's been a noticeable influx of older well heeled Aucklanders in these parts lately. They've all been busy selling off the old family villas in Remmers and buying up large around Mt Maunganui. Leaves them with a fair wodge of cash to play around with too.

Bo-Jangles

Indeed, I believe this may be the method in the madness for sudden desire to update. However, it is very sad to think of the conditions she has put up with for so long, but now she's absolutely thrilled and revelling in the new found 'comfort' of her own home. She and I have some great chats about life in general and the similarities and differences that we share; overall she's quite angry with herself and other Kiwis in general for being so 'mean' (her words not mine) and putting up with such poor living conditions for so many years.

Hokey-pokey

A few years ago if you'd mentioned installing double glazing or central heating you'd have been gawped at. It simply wasn't considered unless you were stinking rich; and then you faced the problem of actually finding a tradesman who knew what he was doing. Anything outside the status quo would have had to be sourced and probably imported from the Northern Hemisphere. Imagine doing all that without the internet.

pippalonghorn

Working at the homeless shelter has put everything into perspective for me. I've had many chats with the older residents who have seen many changes over the years here.

To come around to the other side of the world is a huge decision. In order to stay here I believe your quality of life should improve to justify the move. Working 12 - 14 hours per day for the next 20/30 years to pay off a huge mortgage is not my idea of good quality of life. Uprooting your family around NZ in order to afford a cheaper home, which adds another 40 mins plus onto your daily commute is not a good quality of life.

I don't want to live like this as this is my daughters childhood. She has no quality time with her daddy because of his working hours. He will never get that time back with her. No house is worth that.

Stormer999

But that is exactly what I did in the UK!
I don't think there is an easy ride anywhere in the live-able World to be
honest.
I worked 12 hrs a day for many years on call 24/7 and then 6 hrs every night renovating crap terraced houses, all weekends and no holidays for many years. Finish it sell for a profit and move upwards then start all over again.
For some on here (not you Pip) to suggest that the old sods had it easy is just generalizing and out of order. A nice 12 hour day 5 days a week would have been very nice with weekends off and holidays.
We are buying a 3 bedroom DETACHED bungalow in a good side of Christchurch for approx NZ$450k.....our little 2 bedroom DETACHED bungalow in a Warwickshire town cost us £325k. Very nice but believe me it has been bloody hard work! When Bellasmum says patience she is right.
Oops just fell off my box

davros1984

This for me is exactly it. Why move to the other side of the world if life isn't any better, or worse in fact.

Justcol

A wise man once wrote
"when no ones yet explained to me exactly what's so great
About slaving 50 years away on something that you hate,
about meekly shuffling down the path of mediocrity
Well if that's your road then take it but it's not the road for me"

seriously !! you want people to sit and live with nothing for 20 or 30 years, unbelievable
You get less time for murder,you have no bills to pay and get 3 meals a day, have you considered that as an option Davros ??

davros1984

By Auckland standards that is very affordable, especially if its in good condition (not in need of a new roof or floor or insulation or double glazing and has a kitchen less than 20 years old).

On a serious note, I fully appreciate that property in the UK is expensive.

However, there is a far bigger choice of property AND it has 61 million more people.

I think depending on "when" you moved to NZ highly influences your opinion on the matter.

Hazelnut

Wow, this went off at a tangent

For me the paragraph

stands out as that's why we're thinking of moving. We currently live in a beautiful area of the UK, the views are breathtaking and I have to pinch myself every now and again to make sure I'm not dreaming at being so lucky to live in such a gorgeous house with land and my horse at home.

However, it's so wet, cold and miserable for three months of the year that we have to shut down, yard the horse in a shed and basically just slog against the mud and do endless maintenance to hold steady. For another six months of the year we only have a 50:50 chance of being able to be outside and not be rained on or blown away. Most years we can't grow our own veg and our complete orchard crop failed last year due to snow in late April. We regularly spend weeks at a time below zero and, two winters ago, we spent a month varying from -10 to -15. That wasn't a lot of fun.

Jobs are increasingly tricky with 20-25% above contracted hours being expected every week and salaries decreasing in real terms all the time due to not even a cost of living rise over the last five years. We're also now in the culture of being available 24/7 with companies expecting employees to buy their own laptops or tablets so they can do even more unpaid overtime.

I'm already pretty sure we can't move and afford our horses, which are one of the principle drivers for moving, so I suspect we'll stay put but we're still coming out to see the place anyway, you never know what the universe might place in your way if you give it the chance.

Purrball

Anywhere north of Invercargill will be a huge improvement on this state of affairs. I'm not a huge fan of rural living, but enjoy it for short visits. Used to go with friends on flyfishing trips to Turangi, snorkelling around the lakes or short yacht rides around the Sounds. Last time I was there, I stayed out on a farm on the way to Castlepoint for a few days... but in my heart, I've always been a city person since I was little.

If you're looking at places in the North Island, consider looking at the Wairarapa (Masterton, Featherston and thereabouts) if you'd like relatively easy access once in a while to Wellington by train. Go further north on the east side of the North Island and you start to get into Mediterrean-type climates where it's warm enough to grow avocados, apricots and plums. Anywhere that has huge palm trees in the main streets of towns isn't like many places in the UK.

If you can make it work financially, go for it.

Stormer999

There are not a great deal of good homes on the UK market where we came from. Brother in law is desperately trying to get on the ladder but due to hardly any houses being built for quite a few years now anything 1/2 decent is snapped up immediately. This in turn is winding up the prices and the agents are forecasting an 8% price increase in 2014 simply because of supply/demand as cash becomes available. All towns and villages are being forced into accepting more housing unfortunately a mixture of private and social hence putting people off buying.
Like areas of AKL you get what you pay for Davros. I wish you luck in your quest but don,t make yourself ill.......it.s only a house after all!

pippalonghorn

hi hazelnut. Definatly come out and have a look around. The type of lifestyle you want is readily available here, only you will know if you can afford it or not.

I wish you all the best for your future and hope things work out for you and your family.

TommyLuck

Isn't this called; living on the bread line?

It's hardly a phenomenon restricted to New Zealand.