Emigration..... The grass isn't greener after all...

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

toby3000 wrote: »

I'm confused, is run away house price inflation a good thing here but a bad thing abroad?

I think we can all agree that 80 times average earnings is nuts.

The UK equivalent would be the average house price at £2,000,000 today with the average wage at £25,000.

markharding557

I am going to reveal my ignorance here but what are the bears referenced in earlier posts?
what does this mean?

treliac

markharding557 wrote: »

I am going to reveal my ignorance here but what are the bears referenced in earlier posts?
what does this mean?

Bears are (allegedly) people who think we're in trouble and house prices will go down. As opposed to bulls who are optimistic and think the opposite.

Of course, some of us just think we're realists.

mark5

I wouldnt want to swap Britain for any other country to live in!

Holidays/retiring abroad are different to working abroad!

Cleaver

markharding557 wrote: »

I am going to reveal my ignorance here but what are the bears referenced in earlier posts?
what does this mean?

Out in the real world you can be 'bearish' or 'bullish' about a certain market or asset. If you are bearish about something, you feel that that asset or market will fall in value or price. The opposite for bullish. So you could be bullish about the Indian stock market for 2010 as you feel the stocks are currently undervalued and will rise, whilst also being bearish about the price of gold as you feel it has risen to a high value and will fall.

On this site the terms 'bear' and 'bull' are used rather differently. On here people describe themselves or others as a bear when they want to portray that they are pessimistic about pretty much everything financial and others describe themselves or others as a bull as a way of saying that they see everything optimistically and in a positive light. People become a 'type', rather than use the words to describe how they feel about certain assets, markets or other financial areas. 'Bears' like to mock 'bulls' and vice versa. It's all become rather odd: a bit like a squabble you'd see on any school playground where people have forgotton what subject they were arguing about but remember who is on each 'side'.

Obviously there are quite a few on the site who don't label themselves as either and have varying opinions.

Wine_of_the_World

I have lived in Australia, and while the house prices are getting higher and higher the houses are in general MUCH larger than they are in the UK. If you were to swap a similar sized house in England, for the same price you would be getting much more house for your money. Theater rooms, big open plan kitchen / dinning / living rooms are the norm, as are walk in wardrobes, ensuites, etc. Even at the lower end of the market - the first home buyers domain these are common place.

I am always surprised how much more jobs like forklift driving, truck driving and anything to do with construction pays in Australia. Acutally even waitresses, cleaners etc are on more than double they'd get in England $18per hours is the minimum I've seen, and more likely $20 -$25.

Im really in two minds as to where Id be better off. I do love the ourdoors, and from looking at house prices, I could afford a detached three bedroom pace, 10 min drive to the beach and easy train into the city. In England I'd be looking at a piddly two bedroom flat with a kitchen you could bearly even fit two people in.

JP45

phil_b wrote: »

I've never been Aus myself, but the summer temperatures terrify me more than the wildlife. I'm not one for hot weather so would struggle through their summer more than the winter here which aint so bad.

Me too. And if the predictions for global warming prove correct (and I accept it's still debatable), then the climate in Australia is likley to get increasingly inhospitable. In which case, you'd be better off considering New Zealand or simply staying put. Both New Zealand and the UK have been described as potential lifeboats in the event of continued global warming.

As James Lovelock pointed out:

"I think the role of New Zealand, similar to that of the UK and other island nations, is to be a lifeboat, because the world may get almost intolerable during the coming century," Lovelock said. "And you see that happening already in Australia -- the desert is spreading and things just won't grow. And island nations like New Zealand will be spared that kind of damage."

http://www.rushprnews.com/2008/10/25/top-british-scientist-says-new-zealand-should-become-lifeboat-for-global-warming-survivors/

nearlynew

toby3000 wrote: »

I'm confused, is run away house price inflation a good thing here but a bad thing abroad?

Yes, isn't it funny to see the HPI cheerleaders moaning that the prices were too high elsewhere.

I thought that was a good thing?

Wine_of_the_World

New_Years_Day wrote: »

.Whatever happened to our sockie exposing member ? (Another one outed)

Huh??? I have no idea what you mean. What is a "sockie". Maybe I've been away too long.

drc

Oz is hotter, sunnier and I am sure you get a lot more space for your money. Property may cost more in Oz but if you are getting twice or three times as much m2 for slightly more than you would pay in the UK, it's a no brainer.