Strategies for keeping hope going until house prices drop!

lostinrates

:rolleyes:

kunekune wrote: »

I wish! In practice there are two barriers: first, they will only accept NHS experience and second, he wan't work for a consultancy if that involves travelling several days a week. Our family can't work like that. He got THIS close to a contract with BT global last year and then the hours became obvious: 12 hour days. The money is not worth it. I don't know why that apparent bottomless pit won't take someone who successfully designed data warehouses for the NZ Ministry of Health, but there it is. And, as you so kindly point out, they could do with him!

NZ is having a price collapse as we speak. But each move costs so much money. Only Auckland and Wellington are possible for us because of my job and his combined, Auckland has long been too expensive. We were in Wellington before, and like it (bar the earthquakes). We would only go back if it was a work promotion (ie, if they gave me at least an associate professorship/readership, which is in the realm of pigs flying for an academic with time-consuming children to rear) with all expenses, etc. Academics do get their relocation paid, which is nice.

BUt when we hit our mid-60s, it might be different. Ironically, because of being here for the last phase of our working lives, we will get UK rather than NZ pensions, but with NI credits for the 20 years we were away. We can then get it paid to us in NZ ... For retirement, it would be a great option.

I think there is no getting around the UK long working hours culture. It was my DH's first week in Lonon office of same employer. In Italy, sure, he had late nights often, very often, but last week his shortest day was his first....he started at 9:30 am and finished at just before 11 pm I think. Also, we could afford to rent a nice enough apartment in the city together without me working, and things like transport were cheaper! The VERY first document he had to sign in UK was the get out of the EU work hours directive
:rolleyes:

I've made a long list to day of all the reasons we wanted to be in UK, and they still hold true, top among them are the fact that my elderly parents are here, and even after all this time moving about our strongest social circle is in UK, and its where we feel most 'at home' (even if we don't have a home :rotfl: ). I know to many this might have all seeme really moaney, but I'm really glad kunekune was abkle to post. I feel a lot less of an oddity thanks to her!


BTW, I agree about NZ...I think it woul be a great place to retire, and Wellington IS lovely, but I know now we wouldn't be able to settle there. I hope that by the time retirement is staring us in the face we have beome established financially here and can enjoy it! UK IS wonderful. While I was away I missed things, like the cultural breadth, the huge range of foods in supermarkets, the relatively safe roads!, an even the weather!

hgllgh

Rick62 wrote: »

And don't think of renting as negative, think as a positive while you get more settled in your jobs, get to know the different areas and types of property you could live and think of it as a positive that you have plenty of time to find the perfect house rather than being rushed into it as many people have in recent years.

spot on. much better to be renting right now that shedding 000's in equity over the next few years.... and it sounds like you got out near the top if the market in NZ... great timing! I honestly think the UK will be a better place after this property crash as it will be a more equal society.

hgllgh

kunekune wrote: »

I wish! In practice there are two barriers: first, they will only accept NHS experience and second, he wan't work for a consultancy if that involves travelling several days a week. Our family can't work like that. He got THIS close to a contract with BT global last year and then the hours became obvious: 12 hour days. The money is not worth it. I don't know why that apparent bottomless pit won't take someone who successfully designed data warehouses for the NZ Ministry of Health, but there it is. And, as you so kindly point out, they could do with him! .

Not all consultancy jobs involve travelling. There are plenty that are based on a permanent site. I worked for private consultancies for years on public sector IT accounts that pay well. The company I worked for is now called Atos Origin and they run a number of large public sector IT accounts in London and various other parts of the UK. If you send me a private message I can send an email contact you can use if your DH wants to move job or needs a new one. Probably best to apply through their website as well as email contact if he does apply at some point in the future.

hearts

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here

hgllgh

hearts wrote: »

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here

Abandon hope yourself fool

Savvy_Sue

I'm glad you're feeling a little more positive.

Blu-tak, don't go there! Not only does it leave greasy marks on walls, it also leaves black blobs on the carpets if the least little bit comes off the wall and is trodden in, and that's FAR harder to deal with than a quick paint job.

But I have had excellent results with GrippingStuff - maybe try that for the Dr Who posters?

pamaris

Hi! I haven't read this entire thread, but I just wanted to lend my support because I also returned to the UK from a low HPI country (Texas!) about 15 months ago. We have been living with OH's mum (with 2 annoying but lovely kids!) for the past 15 months and let me tell you it has been hell... for lots of reasons, but mainly because she's had multiple health problems & she doesn't like me. However, we managed to save a 5% deposit plus several thousand for fees & furniture (15k this year)...

We were also torn as far as whether to buy a house... we also have had (slight) negative equity before and didn't want to get burned. In the end, what we have done is we negotiated on a house that was the nicest in the price range. Similar houses are still on the market for £170k (but not shifting!). We are getting our adorable 2 up 2 down for £147k. Which does actually hurt, because it's a frickin 2 bedroom! But it is pretty and nice and the absolute best house in the price range.

We wanted a 3 BR as we are 31 (me) and 39 (DH) but we settled for something that is 2 bedrooms with massive loft space and scope for expansion when it is absolutely necessary (4-5 years).

I do think that prices will soften... but we have fixed for 5 years and I think that by then things will even out.

If you can save £1k per month like you said, I would be really intense about it and forego things like holidays. Set a target. I honestly and truly did not think we would be able to buy anything we would like, but the softening of house prices combined with sacrificial saving has allowed it.

If you cut things right down, then you should be good to go in 12 months. Should be a great time to buy a house then. Do stick to a tight budget though.

OK.... now I am going to actually read the thread... will probably chime again after that!

p.s. In the farthest reaches of my mind there is a memory of the house I used to have! Those were the days... but it is a trade off. We have 5 weeks holiday here.