Moving Abroad

pollyanna24

Summary of my position at the moment.

I am 3 months pregnant with our first child.

We have a mortgage of approximately £179,000 on a property currently worth £245,000 (going by Nationwide's figures when we refixed), so equity of £66,000.

We have a early redemption fee to pay of approximately £5,000 if we sell up and taking into account selling costs, I estimate that we will have £58,000 ish equity (of course I fully appreciate this is anticipating actually selling the house at what Nationwide valued it at).

Plus our savings of £15,000 making a total of £73,000 in total.

Our original plan was to move abroad in 5 years time, but bf is worried that we will lose all the equity in our house (probably rightly so) and that we won't be able to fulfil our "dream" of mortgage free living in Austria, where all his family is.

Woud everyone else test the water now and try to sell up? Or wait the 5 years as planned? I don't speak very much German at all and even though some of his family speak English, don't fancy the idea of being in a foreign country with a young child while bf is out making the crust.

Are prices likely to drop in Austria as well? Although they seem pretty cheap at the moment, that might be just because we are used to high prices.

pinkshoes

ME and my OH plan to move to France at some point, although we've decided to put it off for a few more years now due to us both having very well paid jobs here in the UK.

If you have nothing keeping you in the UK, then I'd say sell up and move! A life in Austria sounds fantastic, and if you're going to be buying and staying for a long time, then surely it doesn't matter what prices do there?

As for the language, you can pick up German in no time. Buy yourself the Michel Thomas foundation German CD, and learn before you go, then make an effort to go out and speak German when you arrive. 6 months and you'll be very competant, if not fluent. Also go to some parent/child groups with your child, so you can meet people, and learn more german.

pollyanna24

Gosh, my bf would love you! He's been trying to persuade me to move out there for years, but it's always been me holding back.

My family is over here, so therein lies the problem.

I have always said I would move out there, but always said I wasn't ready. We are only 26 and 27, so there's plenty of time. I've always said it makes more sense to make money over here as I am on okayish money and there is no likelihood of me making anywhere near what I am on here over there as I would probably not work over there. Now that I am pregnant and having to give up my job anyways, he sees it as a great time to move over there.

Ooh, blimey. I don't know. In a right pickle. He hates his job, but is presently going for one that is safe, secure and well paid, so I think depending on whether he gets that job or not is whether we have to reevaluate what we do.

pinkshoes

If you're giving up your job anyway, it's a great time to move! You'll be surprised how quickly you pick up German language, and your child will learn quickly at a nursery. So long as you make an effort to learn the language, you'll find people are so helpful and welcoming!

I bet you'll love it! If you hate it out there, you can always move back, but at least you can say you tried! It's better to do something and regret it, than to regret not doing something.

chelseablue

my bf is also saying we should emigrate but im torn. He wants to go to Australia.

We are saving for a house here but I suppose we could take the money to oz

Anyway much as I cant stand this country all my family are here

How do you feel about bringing your children up in this country? Out of Austria and UK I know which one Id pick

sadie22

take every oportunity in life, you can always bank the money and rent over in austria, untill your 100% sure u want to live there.

pollyanna24

Well, I don't think I would choose this country. I don't like the way a lot of kids are turning out.

I can see lots of pros and cons for both situation, I'm just finding it hard to let go.

I think we will wait and see what happens with his new job, but if he doesn't get it, I will tell him if he wants, we can test the water and see if we even get any kind of response if we try and sell up.

But I ain't going to do it all, he's gotta do the testing! Maybe it will show whether he really wants to do it!