Libby

Thanks for the replies. I'm keeping an eye on the UK news re the bank. I should've moved to First Direct before we left for Oz in 2013! I was thinking about it but didn't n once we arrived here, the Co Op bank started to have problems. Oh well, we'll see how it goes. Exchange rate sucks anyway so hopefully my bank account will survive long enough so see the GBP gain some momentum..

Thanks. I'm looking into this vs just bringing the money over now. Can't believe this is happening when the exchange rate is the worst in decades.

Well I've left most of my savings in my old UK bank account (Smile online banking) as I was waiting for the exchange rate to recover. Well today I've heard that it is allegedly uncertain that Co Op bank will find a buyer and likely be wound down n I don't want to lose my savings so need to get it over here pronto. Is there an alternative? I would like to do what UK residents can and open a new bank account back home, transfer my savings into them and wait for the exchange rate to recover but I can't as I'm now a permanent resident of Australia. Do I just take it on the chin and transfer the lost over here at the worst exchange rates for decades? Also, is your £ safe if you were to add it to your Moneycorp account but leave it there until the exchange rate hit a Target of say $1.80??? Not sure how long that will take though. I can't believe this is happening. We've had such a struggle to get here, being here n now this. Thanks anyone.

Forgot to mention you need to have manual driver's license but I think most UK licenses are for manual as standard. Had to add this anyway ?

On behalf of a friend who runs a successful and fast growing European uPVC double glazing window company in Melbourne, VIC, can you please private message me or reply to this post if you would be interested in forwarding your CV and I will give you contact details. They are very interested in finding applicants with a good history of working in the UK having years of experience in joinery/carpentry and installation of uPVC double glazed units. They currently import the windows from the UK as the quality is superior to the current standard Australian double glazing. They need someone with solid skills in joinery/carpentry as the way Australian houses are built are very different to UK houses so when measuring and then installing the uPVC double glazed units, you are often required to think outside the box and adapt or create a solution involving joinery work so the units are securely and perfectly fitted. The company is based in the South East suburbs of Melbourne but you are required to work throughout Victoria. You need to have your visa as the company does not sponsor employees so please ensure you have the right to work in Victoria before applying. I will monitor the responses to this post and my inbox. Get in touch if you are seriously interested. Suitable candidates will be contacted asap. Thank you.

Husband still loves Berwick hillside but it's very expensive now. He's started looking at the Timbarra Estate where we nearly bought a while back but were put off by workmates who said it's too close to "Nazza Wozza" I thought I'd ask on here for opinions as it seems quite a large area and not all parts are close to Narre Warren. I mean Narre Warren and not North or South as I now know those areas are fine. Thanks

I have considered Frankston High but they are very strict with zoning as it's so popular. We've already been in the stress of trying to buy a house in the zone before we ended up where we are and it's most definitely out of our price range. We can't afford a doer upper in Frankston South now. Have you seen what's happening to the house prices in the Frankston High zone?

We are looking at moving house. We want have been looking at Mt Martha, Mt Eliza, Mornington and Langwarrin (nearer the Cranbourne end than Frankston end) so really need some advice on the high schools in those areas. Please can anyone give me first hand or very honest opinions - PM me if it isn't something you want to say on the main board as I am getting really frustrated trying to find a state school that is any good. The area we moved to has a state school in walking distance but everyone I have asked locally have told me is has a terrible reuptation and most of this kids here either go private which we really can't afford or they get the bus to Mornington Secondary College. We have the opportunity to buy a new house and this move is it. We are not wanting to move again as we really need to get our lives sorted and settle down once and for all. Thanks very much in advance for your help here. I really need some truthful answers.

NAB and Bankwest both said I need "genuine savings of over 3 months in your account" before I can use it towards a deposit on a home loan. Not gone any further yet as I have also heard from our previous mortgage broker that this is often the case so I was worried. I haven't even transferred the money yet - I still have it in the UK at present because of the pathetic state of the GBP at the moment.

I hope someone can help me out here. I inherited some money back in the UK and the funds were released at the start of September. We have been looking at moving house but didn't plan on doing so for a year or two but a house that ticks all our boxes has come up unexpectedly. The issue is that I would need to use some of the inheritance money to bump up our deposit otherwise we are unlikely to be able to make an offer on the house. I am aware that you need to prove where your funds came from and I have the solicitors letter but the problem is that I only received the funds almost 2 months ago and I know we were advised you need to prove savings are over 3 months old. By the time the sale is likely to be finalised it will likely be over 3 months but I am not sure if this is not going to be permitted. I hope this makes sense - I think I may have over complicated my query... Thanks for any help.

Thanks. I would probably just have the savings account at the moment but then it looks like you don't get the bonus interest rate without the everyday account too. The productreview website doesn't make me too happy though so I will have a think. Thanks for replying.

We had hoped to transfer over the last of our UK funds to buy a bigger house before the house prices here get so ridiculous that we will be in our little, already overpriced current house for the foreseeable future. Looks like it is either gamble and transfer depending on the US election result's effects on the GBP or just wait it our for a year or two more. I still can't quite understand just how badly the GBP has been affected by "Brexit" even before they actually said they are going ahead to instigate Article 50. I suppose a weaker GBP would be better for setting up trade agreements when it comes down to it.... It's just unbelievable how far it fell considering the GLOBAL financial crisis that hit back in 2008. Anyway, I am no expert on these things. It is just all a bit confusing. Experts do seem to be saying the pound will fall even further but yes, who knows what will happen to the foreign exchange after the US election results... Fingers crossed for the GBP to rally sooner rather than later.

I keep hearing about "me bank" and am thinking of opening an account with them. Does anyone have any experience with them? Or advice to go for it/avoid them? Thanks in advance for your help here.

We are thinking of buying a rental property but our budget only goes up to $400,000. We have never rented out a property before or owned a second house but I recently inherited some money and thought this might be a good way to invest it. I have heard it is not the best idea to buy an apartment in the city to rent out as the market is saturated at the moment with apartments in the city. What are the thoughts on buying a house to rent out in Frankston... There are other areas we have looked at units but the cheaper housing in the more affordable areas seem to rent very cheap in comparison to the mortgage payments. I know the property prices are currently still on the up so the idea is that we are looking at buying a house that we can keep for 20 years and rent out so we really want to make sure it is in an area with lots of potential. We have also been looking at house and land packages in Casey/Cardinia area but I again we know nothing about buying land and having a house built on it. I have heard stories of people ending up having to fork out thousands if the land need flattened or there are issues before the house is even started and then again there is the whole fences/driveways/gardens to be established at extra expense and the house/land packages aren't as cheap an option as they were a couple of years ago when we were looking at buying our first home. Thanks for any advice from those of you who own a rental property and any ideas on where might be a good suburb to buy a cheaper investment property.

LOL re interest on my UK account! Think its 0.5% at the moment. Thank you for helping me. I will just keep the solicitors letters safe for tax return time or whatever.