craigyboy

I hadn't changed it but arrived back in to Scotland on Tuesday. It's been a magic couple of days.

is it really acceptable for intelligent people to make smug remarks about other people's circumstances ie what they should and should not have, or indeed done given the situation!! Personally I see no need, you probably have no idea what challenges they faced, or indeed their situation, likewise you may have had good fortune and they not. Seems a shame to judge other people's life's and circumstances when the facts are not on the table. Most people I met in oz as a migrant where struggling for the first few years and yes things got better, but it all cost money and time. Just be grateful for your own good fortune and show some gratitude. I've found being grateful and a wee bit more humble helps, not only you, but everyone around you. In short, don't judge others until you have walked a mile in their shoes.

Guys, just to clear I live on the Gold Coast and agree it's a great place to live. what I am referring to is the development industry and design outcomes.

of course you can, but your water bill in WA will mean that your peppers will cost the equivalent of Italian truffles.

unfortunately, the Gold Coast is famous for shyster development. I can't believe some of the chancer I have found out during the diligence period of the development process. With regard to housing the rental market is governed by private landlords charging way over what the properties are worth in badly designed communities designed for profit and the people who will live there a sorry second. for example a 1 metre long back garden is common place!!! The best place I've seen is North Lakes for value, particularly areas like Narangba nearby with excellent schools and good transport links to Brisbane. As far as developing here believe nothing until you have checked everything!!

Hi depending on the environmental classification of the land the type of foundations would have to withstand flooding ie house level is off the ground. The soil treatment is compacted to provide a compaction certificate which is presented to the vendor to verify the soil classification M classification is the ideal type. Regarding water disappearing that depends on the water table. As I said if it is a designated flood zone the house level must be above the ground.

Got to agree with this quote, I made the jump across the pond and return home next week. absolutely love Australia, even the challenges we have faced. I was back in Scotland last month, and being away makes you appreciate where you are from wether that be Australia or Scotland

Got to agree with this quote. I'm a development surveyor and working every day with the market here. It's the fundamental that are wrong, you have places like the Gold Coast,no real industry but extremely high house prices. There is supply, but with no significant wage increases, but again house price inflation is rampant. Chinese money isn't going to last forever. Personally I believe a lot of the house price inflation is being fuelled by negative gearing benefiting the baby boomer and SIPS fortunate investors.

Definstely a young mans game. I lived in Perth for a few months and found it to be a two speed economy with prices geared towards mining salaries. For example, set of three peppers (capsicums) in WA $12, but in QLD $4 big saving. So I hope a recession gets some reality ch CLS with prices out west in general but does not hurt too many financially.

This quote is on the money, I never realised how important ethics is until I witnessed some shocking contractual strategies during tender stage here!! RICS goes for nothing here, and that's a shame because the organisations has so much to offer.

i absolutely agree with your post. I've done everything but real estate development management since arriving 2 years ago. Though I have had some cracking jobs, one better than the other, even ended up the sales manager for Mercedes Benz lol. I've just returned from Scotland and realised home is where the heart is!! You are probably a RICs surveyor and being told constantly about is experience is in time just too much!!! What I loved about being home , was that I knew what to do and everyone got me follow your instincts, I'm soon going to be behind you!!

brilliant, I think the picture smashed it. Well done lilxxx

It makes perfect sense to me. Your post covers everything from first arrival, being naturally terrified, geography, strange wildlife noises lol, thinking someone has let out a parrot until the kids tell you they are wild here, to adjusting to a total lack of customer service because hey they have had it so good they don't (give a ferk) need to try i.e. realising it's not the UK. And just look at the UK for all our knocking our pans in lol!!!!

I'm coming back to the forum, about time!!!!!:biggrin::biggrin: