I think there is more to this statment than you are letting on, did you sell in uk when houses were going through a bad patch ? & now in oz it has the chance of it happening there too.
If they are selling & you are buying how can it be a misfortune ???? if you are buying at market value at that time then what is the problem. I like the like you got very pridictable lol.
And some used the situation to there advantage by buying at low prices taking advantage of low interest rates and then siting back and watching the prices rise back to 2008 levels.
18 months ago we had deperate threads on here of members unable to sell even knocking thousands off just to get buyers to look round, how it can change so quickly.
Plus knowing how my cousins are fixed it southern ireland with no pot to pi-- in with lack of jobs have they got a rainy day fund or just there suite cases ?.
If you are correct that they need a 457 visa & reading other thread posts on how hard it is to get a job in oz at the moment I would be very worried for them as they have young children. If they secured a job and otained a 457 then lost the job they would be in a far worst situation.
Pease do not let it get nasty I know from my own experience how easily it can get out of hand. I know now how having friends on here can move mountains.