Tea4two

You are lucky! I started looking in to it as an investment as prices here are too high in comparison and the houses aren't as well built either! A lot of the major banks have pulled out of expat mortgages as of last year and a few building societies will entertain them. We don't have a 25% deposit so are now looking at a guarantor (parent) - does anyone know if this helps? Also can I ask which bank/building society said it was possible? Thanks xx

Hey all, I haven't been on here for a while as we've been trying to settle in and found I was always drawn to posts from people moving back home lol. But we are kind of settled (more me and not the hubby but that's another story!). So we have been living in Point Cook for the past year and we have enjoyed it- amazing houses, great spaces and the people are great. We even have best friends on our street who I regularly knock on for a cuppa! But it does feel like we are missing out a little on what Melbourne has to offer. We both commute to the East (hubby to Moorabin and me to St Kilda/Windsor). He is used to the drive and he isn't in peak hour which helps but i'm on the train at 7am and return home at 7pm. It's killing me. So we are biting the bullet and leaving what we know (again!) and have narrowed it down to Sandringham or Southbank. Both of which would be an easy commute as my work is on the Sandringham line. We went to Sandringham on Sat and it instantly felt like home, gorgeous houses (not the new souless kind!). Are there many brits in this suburb and are the people nice? I know it's a wealthy suburb and I don't want to feel out of place. Also does anyone live in Southbank? Do you find it claustrophobic? A year's a long time so i'm just trying to make the best decision that won't rock the boat too much for my husband and how he feels about living here thanks in advance xx

Hiya, I also live in Point Cook just down the road from SL in Alamanda. It really depends what you like. If you like new houses and modern living you will love PC and Sanc Lakes. It's a beautiful estate that's kind of a stand out in Melbourne and what you can get for your money in SL and PC in general- you won't find elsewhere really. There is probably the biggest community of Brits here than anywhere else, or at least the biggest who have forums on fb and meet up etc. there are Mums groups, ladies groups, ex pat groups...a massive support network to help you settle in. But I do find its almost not like living in real Australia. The OZ friends I know from Melbourne are from work and none of them had heard of Point Cook. There are many other nationalities also you are right but its a nice place to be in that sense. You really won't decide until you see it for yourself xxx