Pommie Bear

Hi Que Sera, Sera, here's some inside information. Now please do not think I am saying any of this for my benefit, because I am not. You are absolutely right, the established market has taken a bit of a nosedive over the past 12-18 months in some areas house prices have dropped by a staggering 22! The majority of this has been driven by the mining industry and the media. T he House and Land package route isn't as busy as it was 12-18 months ago either. However, land continues to increase with every release and in some hot spot areas by up to $3,000 every release (with new releases being roughly every 6-8 weeks in some areas). So all I will say is, if you're looking at the established market then I would definitely hold fire as speculation is, there is still about another 6 months to go before it hits rock bottom. Although I will say I am linked in with a number of Real Estate Agents throughout Perth Metro and they are all saying the same..... "the investors are starting to come out of the woodwork", which is a sure sign the tipping of scales is imminent. On the house and land package front, now is the perfect time to be looking for an investment. After all, investments are for the long term and the bank interest lending rates are at their lowest since pre GFC. I read some wise words recently. "Time in the market is better than timing the market".

Thank you MaryRose02. I've been really fortunate, but my husband took 6 months to find a job. But we got there in the end.

Hi POI Chatter box, it's sad to hear a quarter of your daughters workforce were made redundant, I can assure you this has not been the case with all builders. I was not trying to drum up business out of desperation, I was purely looking for another avenue beside relying on Display. Plus I was hoping to help people going through the house and land package route with information if they wanted to understand the process, it wasn't all about rubbing my hands together. It's a shame my message has been perceived this way. As for building on natural habitat bushland, this is a decision made by the government, along with the demand of people being in love with the idea of building their dream home. So having a rant at building companies is not going to solve your issue. I'm quite sad that such a negative approach has been taken by my message, when I wrote this message it was sincerely meant and in a positive manner. I thought these forums were for sharing positive information and for making people moving to Australia feel welcome?

Well, it has been a very long time since I made my last post to Poms in Oz. All previous posts were done from the UK and I am now very happily living in Perth and glad I made that move. It was all very scary at first with loads of "what ifs", but I've been here 8 months now and loving every day. Within 1 month of arriving, I started working with Ideal Homes as a Building Consultant assisting families, individuals and couples to find their perfect house and land package. I have worked both North and South of River, so now have an abundance of knowledge throughout Perth metro. It's a great job, making peoples dreams of building their own home come true, something that is almost impossible to even consider in the UK. If anyone is thinking of a House and Land package, please feel free to get in touch. I would love to work with any fellow Poms in Oz members. If you want to speak to someone about your options, pm me, and I will also provide any Poms in Oz Members a discount that cannot be applied if you call Ideal Homes directly.

Yes please, my OH and I would be interested in attending.

Hi All, Visa granted 10.10.12. Am really pleased for everyone having received theirs too and hope that those still waiting don't have to wait much longer. Can you update the spreadsheet for us please. Many thanks

Hi Elaine, Hey Presto, I logged on this morning to see my OH medical showing as finalised. I have therefore emailed my agent for feedback. Watch this space....... Must admit, thought I'd feel a bit more excited about the whole thing and yet I don't feel anything at the moment - so numb by the whole process and so unlike me as I'm normally so positive. Hopefully I'll feel different if and when the visa is granted.

We are so fed up with the waiting that me and my OH are starting to get cold feet about the whole thing.

Hi All, Can you possibly update us on the spreadsheet. Medicals were referred on 07.08.12 - not heard anything back yet. Cheers, Pommie Bear (we're towards the bottom of the spreadsheet, visa was lodged on 27.06.12)

Hi All, Medicals now done. Mine and son stating online as 'finalised', my OH is showing as referred - does anyone have any idea how long it will stay like this? It's been like this since last Friday (3rd August). Any advise would be good, cheers

Hi All (who very kindly dropped me a message), Update is we have spoken with the panel doctor today, blood test for OH was fine and sample from me was fine. Files will be uploaded by them by close of business today. I am sooooooooooo relieved, this has to have been one of the longest weekends ever! No doubt Global Health will pick it up again, but hopefully they'll pass it through fairly quickly. Watch this space .........

Hi Joanne, Thank you for your words of comfort, like your OH mine was put on Metformin to lose weight! We will hopefully get the results on Monday some time, so fingers crossed eh?

Hi All, We had our medicals done on Thursday and my OH was questioned about a particular type of medication he is on Metformin. He was diagnosed 18 months ago with a condition called metabolic syndrome. The specialist put him on Metformin as one of his medications specifically to help him lose weight (that's what he was told). Apparently this medication is also given to people with diabetes. To our knowledge my husband doesn't have diabetes (he's never been tested for it and never been told), but the Panel doctor has now advised that she needs to request an additional test from the blood test she took to check for diabetes. My husband also had to obtain a copy of the latest specialist report from his doctor which mentions he has 'established peripheral vascular disease'. We are now really worried that we have come this far (using an agent) and may now not be granted a visa. Can anyone shed any light on their own experience, or give me a link on the web somewhere that might help. Many thanks in advance.:sad::unsure:

Hi Dazzmatazz, Pommie Bear here - Visa Lodged 27/06. Here is more info for you to add to the spreadsheet; Medicals have been booked for 02/08. Police checks sent special delivery and will arrive with them on 24/07. We have been allocated to Team 2. Many thanks

Hi Wendy, Can I ask a favour? Can you possibly update your wonderful spreadsheet with our info please. My OH (Pommie Bear) has been allocated a CO today (YAY!) we don't know his number, but the CO is based in Adelaide (Timothy Sanders).