Melbpom

ScottieGirl, if you were to browse for a new home, where would you choose, realestate.com.au or rightmove.co.uk? I used the same question having just sold in Melbourne and being a similar age.

I'd agree with what Quoll said, but I'd also look at changing schools. You should be able to do so before the start of the school year. My son was enrolled at a very expensive private school and he was bullied and hated it. He asked to go to the local high school. He made friends immediately and thrived. I'd also add that scouts is quite big here and the kids tend to be inclusive and he might enjoy all the activities they get up to.

I would have stayed but I've been checking my funds performance and I'm not impressed. My fund has recently been taken over by a larger one and have introduced some new fees and increased others.

I'm looking to park my OZ super until I can transfer it to the UK in 5 years time (at preservation age). I imagine other returnees have done the same thing and was wondering if there is anything I need to consider when assessing super funds? or are there other options out there?

Thanks this worked.

How do you log on? I can only find a section where you can order a statement which came in the mail. I did that a few years ago and maybe things have changed.

I thought there was a limit on how many years you could go back when it comes to paying the missing years? I've topped mine up recently and can't remember the details but I think I could back pay something like 5/6 years. It is a good question though, how you prove you were resident and/or employed if haven't kept tax returns and employment details?

I have yet to find a decent pork pie. They do sell them here but the pastry's not the same. I've also been looking for tinned grapefruit segments, a favourite served cold. And no walnut whips.

I'd like to second The Pom Queen's suggestion of a cert 111. Just pick something that interests you from TAFE. The fees are really cheap plus you'll probably get a "pensioner education allowance" to help with study materials. That way you'll get some structure to the day, get to meet people over time and come out with new skills.

I don't know much about Frankston but if you can afford to buy a house they try to buy one on a corner plot. In the future it's likely the house will be pulled down and rebuilt and a corner block is favour for dual road frontage. I'd avoid buying in new estates, the block sizes tend to be small. I have had a house built by a big volume builder and would not recommend it. If you go down the flat/unit route then try to pick an established area such a Ivanhoe. IMHO better to buy an older solid property than a new build.

The OP and similar posters appear to be female. Don't forget that it's only 100 years since women have got the vote and while they have got more and more rights and independence over time the fact is that older women would have been very much dependent on a man during their life times. Take for instance my MIL who would have been a house wife in the fifties and who did the right thing (at the time) by her family and stayed at home. She had no money of her own and was only given pocket money. Women's rights have progressed in the last century in areas of education, pay, and right to divorce etc but the fact is some women will have been left behind.

Whole of South Australia without electricity until tomorrow morning according to news.

For the snails, or the possums? or pests in general?

I've found copper tape (maybe use copper wire) around the outside of terracotta posts works to prevent snails climbing up and eating the strawberries. Doesn't help with the possums though.

Yes I agree with what you're saying but I thought that if a property was going to be auctioned it would find it's level. There are a couple of properties starting to be listed with the agent I named before and I'm planning to attend the open houses to see if I like the agents and their style. Maybe if they are trying to break into a market they will work harder. I've found cost doesn't necessarily mean quality. Worth a look at least.

Unfortunately real estate agents charge between 1.5% to 3% of the sales price and I think that advertising is an extra on top of that. That's why new entrants offering a fixed fee are worth considering. The sales process here seems to be more pro active, with the agent arranging open days and making follow up calls. It's certainly a lot quicker to sell possibly due to REAs' self interest. Whether this equates to $k's worth of work I don't know. I guess they've got their overheads. A similar principle is applied to rates, they are worked out on a % of the council's valuation of your property.

The problem is the $40k or so you'd have to pay the real estate agent then the two lots of stamp duty to buy the new properties. I'm looking at Purple Bricks at the moment. Real estate agent fees of $4-5k seem too good to be true. Anyone used them in the UK?

In Melbourne I'd use Leonard Joel auction house. I think they have an online valuation service where you upload photos and give some details. Jewellery wouldn't be heavy so why not insure it well and then post if Joel's could sell it for you.

Yes, Melbourne winter wouldn't be bad at all when you actually live 17,000 km away in the UK and it's summer time. Those of us actually living in Melbourne have found the winter to be cold this year and it was cold and rainy today.

Hi Lissyqq, we're about to get some really nice weather, how about just exploring this new land? Why not go on lots of weekends away, they needn't be expensive, on site vans are cheap and if you're in to camping all the better. This is what we did, every weekend a new destination, some times we just got in the car and drove and ended up somewhere.

What has made you decide on Epping? If you have a 13 year old I'd been looking at http://www.myschool.edu.au for what schools might suit him and then pick the suburb. Epping wouldn't be my pick but you will find cheaper housing. How about looking more to the east e.g. Rosanna?

Does anyone know if there's an age limit for transporting dogs, i.e. a 13 year old lab?

I would recommend that they contact their local council. Also I've found a handbook which is very useful call the Disability Rights Handbook from www.disabilityrightsuk.org .

Or they do visit and as in my PIL case stay for 3 months at a time and you get to be b&b host, tourist guide and taxi.

My understanding is that his disability support pension would be transferable in the UK because in all honesty it is cheaper for OZ to pay that than continue supporting him here. Houses in the areas I'd be looking are cheaper there so there's a bit a slack and I'm quietly confident I can make it work but I appreciate your comments and will do a bit more homework.