BobHatton

Car park spaces that modern cars actually fit into? You haven't spent much time in Australian carparks I take it?

We have lived in all three states mentioned (QLD, SA and now WA). For what its worth, here's my tuppence worth; QLD: Nice weather all year round but can get extremely humid in summer. So much so that after 25 years we moved to WA where it's still very sunny but much less humid. SA: Only spent a year living here and didn't like it at all tbh. Too cold and wet most of the time (maybe we struck and unusual year!) but couldn't wait to get back to Queensland! WA: Been living here now for 9 months and absolutely loving it! Yes, the winter is cold and wet but you just know that summer is fantastic. Six months of near perfect weather (No rain, sunshine all the way and temps hovering around 32 degrees) - a perfect Mediterranean climate if you ask me. We're wondering why we didn't make the move 25 years ago! Another bonus to WA is the house prices. Where else in Australia can you be within an hour of the capital city (which is fantastic btw!) have beaches and countryside on your doorstep, fantastic public transport if you need it, cheaper utilities and, as an added bonus, it's full of Brits and STILL be able to buy a house under $500K? Done deal!

Very difficult after the age of 45. Not impossible, but very difficult.

There's social issues EVERYWHERE in Australia! Try living in Townsville (which we did twice!).

Well folks, after nearly 20 years in Queensland, as we've now retired, we're looking at moving over to WA. The humidity in QLD is a killer for us now and we've visited the Perth area a few times and loved it. We're looking to buy in the following areas but haven't decided where yet? Manudurah Area (Falcon, Dawesville, Wannanup, Lakelands, Meadow Springs) Pinjarra Area (inc Ravenswood and South Yunderup) Bunbury Area (Binningup, Australind, Eaton, College Grove, Dalyellup) As mentioned we're newly retired couple with a fur baby. We enjoy beaches, countryside, golf, restaurants and cafes. If anybody has any comments on these areas or indeed lives in these areas then any feedback is appreciated. Looking to move over VERY soon!

There is no reciprocal agreement for pensions between Australia and the UK anymore (I think it ended in 2001?). This means that you apply independently for your UK pension (through the International Pensions Website - download the form - fill it in and post it back). Your UK pension (whatever you're entitled to) will then be treated as income and you have to tell Centrelink about it. What this means is that Australia then takes this into account and adjusts your Australian entitlement accordingly. You don't need to do anything further; Centrelink works out the exchange rate on a monthly basis based on the CBA buy rate of pounds sterling. Just be aware that in Australia ANY income is counted (there are upper and lower limits of course) as the pension here is fully means tested both on income and assets. In fact, so much so that it pays to NEVER work or own a house here as you get full entitlements to everything.

It all depends on where you're going to be working. Scarborough is on the North side and Cleveland is on the South side. Both would take about the same amount of time into the city to be honest. Both are on the coast (obviously!) but to my mind Cleveland has a lot more to offer. It's almost like a small town in itself with all the amenities it needs including a railway station whereas Scarborough to me feels just like an outer suburb of Brisbane albeit on the coast.

Either peruse Gumtree in your given area (i.e.https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-hervey-bay/l3005249) or simply use carsales.com.au. Also look on your local supermarket notice boards as these can be a good resource. As far as financing goes, you can go direct to the car dealer for it or better still go to your bank. Either way work out who gives the best deals. There are plenty of 0% fees going around at the moment to entice you in...

Give it at least three years. We've been here 20 years now and everything feels 'normal'. In fact we've forgotten what life in the UK is like...

There are plenty of pet sitters around to be honest. They'll either come to your house or you take them to theirs. Experience tells me that they charge between $25 and $35 a day. Hope that helps.

As you say, scrub it as clean as you like but you will still pay a charge for 'defumigating' once it arrives in Oz....and it'll likely be quarantined until its done.

Recommend a real estate agent? In Australia? You're kidding me right? They're all over-paid, under worked and under skilled. That's why they're real estate agents - because they can't get a job doing anything worthwhile.

Toowoomba does have some of the best schools in Queensland - or so I'm told...

And many old Queenslanders that are over 100 years old are still standing. Don't worry too much...

Yeah, I read that. I think it depends on who arranges the mortgage for you to be honest. We were accepted, although that was in January 2003 - things may have changed. This is taken verbatim from the Queensland Government site today; To be eligible for the grant: You must be at least 18 years of age. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (or applying with someone who is). You or your spouse must not have previously owned property in Australia that you lived in. You must be buying or building a brand new home. The value of the home including the land is less than $750,000. You must move into the new home as your principal place of residence within 1 year of the completed transaction and live there continuously for 6 months.

Public Transport in Australia? You're having a laugh aren't you? Anything outside the capital cities is, lets say wanting to say the least. Cyclones - Caloundra would experience the southern winds off a cyclone literally once in a lifetime (last time would be Cyclone Wanda in 1974) so don't worry too much about that. Caloundra is a beautiful place with beautiful beaches and still reminds me of a typical seaside town of old, we love it... I still say you can't go wrong with Hervey Bay..

Hmmm, where to live on the Gold Coast eh? In short - nowhere. Choose somewhere a lot nicer, less crime filled and less bogan if you want somewhere to retire to. We've lived in Hervey Bay now (about 3 hours north of Brisbane), best climate, all the facilities including health needs met and within a couple of hours to the Sunshine Coast but without the exorbitant prices. You won't regret it!

That is not true. We moved from NZ to Australia in 2003 (after being in the UK for many years and having owned several houses including two in NZ) and we were able to get the first home owners discount as we were buying our first home IN AUSTRALIA.

You certainly wouldn't get anywhere near 5% from a 'normal' bank savings account - you'd be lucky to get 1.5%! As another poster mentioned, you say that you'd need 5% interest on your savings to pay the rent and utilities etc. Let's make an average of $1600 a month rent and $250 a month on utilities = $1850 a month so let's say $2000 to be sure. If 5% interest on your savings would cover this then you'd have to be seriously rich and have at least $500,000 in savings. I'm not saying you're not rich but to think of living like that then you probably don't need a job!

Unfortunately everyone has to pay stamp duty in Oz........even if you buy a second hand car privately off George down the street!

From the WA Government website. If you are a first home owner, you may qualify for the grant if you are purchasing or building a new home. A home that has been substantially renovated may be considered a new home. The grant is not available for the purchase of an established home or for renovations to an existing home. The grant is $10,000.

Be careful doing that - particularly with diabetes medications. Also, enteric coated mads shouldn't be halved or quartered.

In the case of buying a house then until the contract is unconditional then you can back out. There is usually a 'cooling off' period of 7 working days also at the start of signing the contract. Most contracts take 30-60 days to complete depending on your circumstances and the vendors circumstances - these can also be negotiated. As far as making an offer on a house (and we've bought 12 houses here in Oz) we always start at 7.5% off the asking price (depending on the area and the market at that time). So, if someone is asking $400K for a house, my first offer would be $370,000 ($400K - 7.5%). If this was not accepted then I'd take my 'Final offer' to 5% off the asking price (i.e. $380,000 in this case) and if this was not accepted then I'd walk away - there are literally thousands of properties on the market. When buying also beware of stamp duty. This differs from state to state; Examples on a $400,000 home. NSW - $13,719 ACT - $8,562 QLD - $6,426 WA - $13,434 NT - $16,812 SA - $19,820 TAS - $14,348 These are government charges and are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Make sure you've got enough to cover these charges. Solicitors usually cost around $1500 for conveyancing too.

Gumtree is the best place to buy a car privately...

That's not a gazebo.......it's a colosseum!