Daffyduck

My wife and I are getting our visa application sorted out and are trying to figure out what to do with out main residential property and an investment flat. Originally, we had planned on renting them both out for a couple of years then selling if we're happy in Aus. Now, we're wondering if it would make more sense to sell before we go (easier than a long distance sale) and sit on the gains until 2023 when Australian house prices are (apparently) going to drop. Does anyone have any experience of this? Is there a "best" option for reducing tax liability?

Adelaide

Hi again all, I'll apologise in advance as I'm aware I'm asking lots of questions and being a bit of an information leech. Also, this question probably comes up a lot but circumstances change and the information online is extremely variable. We're progressing our move and my wife has a solid offer and I have a fairly solid one. The salaries are 130-140 & 70-80 respectively. Is this enough to live comfortably? Initially I thought it was but I'm reading a lot of stuff online that says you need to be earning 250k+ to live comfortably. Seems a lot to me so thought I'd seek out some first hand opinions. TIA

Not far off distance wise to the kind of commutes I've been looking at. How long does it normally take?

186, had originally thought about a 190 but some of the job offers include visa sponsorship along with relocation bonus. Though, I know thats a temp 2 year visa which ties you to the employer.

Wow! I knew it wasn't as expensive but not by that much. Cheapest private school here is around $30,000 a year. Had been looking at houses in NP but was put off by proximity to the airport, do you find there's much noise?

Unsure at the moment, it wasn't something we had considered as it's far more expensive here. Though, neither of us are sure about sending the kids to a religious school either.

That's really helpful, thanks!

Hello again all, Slight update on where we are. My wife has had a few formal job offers which would include sponsorship for the visa. However, they are all pretty much around the CBD. One in Seaton, one in Prospect and another in Trinity Gardens. Previously we had wanted to move to the Hallett cove area and all our research has been focussed there, however, the commute from there to any of the options looks pretty bad, Google maps says 40-90 minutes each way. Can anyone recommend any suburbs closer to the areas where the job offers are? We've two young children so looking for somewhere family friendly with a budget of about $950,000.

Thanks once again for all your advice everyone. I'm lucky enough to be in a position that my line manager is supportive of a career break. Means we could go and try it for a year or two and still have a job to come back to. So, looks pretty positive so far. Just the difficult conversation with the grandparents next.....

The sun sets before 4pm here in midwinter. Glass of wine on the verandah after work sounds lovely!

Possibly, I've lived in the South previously and the climate was certainly better than it is where I currently am. Though climate is only one of the reasons we've been thinking of the move, some of them are also related to the employment my wife and I are in. The profession my wife is in is notorious for poor working conditions and poor pay (relative to skill set), seems to be the case for the profession across the whole of the UK. We both work in stressful jobs with a lot of unpaid overtime. The post that looks to be on offer for my wife seems to comes with a far better work life balance as well as remuneration. The work life balance difference between the UK and Australia is a big selling point but it may be one of those things that the reality is far different from the sales pitch

It's one of the reasons actually. I live in what is probably the wettest, most overcast and one of the coldest parts of the UK. We can go weeks at a time without any sunshine whatsoever. Come the weekend we're often trapped indoors as driving wind and rain isn't great for the kids. I want them to be able to do after school out door activities all year round.

Hi folks, I had posted back last year that my wife and I were considering the move and got some really helpful advice. Now almost two years down the line and pregnancy and the arrival of our daughter put plans for a move on hold. We're now in a position where my wife has a pretty solid offer of employment in Adelaide with sponsorship. The reality seems to have kicked in and now I'm seriously second guessing everything and the thought of taking my children away from their grandparents is causing a lot of anxiety. Is this normal? I had been so sure that this is what would be the right thing for our family to give our kids a chance at a better life. Did anyone else have this? How did you overcome it?

Hi, Had previously posted a while back asking for some advice on skilled migrant visas, the general consensus was to find a good agent. To that end, can anyone recommend a good agent/agency which offer an initial consultation (not expecting it for free)? Sorry if this is another naive question but Google throws up all sorts of random results and it's always best to get first hand reviews! Oh, and merry Christmas!

I hadn't no, thanks for pointing that out. Definitely seems like speaking with a professional is the right way to go!

Thank you all for your comments, certainly food for thought. Certainly seems like moving to Australia is far from easy!

Sorry, I wasn't particularly clear in my reply, I see from your sig block that you specialise in migration so was genuinely curious as to your opinion, the latter part of your post addressed that, thank you. That's a shame, we're not 100% sure as we both have established careers at the top of our respective fields so moving to Australia would present a substantial risk, it would be nice to have the option. Unfortunately here, Brexit poses so many potential problems it's difficult to know what the right course of action is.

Yes, I should have specified that those quoted did specifically say it was for work. Can completely understand why a mass influx of UK retirees wouldn't be appealing to Australia. Who knows, there may or may not be some degree of free movement post 2021. Regardless, it's not looking like they make it easy, even for people with jobs listed on the skills shortages with qualifications!

Strangely, both UK and Australian delegates are being quoted as saying that movement of people will very much feature in the trade deal likely to come into effect 1st Jan 2021.

What makes you think that?

How so? I've been managing my own lab for a few years now but not against going back on the bench for a move.

@VERYSTORMY Further to previous, it's looking like free movement is very much on the cards for a 2021 trade deal, all is not lost!

Thanks @VERYSTORMY, bit of a mixed bag there, we wouldn't get 95 points as neither of us have studied in Australia, in fact a good chunk of the points seem to be relating to study there. Even assuming a nomination under a subclass 190 we still only get 90 points.

Hi, First time poster, apologies if this is a naive question! My wife and I have considered a move to Australia for a number of years but have never actually gotten round to it. With the uncertainty of Berexit, fallout from COVID etc. We're considering it again. We both are eligible to apply for skilled migrant visas (189), she's a veterinarian and I'm a medical laboratory scientist. My question is, can we apply for the visa from the UK, be granted permanent residency rights and move at a later date, possibly even several years later? I'm thinking it might be an idea to apply now before we're over 40! TIA