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This is the first time I have posted on here but I've regularly visited the site and enjoyed reading other peoples posts - it is very comforting to know that others feel the same as me. Any way to cut a long story short my family and I have been here (WA)for 6 years and are in the very early stages of planning our return home. I won't go into the why's as that is another thread for another time perhaps. We have sold our property and are living in a nice rental. We also have some land that is on the market at the moment. Our plan was to put all our money into a bank account and save,save,save! My husband is also thinking of working in the mines for a while to save some more. We don't want to return to the UK in a poor finacial position as we understand that jobs are scarce at the moment (I'm a teacher and my husband is a prison officer at the moment). Lately we have been reading of a boom coming to WA in 2012, so my husband is now interested in getting back into the property market to take advantage of this. I can see his point but my heart is sinking. If our money is in the bank and hopefully earning interest then I feel as if we really are on the road home. Any help or advice would be really appreciated.

We are moving to Perth 26 June (Wow, that sounds good to me!) and have decided to put our house on the market. We plan to buy once we have settled on an area and hopefully the exchange rate improves! In the meantime, please can anyone advise a) how long do you have to work/live in Aus before you can apply for a mortgage and b) advise on investing our equity for 6 - 12 months of approx 160K. Many thanks for help.

Haven't posted a lot for a while but A BIG THANKS to everyone who has supported us over the past two years! (Yes two years!) We were one of the August 2007 applicants who got stuck in the Capital Investment Fraud scandal in December 2007. Most of you 175/176's won't even know what we're talking about! Anyway, after being "on hold" since Dec 07, we finally got our visa -first last Wednesday (but a clerical error on the validation date took away any sense of excitement - leaving only panic) but now officially re-issued today with a November entry. We will be arriving exactly 1 year after we thought - we've lost thousands on our house and certainly won't be mortgage free - BUT we are ready for another adventure - (we come from a cross-cultural marriage and look forward to notching up another country on to the family tree!) Now - the fun starts....You would have thought with two years to sort everything out we would have (HAAA!) Bank holiday car boot - here we come!:jiggy: Liz, Andrew, Charis 12, Josiah 10 and Daniel 5

Hi I am moving to Melbourne on a 176 visa ( application lodged 15/05/08 awaiting police and medical checks). I had my flat valued today for selling and letting. Letting won't be an option as rental will barely cover the mortgage after service charge and agent fees are paid so selling is the only option. I am thinking of selling now before the market slumps further and should have a lump of money c. 70,000 pounds to invest until I am ready to buy in Melbourne. I am not sure whether to stick it in the bank or to invest in a buy to let for awhile in Melbourne until I have arrived and am ready to buy exactly where I want to live. I understand there are tax benefits to this option and wonder if anyone has done this or has any views on it. Thanks Mel

Hi I am moving to OZ in April and was wondering on people's views ref investing money in OZ or UK. I have about 50K that I will have to invest and not too sure as to whether to save in UK or OZ in order to avoid being hit by Tax. I utilise ISA allowances for me and family in UK but appears that you get well stung for tax in OZ Accounts. Perhaps an offshore account or leave in UK and claim tax exemption as non dom ?? Grateful for anyones experience/advice. Thanks steve

Hi Has anybody else invested in Aus as I know there are alot less restriction on the visa, really not sure if we should or not , Help!!!! Thanks Lucy