Where Should My Family Emigrate to?

Ltexx on 23/02/2018 - 23:41
Last edited 24/02/2018 - 08:47 by 2 other users

So I've received a letter from the Victorian government notifying me that they intend to take my family home for the north east link in Melbourne.

Anyway…….
Slater Gordon, I'm triggered, say we'll get what the house is worth and no more. The guy said, `no one who has their property acquired walks away happy'.
In the several years since we bought our property I estimate that it has appreciated by $350k. When Daniel Andrews comes to my house and tears my beautiful children from their hand made cubby house as they cry, I think we'll have $400k to put towards our new home.

We currently live in an affordable area surrounded by aspirational millionaires. Read: there's no way we'll be able to buy another house within 10kms for under $1mil.

So, my question is where in the world could I move that I can:

  • Buy a house outright
  • Live on the balance
  • Party!

And not:

  • Be afraid for my life
  • Be afraid for my the life of my children and wife
Financial

Comments

    • Pyrock on 27/02/2018 - 22:23
      +1

      This
      What is wrong with seeking rural opportunities?
      It is so much easier than relocating to another country.

      Why not try the Geelong area? It isnt too rural, with many of your shops/attractions/whatever else you need pretty close by.
      I grew up in the outer Geelong area (live in inner Melbourne suburbs now) and it was a decent place. A lot safer than many of the other cheap alternative countries.
      A family member recently bought a property pretty close to Geelong city for about 500k. It was a nice family house with plenty of room. This is pretty close to your 400k figure, and if borrowing a little more isnt an option im sure you could go into the outer geelong suburbs and find a nice place for around 400k.
      I would also expect the Geelong area to increase in price in the upcoming years, as it already has expanded a lot - and will only do more so.
      This also gives you the option of keeping your job if it is one you like, and travelling using the Geelong train line.

      I would take this option over other countries, especially with kids. Our healthcare system is so much better than many other countries, and as someone looking to start a family soon (maybe), i would definitely want my kids growing up somewhere with a good health system.
      I work in the healthcare sector so maybe this is just something i worry about more than others, but i have heard plenty of pretty horrible stories of the system in other countries.

  • 2jzzzz on 24/02/2018 - 10:33
    +1

    Cairns and live mortgage free. I'm Considering selling up and moving home too. Just need a locked down job up there.

    • fleetfeather on 27/02/2018 - 08:31

      Cairns is pretty safe. Would not buy a Queenslander anywhere north of Bundaberg though, and would not buy anything without checking flood maps first.

  • Quantumcat on 24/02/2018 - 10:56
    +3

    If you can work anywhere then move to Tasmania. Very cheap

  • KBZ on 24/02/2018 - 11:04
    +8

    Terrible situation to hear OP but moving to another country with kids is a bit drastic IMO.

  • chumlee on 24/02/2018 - 11:59
    +3

    You say your property has appreciated by $350K. The market says when a freeway is going to be built next to you it's worth less.

    • josetann on 24/02/2018 - 12:21
      +14

      But what does the market say when the freeway is built in your living room?

  • Aniseed Steed on 24/02/2018 - 16:17
    +3

    You could have a house on a highway.

  • shamid202 on 25/02/2018 - 01:07

    if you want ti buy a low price house, no trrafic and good environment i would say Queanbeyan Close to Canberra like its 15min drive.

  • SeVeN11 on 25/02/2018 - 02:22
    +5

    I heard Perth is cheap now…

    • freakatronic on 25/02/2018 - 10:30
      +3

      Yes it is, but conditions are improving. I think this will be the last year of depreciation before Perth finds its legs again.

  • Illian on 25/02/2018 - 02:41

    You're not making much sense. You say it's an affordable area but then you also say the property appreciated by 350K, so unless you bought it for maybe 100K or less, it's not an affordable area. If you did, then you're damn lucky, investors can only dream of that kind of return, don't screw it up if you actually get close to the amount you think you will for the property.

  • Dave Id on 25/02/2018 - 07:47

    Thailand.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/02/2018 - 08:43
    +1

    Come to winterfield, vic "A New Dawn for Ballarat" and become king of the north.

    • chumlee on 26/02/2018 - 07:59
      +1

      Will i have to bend my knee for him/her

  • ahly92 on 25/02/2018 - 10:04

    What if a person refuses to leave? Will they physically come and remove him from the property. Not sure they would like the scene given children are involved too…

    If your the last house left to aquire, surely ur bargaining power is increased and the possible media attention, youll get a very good amount for the property?

    • Cluster on 26/02/2018 - 12:14
      -1

      Some people will never move, regardless of how much money you give them. Imagine a 70 year old who has owned the house for 50 years and will be damned before they move somewhere else and start again. That person may live for another 20 years, or more. Should one property owner have the right to hold up an entire project benefiting millions of people?

      The other scenario is a land owner decides to get greedy. Is offered a fair price of $500k, but says' f*!k you! I won the land ownership lottery and you're now going to pay me $5 million, or the entire project is dead!' How would you, as a taxpayer, feel about funding the sheer greed of someone else?

      Infrastructure projects are planned many years in advance. If my mate in the roads department finds out about major new highway plans, what's to stop me buying a house or two along the way and holding the entire project hostage for millions?

    • redvaldez on 28/02/2018 - 10:04

      If your the last house left to aquire, surely ur bargaining power is increased and the possible media attention, youll get a very good amount for the property?

      If you were selling to a private developer, that logic would possibly hold true, but it doesn't apply to governments who have statutory authority to resume land for government purposes.

      In Queensland, the legislation essentially states that if there is a dispute about the compensation for the property, the government can remove you from your property even though the terms of compensation haven't been agreed to. The dispute about compensation simply continues on.

  • belongsinforums on 25/02/2018 - 10:11
    -1

    Malaysia gives you residence if you buy a house there IIRC

  • freakatronic on 25/02/2018 - 10:24
    -1

    Perth is a good place. $350k goes a long way there.

    • gimme on 26/02/2018 - 00:01
      +3

      Lol no it doesn't.

      • freakatronic on 26/02/2018 - 12:15
        +2

        Relative to Melbourne, yes it does.

        • gimme on 26/02/2018 - 20:39

          Perth real estate on avg is cheaper than melbourne no surprises there but 350k won't get you anything other than a townhouse is a shitty suburb. So 350 doesn't go a long way.

    • ilikeradiohead on 26/02/2018 - 00:29
      +6

      It gets you a long way from the CBD haha

      • freakatronic on 26/02/2018 - 12:14
        +3

        Cannington's not far.

        • gimme on 26/02/2018 - 20:39
          +1

          Yea but it's a dump

        • freakatronic on 26/02/2018 - 21:59
          +1

          @gimme: Cannington's alright.

        • gimme on 26/02/2018 - 22:28

          @freakatronic:

          My mistake I was thinking of another suburb. What's the avg house price there?

        • freakatronic on 27/02/2018 - 07:14

          @gimme: lol you're not too far wrong, Cannington has some dump-like attributes. But in terms of facilities and proximity to city, you really can have a whole house with ground under it for less than $400k there.

          Which dump suburb were you thinking of?

        • rompastompa on 27/02/2018 - 23:20

          @freakatronic: Armadale? Balga? Rockingham? :D

  • [Deactivated] on 25/02/2018 - 11:47

    the searches (if done properly and not using the cheapest and best deal conveyancing) would have indicated this future plan.

  • idonotknowwhy on 25/02/2018 - 12:53
    -2

    This is outrageous. I didn't know this could happen, they should be forced to buy it off you 10% more than the market rate.
    Looks like bitcoin is a safer investment than Australian property.

    • MITM on 25/02/2018 - 23:03
      +2

      Paying 10% over market value with my tax dollars is outrageous. Though a break in stamp duty for OPs next purchase should be part of the sale conditions.
      Or perhaps free use of the freeway for life if it has tolls. Or maybe a government gold card for free flights.

      • idonotknowwhy on 25/02/2018 - 23:55

        My tax dollars too. I'm happy if they help pay an extra 10% to OP.
        Better than converting half the crossing light icons from male (or short haired female in a suit) to female (or Scotsman) like they're doing in Melbourne.

        • Cheaplikethebird on 26/02/2018 - 10:35
          +1

          Wow I thought that whole traffic light thing was a pisstake, didn't realise they were actually doing it. Doesn't displaying a 'female' figure in a dress just reinforce gender stereotypes, isn't that a bad thing?

        • idonotknowwhy on 26/02/2018 - 10:38
          +1

          @Cheaplikethebird:

          Wow I thought that whole traffic light thing was a pisstake, didn't realise they were actually doing it.

          Same here at first, but I've seen them myself outside Flinders Street

          Doesn't displaying a 'female' figure in a dress just reinforce gender stereotypes, isn't that a bad thing?

          Yep, and that's what women I've spoken to (who couldn't give a shit about the icon on the crossing sign) have said as well. Hence my comments about it being a Scotsman (in a kilt) and the "man" one being a short-haired woman in a suit lol.

      • smartazz104 on 26/02/2018 - 16:56
        +1

        I bet the government was happy to charge the OP rates based on a different value though.

  • neon crossing on 25/02/2018 - 13:03

    Adelaide.

    • Cluster on 26/02/2018 - 13:27
      +1

      Just bring a generator with you.

      But seriously, my family landed in Sydney decades ago and decided to move to Adelaide based on house prices. My dad recalls seeing an article in a Sydney newspaper showing how much land and house you could get in Adelaide compared to Sydney, and moved the family over. Have never regretted it.

      • freakatronic on 26/02/2018 - 22:02

        Yeah man this. People at like Melbourne and Sydney are the only places in Australia. They miss our on a decent life just for the pleasure of being crammed in.

  • scbrother on 25/02/2018 - 16:18

    I know exactly where you live in the army barracks area. There are houses going for under 1 million in better areas lol.

  • DiscoJango on 25/02/2018 - 16:42
    +2

    $400k can get you a shoebox in doveton. guaranteed theft, break in and apex homies

    • JIMB0 on 26/02/2018 - 09:51

      Only $400k? Place must be a dump.

  • ladis on 25/02/2018 - 18:25
    +1

    Tassie! Safe, beautiful, kid friendly and roughly half price for equivalent real estate.

    • idonotknowwhy on 25/02/2018 - 23:56
      +2

      And great weather. I love Tassie! Would move there if my job allowed it.

    • chumlee on 26/02/2018 - 08:01
      +4

      And not many employment opportunities

  • WishIHadAfridge on 25/02/2018 - 18:50
    +5

    Similar situation with me. Development is happening all around and the government wants to acquire our land for a soccer Park. The houses around the area are privately selling to developers for 4-6mil for 3 acres however Gov not ready to acquire my land yet. I'm no laywer but have a look at the compulsory acquisition Act. You have to be compensated to be as "if you never moved". I.e same house, same-ish location and access to transport.
    You have the right to decline and negotiate their first and second offer.
    You do not have to pay any stamp duty or taxes on buying new property,you get paid moving fees and some other things.
    People I know aquired by the Gov have been content with what they received but not amazed.

    • idonotknowwhy on 26/02/2018 - 00:00

      Might as well get a fridge now if living costs are covered

  • Lucky13 on 25/02/2018 - 19:23
    +7

    I know when I received my car insurance payout it wasn't enough to buy the same car. I was counselled by my mechanic on what to say to the insurance agent, as he didn't think I received enough either. Supposedly every 1000kms under the average for its age is worth so much in dollars etc. In the end I received more, but it still wasn't enough to buy the same car. It was better though.

    If you aren't offered what you believe your property is worth, don't accept it. Armour yourself with all the reasons why your property is worth more than what they have quoted. Do your research, get proof/supporting documents, possibly seek legal counsel and say no. A house is probably the biggest asset you'll ever own, so it's definitely worth fighting for the highest amount you can get.

    Good luck!

  • LUTSlit on 25/02/2018 - 19:56

    Move to Tamworth. You'll get a mcmansion for that dough.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 25/02/2018 - 22:37
    +1

    And the dumb thing is, as soon as Andrews is out the next bleeder will cancel the project, pay a hefty fine and come up with a different plan for their "mates" to build.

  • gimme on 26/02/2018 - 00:03
    +3

    Is it me or ozb questions are getting more inane by the day

  • customundo on 26/02/2018 - 11:33
    -1

    You can hire bikies to threaten the government person in charge. Have used them before and they are effective

    • RobMel on 28/02/2018 - 03:00

      Just make sure they are not one of the bikie gangs affiliated with the government via their other special mates

  • Chubbsmcfatflabs on 26/02/2018 - 13:11

    Go regional..Ballarat/Bendigo/Geelong area..nice places around for that much coin..

  • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2018 - 13:13

    Not sure what you do for a living so getting a job might be an issue but go and live in Hobart! Real Estate is much cheaper than Melbourne and you wont have all of the drama of emigrating to another country. I live in Melbourne as well but I visited friends in Hobart a fortnight ago and thought whilst there how nice it was.

  • davowan on 26/02/2018 - 13:16
    +4

    This thread is ironic given the history of forced land acquisitions by which Australia was founded.

    Not to say that OP deserves it. Still ironic if looking from the perspective of an aboriginal person.

    • Cluster on 26/02/2018 - 13:29
      +1

      The difference is the Aboriginal people were told to move or else, with no compensation. The only time any kind of treaty was proposed that I'm aware of was Batman's.

      • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2018 - 13:51
        +2

        The difference is that previous generations worked to a different set of rules and motivations. Most of Europe was compulsorily acqiured at one point or another, normally coinciding with wholesale slaughter and persecution. My Heritage is Scottish and i just had my DNA done for ancestry. I am 74% British, 14% Scandinavian 9% Italian and 3% Northern Indian. I cant explain the Indian but I assume that the Scandinavian ancestry is proof of persecution by the Vikings and the 9% is proof of persecution by the Romans. Thankfully today our governments try do things differently!

        • Cheap Charlie on 26/02/2018 - 15:03

          i just had my DNA done for ancestry

          Thoughts on the accuracy of such testing?

        • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2018 - 18:03

          I have no way to measure the accuracy but the 3% from india is a mystery. I suspect contamination in the lab but who knows? I have found a couple of ancestors that were part of the British Army and fought in the Indian Mutinies, none seem to have brought wives home with them however. I have been getting emails from Americans that have found me on genetic databases.

          I've only explored it from an ancestry perspective, not a health perspective. My entire family tree, on both sides of my family is from the same part of Scotland going back to the mid 1700's (so far) and the results above (indian aside) seem consistent so I've no reason to doubt. By way of background, I emigrated from Scotland to Australia as a young boy in the 1970's.

    • texx on 27/02/2018 - 22:41

      Yeah, nah. Dumb.
      Sorry.

  • blergmonkeys on 26/02/2018 - 16:36

    I know jobs are an issue up here, but have you considered Cairns?

    I bought my house for $450k. It's in a northern beaches suburb, 5min walk to one of the nicest dog beaches in FNQ, house is a beautiful 3br, 2 bath house with a big pool, beautiful garden and 2 car garage.

    Honestly, I don't get why people live down south with what you can pick up here (barring job difficulties of course). I work as a GP, so job security is not as much an issue for myself.

    • JetBombat on 26/02/2018 - 20:15
      +1

      5min walk to one of the nicest dog beaches
      What about people beaches?

  • pformag on 26/02/2018 - 16:56

    Come to Perth, 400K will get you a 4x2 5 mins from the beach.

    • newboz on 26/02/2018 - 18:30

      which suburb are you referring to? Rockingham? Mandurah or further south? It sure won't be close to CBD though.

  • [Deactivated] on 26/02/2018 - 17:34
    -3

    Go back to india?

  • Atazoth616 on 26/02/2018 - 17:42

    Move to Yemen.

  • CaptainNewspeak on 26/02/2018 - 19:39

    Very evocative… I heard the Herald Sun are hiring!

  • ozzpete on 26/02/2018 - 19:52

    Anywhere as long as you love the serenity of the place :)

  • AngusD on 27/02/2018 - 08:57
    +1

    You can do alright in SA. You can get a decent house in a not-bad suburb of Adelaide for that kind of budget. You could do even better if you live in the Adelaide Hills - some beautiful spots there for not much money, although if you've got the kind of job that requires you to commute to the CBD then probably too much of a pain in the butt.

    • MishyMoo on 20/03/2018 - 09:15

      Only a South Australian would say such things. 😊😊

  • releasethekr4cken on 27/02/2018 - 09:50

    Call Dennis Denuto

  • giftcardinspector on 27/02/2018 - 10:28

    I'd be getting Denis Denuto on the blower quick smart

  • djmm on 27/02/2018 - 11:54

    Easy. Penrith.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/02/2018 - 12:04

    just move to a country area

  • shaybisc on 27/02/2018 - 12:50
    +2

    If the amount they offer is wildly out of step with market value you can take it all the way to VCAT or the Supreme Court.

    Do you have an offer?

    http://www.mondaq.com/australia/x/581168/agriculture+land+la…

    • texx on 27/02/2018 - 22:52
      +1

      Nope.
      So they rock up to my house last October and tell me they are taking my house…… Assuming they win the election 13 months later.
      Since then neither the North East Link Authority or the state government have communicated anything.
      If they win how long until they kick me out?
      I've asked a lawyer and they suggest another 12 months after the election.
      So from the day they say they will take my house to the day we leave is likely to be 2 years. In the mean time my house is un-sellable and the Renos I was planning are stopped.
      On Thursday I have to submit forms for my kid's kinder in 2020. But I have no idea where I'll be living. My local council demands greater visibility for planning of kinder than the state government has for a $20bil infrastructure project.
      Go figure.

  • Antikythera on 27/02/2018 - 15:30

    Have a look at San Remo, Newhaven, Woolamai vic. I grew up there. Jobs in health, construction and tourism. Growing area because of retiring boomers moving to their holiday homes permanently. The house I grew up in was built in the 70s, had ocean views, 5 minute walk to the beach, sold a couple of years ago for 500k

  • mccarthyp64 on 27/02/2018 - 21:58

    Time to nuke Melbourne I guess

  • lionelhutz on 28/02/2018 - 11:05

    I feel for you! I live in the area - fortunately my place is in Banyule so we get the tunnel under our house rather than through it.

    I guess the silver lining is that your place is actually being acquired - better to be right in the path of the freeway and be acquired than be right next to the freeway and not be acquired.

    Remember that NE Link is not a done deal yet, the current plans are insanely expensive so there's still every chance it'll be dumped or the route changed, particularly if the Libs win the next election.

    I assume from the figures you cite and where you live that you'll get roughly $800k and give $400k of that to your bank. So you're not looking for a $400k house, you're looking for an $800k house. It's true you won't find that in Heidelberg/Rosanna but you don't have to move too far afield. You could easily buy in Heidelberg West for $800k. Yes, it is dodgy but it's surrounded by better suburbs, I have always thought it is a matter of time until it gentrifies. Or go further west to Preston, Bellfield, Reservoir area. Or you could just move further out on the train line - back of Greensborough, the less trendy parts of Eltham?

    Other option is just to downsize a bit, which would probably be my preferred option if I was in your situation. Then you could stay in the same area or even move closer to town. Aussies live in big houses by world standards anyway, I lived in HK for a few years and you get used to apartment/unit living pretty quickly, particularly if you get better mod cons in the new place.

    It's probably all a downgrade over where you live now, but not the end of the world.

    • texx on 28/02/2018 - 11:23

      Thanks for the considered reply.
      You've pretty much nailed it.
      Except for I wouldn't consider Heidelberg West an option! I genuinely think it's getting worse.

      • lionelhutz on 28/02/2018 - 19:43

        Thanks. Actually moving overseas is not such a bad idea if you can work there. The hardest thing about moving o/s is the move and selling the old house and that will be taken care of for you! Of course it totally depends on what you do, but if you've ever had ambitions to work in the UK or Hong Kong or Singapore or LA, that would be the time to go. You could invest your cash, buy a house in your new country, or buy a Melbourne apartment as an investment and potentially somewhere to live when you come back. Worth considering.

  • ozlab on 28/02/2018 - 12:02

    Caravan while you're still deciding.

  • Foxtail on 04/03/2018 - 12:01

    Was in same boat 25 years ago, had enough of Sydney traffic and city life, so moved to Cairns, best thing ever, wear shorts the year round, only use aircon 3/4 months year in hot wet season, fantastic beaches like Port Douglas 1hr. and Palm Cove 30mins drive away, cheap homes 4bed, 2bath air some with pool around 400K just 10mins from city, fresh local vegies and tropical fruits, excellent shopping, schools and medical, int. airport, we love it, our daughter was 16 then, since made so many friends, as we have.

    • shaybisc on 04/03/2018 - 13:40

      When does stinger season end this year in your tropical paradise?

  • Foxtail on 04/03/2018 - 14:21
    +1

    Its Dec/March usually, so we swim at home or the $25M award winning public pool on the waterfront or at a resort like we did recently - 4.5 star pad on Palm Cove waterfront was a mere $125 night short notice.

    Palm Cove: https://tinyurl.com/yatjnupf

    Cairns: https://tinyurl.com/yc5b9hbm

    Property: https://tinyurl.com/ydgl9kv9

    Public Pool: https://tinyurl.com/yd7zz7ox

    Great Barrier Reef: https://tinyurl.com/yac5gnba

    Need to keep Cairns in prospective, it gets dam hot here in FNQ average in Dec/Mar is 22c / 32C but 35C not uncommon, and high humidity, however we have aircon everywhere for those months, winter is 15c / 24c. Our elec. bill (2 adults) for 3 months was just over $400, water and council about $1200 twice per year. Its only 3 hours by cheap jet to Syd/Mel to see family but mostly they come to see us or is it Cairns?.

    The council is very progressive in making the city beautiful and is doing a fantastic job, is open to developers but no high rise allowed like say Gold Coast. No cyclone has hit Cairns full on for 3 decades but we ready for it anyway, most homes are built to cyclonic conditions in past 30 years here and are rarely damaged anywhere.

    Have to go now as waterfront is calling as is the barramundi waiting at the restaurant for me!

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