madmungo
4th January 2008, 01:13 AM
Hi all, I've been browsing this site for a while and finally decided it was time to post, probably due to my upbeat new year spirit!
We were granted PR back in 2006 and activated our visas in Feb last year spending 3 weeks touring the north island. Loved the place and we're aware we need to finally decide soonish if we will make the move before the RRVs expire in a years time.
We stayed in Takapuna for a week and that was a beautiful place to visit, in fact the whole north shore area seemed great, Devonport particularly with the ferry ride to town. We'd ideally like to live here (I work in web/IT and we didn't like Wellington as much) but I think the crowded houses and steep prices remind me of London too much. Can anyone recommend parts of the north shore where the lots are larger? A Kiwi mate has suggested Titirangi.
We have two kids (6 and 4 now, will be 7 and 5 if we aim for arriving this time in 2009) so are looking for good schools - reading through past posts they all seem good but do you need to contact them months in advance of arrival or wait until you get a rental?
The plan is to rent our house in the UK to start. We're lucky enough to have a smallish mortgage and hope to be able to bring the difference between rent and the mortgage across to NZ each month to save having to rush job hunting. Has anyone done this before? I know Mrs M is happier knowing we can always go home if things don't work out and I'd like part of moving to include less time at work! I believe rental income would be tax free in NZ for the first 4 years.
Enough questions for now, happy new year to all.
Chris
We were granted PR back in 2006 and activated our visas in Feb last year spending 3 weeks touring the north island. Loved the place and we're aware we need to finally decide soonish if we will make the move before the RRVs expire in a years time.
We stayed in Takapuna for a week and that was a beautiful place to visit, in fact the whole north shore area seemed great, Devonport particularly with the ferry ride to town. We'd ideally like to live here (I work in web/IT and we didn't like Wellington as much) but I think the crowded houses and steep prices remind me of London too much. Can anyone recommend parts of the north shore where the lots are larger? A Kiwi mate has suggested Titirangi.
We have two kids (6 and 4 now, will be 7 and 5 if we aim for arriving this time in 2009) so are looking for good schools - reading through past posts they all seem good but do you need to contact them months in advance of arrival or wait until you get a rental?
The plan is to rent our house in the UK to start. We're lucky enough to have a smallish mortgage and hope to be able to bring the difference between rent and the mortgage across to NZ each month to save having to rush job hunting. Has anyone done this before? I know Mrs M is happier knowing we can always go home if things don't work out and I'd like part of moving to include less time at work! I believe rental income would be tax free in NZ for the first 4 years.
Enough questions for now, happy new year to all.
Chris