10 surprising things about living in Oz

Before my big move Down Under, I dreamt of a beautiful, sun-kissed country with a laid-back, outdoorsy lifestyle. I fully expected to wear a cork hat, drink cans of Fosters and put shrimps on the barbie. Although excited about the sun, sea and sand, my family and friends were keen to warn me about the dangers of the Outback; “Watch out for the spiders and snakes!” and “Be careful of the sharks!” were remarks I heard again and again. So what is life in Australia really like? Here are ten surprising things I learned…

Small cities see big rise in property prices

Property prices in New Zealand have been growing steadily in rural areas, while the bigger cities are going through more of a correction. Hastings and Whanganui remain firm favourites among buyers, with demand causing a leap of over 20% in prices. Meanwhile, in the South Island, Dunedin is also seeing a boost in house prices.

Building your own, part 3: finding a builder

Now that you’ve sourced the perfect plot of land and found the architect who is going to bring all your property daydreams to life, there is one final – rather essential – step: finding a builder. In Part three of our series, we’re looking at where to find a decent builder and the steps involved in getting your house built when you move to New Zealand.

Slow but steady growth in Irish property prices

The Irish property market has been a tale of two halves for some time now, with prices in Dublin shooting up during the tech boom, while the rest of the country saw more measured growth. Now, however, the two seem to be coming into step, with slow but steady growth reported nationwide. Could this be the perfect time for overseas buyers?
The step-by-step route to your perfect overseas location

The step-by-step route to your perfect overseas location

How do you find your perfect overseas location? If you’ve returned from your summer holidays feeling inspired to buy a home abroad, here’s where you start planning! At the Overseas Guides Company, we believe in doing things methodically. It’s the only way when you’ve got a project as big as buying a home abroad. Just break it down into convenient steps and you’ll soon be there.

Building your own, part 3: finding a builder

If you’re building your own home in Portugal (or planning to), it’s likely you already know that it’s a complex process. By the time you’ve found the land, drawn up the plans and obtained the necessary permissions, you’re halfway through the prep. But once all that’s done, you need to get started on the next stage: finding a builder in Portugal.

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