Moving back to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa - timing is everything

Moving back to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa is a mighty task that can be made easier if you choose the right time to return. Before you pack your bags for home, it’s a good idea to know if the weather, and job and housing markets on the flipside will be in your favour. Here are some guidelines:

The festive move

Typically, most of us time our return home for the end of the year, which is the best way to catch up with family and friends who are in festive spirits, and the weather is amenable for sunshine and barbecues.

If you’re fortunate to have some cash in the back pocket, you can use December and January to re-acquaint yourself with home and find accommodation, then turn your attention to job hunting towards the end of January.

Job market buoyancy

If you’re a teacher do the leg work before you indulge in the festivities back home as recruiting takes place at the end of the calendar year, says Caroline Rafferty of Trackmeback.com.

She adds: “Between March and October is typically when it’s easiest to find work in Australia and New Zealand as the contract, accounting, tax and finance markets are particularly buoyant towards the end of the financial year.”

Jobs in financial services, health, fast-moving consumer goods and IT are available year-round, but if you work in the mining, engineering and energy industries, keep your eyes on news from home as recruitment is based on major projects.

Buying a house in Australia

Seasonal variation in house prices needs little consideration since Australia is blessed with mild winters and warm springs.

“A decade ago, we would see very sparse listing volumes during winter months then a surge in spring, but with the advent of the internet, we are seeing
a more consistent spread of listings throughout the year,” says Rich Harvey, CEO of Propertybuyer.com.au.

Keep in mind that the last two weeks of December and the first three weeks of January (during summer school holidays) are when the real estate industry closes. With Australia predicted to be short of some 400,000 dwellings by 2015, Harvey advises getting in early to enjoy strong capital growth.

“Christmas and Easter are the two times of the year when vendors are more motivated to sell than any other, as they just want to put a deal together before they go on an extended holiday,” says Harvey.

Property in New Zealand

With a more seasonal climate, the depths of winter are the best time to buy property in New Zealand, where spring usually sees a resurgence of buyer interest and it becomes a seller’s market.

The forecast suggests house prices will drop throughout 2010 and into 2011 by as much as 12 per cent. But with the stock of quality homes in good locations considered proportionally low, thus making prices reliant on location, it pays to do your research.

Flights of fancy

Flights are going to take a sizeable chunk out of your returning home budget. But there are great deals to be found out of season, in May, June and April (outside of the Easter holidays) when you can snag a seat for around £500 – half the premium prices for flights to Australia and New Zealand in December, January and February. There is much to consider in the big move back, but if you just establish your priorities, you’re already halfway there.