Moving abroad, or buying a second home abroad is exciting and full of new opportunities. Maybe that’s why you are moving; to have new opportunities available to you in life, in love or even in work. Or maybe you’re moving because you feel in love with somewhere on vacation or traveling. But in amongst the planning, packing, travelling, and choosing of your new home, there are parts of moving abroad that people don’t tend to think about. Like the political stance of the country they are moving to, or the significant cultural differences you should probably be aware of.
But one of the most important things you should be aware of before moving abroad is the different living expectations in other countries. Not just the various types of buildings, but the methods of housing within those countries, and any relevant information you should know about owning a house in that country.
A lot of the time you will need to secure a visa or a living permit before being able to buy a property in certain countries, and sometimes you have to live in the country for a certain amount of time just to achieve that permit. There can also be a lot of restrictions on what you can buy and where you can buy just because you’re not a native citizen - which does make sense when most citizens have a hard time getting onto the property ladder without the houses being prioritized to foreigners.
Affording It
The move itself will be pricey, there’s no getting around it. And living in a new country might be more expensive than you thought - particularly if you are moving to a major city within the country. New York is more expensive than Richmond, Virginia for example. Spend some time saving and doing some research.
Work It
The easiest way to know if you can afford the move is to know that you have a job waiting for you on the other side. If work is the reason you are moving then great - but make sure that it is a stable and confirmed role. Negotiate your contract so that it is airtight, have everything in writing, and uphold your end of the contract.
You will also need to see whether or not you will need a visa, and if so which kind. There are over a hundred different types of visa’s within the US alone, so make sure you are applying for the right one.
Finding The Right Place
Finding your new home might take longer than you think, it would be a miracle if you woke up one day wanting to move abroad, called someone and had something secured by that evening. It doesn’t work like that. You can look at local (in that country) estate sites like this one for Bekasi in Indonesia: http://rumahdijual.com/bekasi/rumah-harapan-indah. Or you can use local (to you) travel real estate agents to help you source your new home.
Politics
Each country is racked with its own political differences, some are worse than others, and some seem better than they actually are. Consider the political feel of the country, or area of that country, that you are moving to. The difference between one place and the next may be extreme. It is worth researching and understanding the politics of your chosen country before you move.
What Are You Letting Go Of?
The worst thing that can happen is to regret your choice of immigrating. Not only will it wreak havoc on your bank account if you choose to move back, but it can have repercussions on your mental health. Before moving think about what you will be leaving behind; loved ones, memories and a way of life.
On the flip side, also think about the reasons you are moving in the first place. If you are going to secure a better place for yourself, and maybe for your family, then is it worth it?
Language
The biggest barrier you are going to face when moving abroad is communication. So get ahead by learning before you move. No one is expecting you to become fluent overnight, and it is always easier to learn a language when you live in the country. But knowing the basics will help you immensely.
Currency
There will be a significant amount of time before you stop checking every coin and note as you pay for things. And you’ll find it hard for a while not to constantly compare prices to the prices in your home country - which you can do here; https://money.howstuffworks.com/exchange-rate.htm. The quickest way to become familiar with the new currency is to go to the post office and exchange some money. Make sure you get one of each coin, and the major notes, and just have them at home. You can devise a test for yourself and your family - which will help any children you have to get used to the new money too.
Food
Seeing as you’re moving to the country, it seems a shame if you don’t try the local food. Besides, once you move there might not be many chances for a roast dinner. Start experimenting with food either at home or a restaurant. Not only will you get accustomed to the food, but you’ll also hype up your excitement for your up and coming move.
Traditions
If you are moving to a heavily traditional country, it’s an idea to become acquainted with some of them before moving. For example, if you are moving to an Islamic country you might want to learn a bit more about the religion and the times of prayer. If you are moving to Thailand, you should become familiar with their near-worship of elephants, or how in Poland it is considered rude to pick at or refuse food. You will be the minority and you don’t want to offend anyone.
If you are moving to a country that favors different cutlery, like chopsticks, it’s about time you learn, or you’ll find yourself stuck when you eat out.
Transport
Learn which side of the road to drive on! This isn’t something that you should wait until after you have moved to learn. Also, have a look at the public transport available - UK residents are quite spoiled with regular trains to most corners of the country (even if we grumbled about it now and again.)
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