A move across countries is a massive thing for anyone to undertake. Sometimes, though, you get that feeling in your bones, and it’s impossible to get rid. Like arthritis, the desire to move to another country gets in there and niggles you until you pay attention.
But, if you’ve never moved long-distance before, there’s a lot to consider. Of course, once you get into the actual house buying process, things can get pretty stressful. But, even before then, when you’re simply choosing on which country to settle in, there’s a lot to consider. After all, the last thing you want is to get to your new home and realize you’ve chosen entirely the wrong country. It would be a disaster!
The good news is, the search for the right country gives you a perfect chance to travel. You have to try each destination on for size, after all. Everyone knows that’s the only way to judge whether they’d fit! Bear in mind, though, that you do need to consider some serious points while you’re away. You’re not a sun seeker; you’re a potential inhabitant. And, here are some of the things you should be considering.
What’s the housing market like?
The first thing you should ask yourself is what the housing market is like. Take the time to look at for sale signs, and in the windows of estate agents. How much would it be for what you want, and how does that compare in your currency? Bear in mind that the outskirts of a country are often cheaper than the capitals. Make sure to take note of prices in every area you visit. Online searching can help with this, too. If you’re interested in buying in Malaysia, something like this list of the top 100 affordable condos in Malaysia could really help narrow your search. You’d soon find that the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is more expensive than the outer areas. So, think carefully about where would be the most cost-effective. This is also a fantastic way to travel around and get your footing in your chosen destination!
How hard is the language?
It’s also worth taking note of the language while you’re there. After all, you’ll need to get pretty good at speaking it if you’ll be living and working there. Many English speakers opt to move to Spain because the language is relatively easy to pick up. By comparison, moving somewhere like China or Japan could be increasingly hard. Asian languages are incredibly difficult to learn. As such, they’ll take much longer to get used to. It’s thought, for example, that Japanese requires an average 88 weeks learning to become proficient. And, you can guarantee you won’t want to go without communication for that long!
During your stay in the area, do your best to pick up the language. Listen in on conversations, and ask locals to speak to you in dialect. If you manage to pick up a few keywords during a week, you’ll probably be okay. If you’re none the wiser by the time you leave for home, it may not be the best place. If you struggle to pick languages up, you could always opt for a destination which speaks English. England, Australia, or even somewhere like Malta, would serve you well here. This could be the best bet for a first-time relocation, as it would help lessen your culture shock.
Can you cope with the heat?
When moving abroad, many of us opt for the hottest place we can find. After all, when in Rome and all. This is the ideal opportunity to discover the climate you’ve longed for. But, heat isn’t always as welcome as you’d think. In fact, you could soon find that you struggle to cope with the temperature of a hot country. On the one hand, you would quickly acclimatize. But, everyone has their limits. During your stay, pay close attention to the fluctuations in temperature. It’s also worth researching year-round temperatures to see how things fluctuate. Many of us love the weather to cool down occasionally, but that’s not always going to be the case. Destinations like Spain can sometimes be hot all year round. Make sure you could cope with that before making a move.
Life on the wild side
It may seem strange, but it’s important to consider how you would cope with the differences in nature. You may be used to wildlife no more sinister than a street cat, but different countries come with varying risks of wildlife. Australia stands out to many as a danger zone. It’s certainly an area of focus when it comes to poisonous beasties. Admittedly, there are only two known spiders which have killed, and that hasn’t happened since 1979. But, that knowledge could be enough to put many off. If you spend your whole stay jumping at the smallest thing, it might be best to look elsewhere.
What are the job prospects?
It’s also important to consider the job prospects in a new location. After all, you’re going to need to sustain yourself in your new area. If you work in a company with broad reach, it might be possible to relocate. If not, though, you need to ensure that there will be work for you once you move. You can do this by looking on local job sites, going into agencies, and even just looking in shop windows. If you specialize in a specific field, it doesn’t hurt to email local businesses and let them know who you are. Making the right connections now could be a huge plus point.
It’s also important to note that some countries have strict rules about your job before they allow you to move. In Australia, for example, you need to have a skilled occupation. That said, the list of accepted positions is more extensive than you might think. There’s even a place for trained hairdressers. Just make sure to do your research beforehand so that you aren’t turned away once you’ve chosen!
