Singing Pig

Hi Fiona, Just started reading this site for a few days now. It took me a few days to work out what REI meant but now understand. Have you thought about using someone else to get a mortgage in their name so you can get more deals than you are currently doing. This would only work if you were to sell on the properties in a fairly short space of time. The person whose name you have used could then maybe have a share of your profit. Like I always say it is better to have a percentage of some profit than zero percent. Just an idea, I could help if required. Regards Duncan Belton

Hi all Fiona, I know how you feel..... I had 18 months on a work permit and took all the precautions in te world to ensure that my new job was lined up and the work permit could be transferred in time...... all except one that is...... The recuitment company lied to me and told me 2 days before I was to start the new job, that they hired someone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a job sorted the next day but the permit lapsed by a day and I had to start over. This one is good for 5 years though, only 3 more to go. I find out about mortgages available tomorrow, for Aliens like us. I will let you know if any are worthwhile, or will I be let down by another agent? As for the antipodeans, Try having a green passport and see how that feels! its not worth the paper its printed on. Green is definitely not the colour of money in this case, I need to cue for a visa if want to cross the damn road! (I'm from SA if that doesn't make any sense) Morgan

Ok its a pretty bold statement, but after being rejected by yet another lender this morning I am in a bit of a funk. I saw an ad for mortgagesplc and their foreign national mortgages! incl BTL and was excited, it stipulated you have to be in the the UK for a year! easy. Then I rang and they said that you had to have indefinite leave to remain, or right of abode blah blah heard it all before. I just want to say that having a choice of 2 lenders out of 500 or more that exist in the UK is really restrictive sometimes, and that British passport holders have little excuse not to be building a property portfolio right now......

Hi Fiona Sorry to hear about your dilema. My wife is a New Zealand passport holder (but definitely an Australian She would be at pains to add, after all she was only born in NZ and left after 3 months:-) I am sure this is a daft question, but I don't suppose you have any grandparents or family from the Uk or a EEC country? Before we were married, Michelle applied for a British passport as her Mother is English however it has to be either a paternal relative who is English to qualify (Her father is Ozzie). She did however get a right to abode because her grandparents are both English. I am sure you have looked at these options...failing that maybe the greek or turk down the Kebab shop may look good to you Cheers Lee

Hi Lee, My grandfather is UK born, and I did mention to my mom that if she had bothered to get a British passport I would be in a much better situation with lending criteria (went over her head). I am here on an ancesrtry visa, and get the damn stamp in Nov next year at the earliest only 12-15 more months min. Thought about the kebab shop idea, but my other half might be a bit annoyed, though what comes first.....hmmmm properties or relationship......

Hi Fiona You should IMHO be able to still qualify for right of abode through your grandfather. The only catch is you may have to apply outside the country, we applied in Sydney 2 years ago, but it only took 2 weeks with the correct forms. sounds like it would be worthwhile investigating if it will help in the property game? Cheers Lee

HI Is there anyone on this discussion forum not an antipodean??? Fiona, I had a call this morning from Sean McClarron with a really competitive quote for insurance so thanks again for that! Hey, if you are on ancestary and have been here since 1998 you should already have indefinite leave to remain as you can apply as soon as your 4 yr grandparent patriality has expired. Before my husband got his indefinite leave to remain we were still able to get a mortgage with his 4 yr ancestary stamp which was from his Mums Father who was born here! Is the 7pm chat open to anyone?

Hi Kate, Glad you got it sorted out. It's funny as I dont class myself as antipodean as I havent lived in Aus since 1992......but guess I am.Before coming to the UK I lived in Tokyo for many years, and Gunma a province of Japan. I first arrived on a different visa and switched to ancestry in 2000. When I went to apply after 4 years I was told by the home office that I had to serve...cough I mean spend 4 full years on ancestry. I appealed but no luck, so the irony is that I will have been here 6 years before I get it. (Dont suppose any immigration lawyers surf this site?) Which lender did your husband use? The other issue with me is, not just getting one mortgage but getting many mortgages, as I am trying to expand portfolio rapidly. I did hold off for awhile and figure I would wait for ITLR stamp, but have found lenders (only 2) that dont care so I just use them. Its frustrating though as I have limited product choice, and see much better rates with other lenders. But even though I struggle and it gets frustrating and feels borderline racist, I will get there in the end. Fiona PS Cant get right of abode unless parent was born in uk unfortunatly