About blankk

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Female

Currently Lives:

Santa Monica, California, United States

Citizen Of:

United States

Dual Citizen Of:

Ireland

Some Forum Posts:

Malta: Apartment:

Hi, I tried to send a private message, but it doesn't seem to have sent. Will you please post or send more details? Dates available, location, size, rent? My husband and I are looking for an apartment for 2-3 months (Jan/Feb to Mar/Apr) while we look for something more permanent. My email is kateblank at outlook dot com. Thank you, Kate

Ireland: Back to school, across an ocean, in Limerick:

I suspect I'm too late to help you, but did you look at daft.ie for current listings, and contact the estate agents who post on the site, to ask about short-term housing? Also, if you're studying at UL, LIT, or Mary I, there is a lot of student housing near all three. Good luck, Kate

Malta: Considering Malta - What do you dislike about living there?:

Hi, I will be in Malta next month for a business trip. While I'm there, I'm interviewing for two jobs and meeting with a recruiter - if I get any offers, I will probably move there. My schedule will be busy, but I'm sure I'll get a few hours to check things out. Is there anything you recommend I do/try, in case I can't stand it? The kinds of things where, "If you can't stand _______, don't bother moving here, because you will have to deal with it every day." Thanks all!

Ireland: Cultural fair and activity suggestions for July, please:

Limerick has a pretty good 4th of July weekend. I'm not sure why, but they have a good picnic and fireworks.

Malta: Visa Confused:

Hi, Have you been to http://www.howtomalta.com/ yet? The author there has posted a lot of articles on moving to Malta, for both EU citizens and non-EU citizens. He has a lot of the basic info, along with links to appropriate government sites. -Kate

Malta: jobs:

Hi, How To Malta has good articles on working in Malta, from typical salaries to reliable job search websites: http://www.howtomalta.com/category/work-stuff -Kate

Ireland: Which Mobile Phone and Service to buy in Ireland:

I've been very happy with 3 (Three) pay-as-you-go. I do a €20 top-up once every month or six weeks, and it easily covers all of my needs - 30 days of calls, data and skype, and then I just use up the €20 of credit over the following week or two.

Malta: Help: Need an apartment to rent:

Hi, I recommend Michaela Tabone at ReMax Malta. She has a good knowledge of the market, including long- & short-term availability. She'll be able to help you find a temporary place while you make decisions, and then if you decide to stay longer, she has access to a good catalogue of properties for rent and sale. -Kate

Ireland: buying property in Ireland to live in:

Hi, I'm in Limerick, and yes, the property prices took an enormous hit in the crash and are slow to recover. I'm not an estate agent, just a data analyst, but I'm currently keeping an eye on the market for a client who wants to buy a few investment/rental properties over the next year. However, most properties at the low end either need improvements or are in locations with drawbacks. Large homes (3+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms) in good residential neighbourhoods are still at the upper end of the range and out of reach for most people. That said, if you are willing to put the time, work, and investment into improvements, or you would like to live in a mixed residential-commercial neighbourhood, there are a lot of homes priced to buy. I rent, because I have a city centre apartment that I love, and because I currently have the best landlord I have had in my 25 years of renting. My advice would be to rent for 6-12 months first, get to know the city, cultivate a relationship with a good estate agent, and take your time buying the right home. There is too much to choose from here, and too many subtle distinctions, to rush your decision and miss out on something you'll love. You should note, though, that this is likely to change over the next 2-5 years. Limerick and the Shannon Region are aggressively pursuing employers and convincing them to invest here. As more jobs become available, and more people move here to take them, demand will affect the real estate market. As a side note, finding a good estate agent is a challenge. I have a number a friends and colleagues looking to rent or purchase a home or business premises, and even getting a returned phone call from an estate agent can take days or weeks. In a market like this, you would think agents would be scrambling 24/7 to find renters & buyers and to move every property they can, but for some reason (anyone?) they are simply not motivated. -Kate

Malta: Moving to Malta:

Have you looked at Birkirkara and Mosta? They're big enough to have jobs and entertainment and schools, without being big tourist magnets. And since they are inland, they are a little more protected from winter storms. They are also close to the university and on a lot of the bus routes. Good luck, Kate

Date Joined:

8/1/2009

Total Posts:

46

Posts/Day:

0.02