moving to europe???

Question

I am moving to Europe to start a career. I am really really unsure of where to move to just because there is so many options. i was thinking rome or paris or greece. but if i moved to greece i wouldnt exactly kno where to live but it would be a great option i suppose. rome seems great too i would want to buy an apartment for sure. anywheres i go i am going to get a moped not a car just because i dont have enough money for that just yet. but i want to either buy a small home in greece or buy an apartment in france or rome. please help me decide and any other help and answers will be greatly appreciated thank you so very much

Answer 1

First look into the job opportunities, job offices and vacancy sites are a good start.
Next check about visa, work-permits and alike, all countries have a website, often one for each different country.

Once you have found if you can find a job and get a permit to work it, start learning the local language.
In all three countries you can not get by with just English long term, but any country you move to you should learn the local language. It might be obligatory in getting the paperwork sorted, it will certainly improve your chances while job-hunting.

If you want to buy a house or apartment as soon as you arrive in a country, you need to bring most if not all of the needed money with you, as you can not get a mortgage without a job, and mostly you need to have had a job for a year before you can get it.
If you are realistic, search the rental apartments, their prices and how you get one. All big towns have a housing shortage, and all cheap housing is taken by locals before the strangers to town can find where to apply for it, specially if they do not speak the local language.

I hope I am not too negative, if you really want to move, plan, search and enjoy.
But be realistic, it is not a long holiday, and it will be much harder than just moving to the next town near home, or even across the country.

Answer 2

You're overlooking a few things: unemployment, bureaucracy, entrenched attitudes and language issues.

If you have the money to buy property it may not be a bad idea to buy in Europe depending on where the property is, but do the homework first. The real bargains were in places like Bulgaria but that's now expanded to e.g. Egypt and Morocco, and the circle is getting wider all the time. I would seriously consider buying property in Berlin as the market seems greatly undervalued. Berlin is now the capital of Germany and the economy looks like it 's improving after a long period in the doldrums.

Think about Ireland. If you're American you will have an advantage, as the Irish like Americans and have strong family connections there, despite whatever differences may exist re Iraq etc. Also, some of the issues I mentioned at the start don't figure there, or at least they are not as bad as elsewhere in Europe. However the boom economy in Ireland may not last forever, housing is extremely expensive and commuting can be a nightmare. You may also face visa problems because for some reason it is as hard for an American to establish residencein Ireland as for an Irish person to do so in the US. Silly, but there ýou are.

But a lot depends on your skills and qualifications as to where you would fit in. Don't overlook the fact that much of Europe is in recession and there is a lot of immigration from the European mainland to e.g. the UK and Ireland where the economies are doing well.

Answer 3

It's extremely difficult to get a job in France. Unemployment is very high, at nearly 10%. It's even difficult for a French citizen, a bit more difficult for a EU Member, and almost impossible fo an non-EU member. Many of my friends graduated from France, and none was able to get a job after finishing his studies. That's also the case in Italy and Greece, where the unemployment rate is similar.

If I were you, I'd consider other countries for starting a career.
Probably Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland, Norway, Sweden, if you insist on Europe. Goodluck.

Answer 4

You'll need to have a work permit and a long-stay visa, regardless of where you will be moving, unless you are already an EU citizen.

Home ownership is breathtakingly expensive in Europe, with prices much higher and apartments much smaller than their US counterparts.

Please do MUCH more research before making a decision.