Various advice on moving to Konstanz

Hi

My wife and I are considering moving to Konstanz and are hoping to get some some advice on life around Konstanz and generally living in Germany. We currently live in the Algarve but have got a little bored with it and the cost of living is starting to get high for the standards so are looking for a change. We visited Konstanz last year for a short holiday and loved it so are now considering moving there. We'll be coming over for 2 weeks in September to have a better look and do a little fact finding but I would appreciate any advice or suggestions to help prepare:

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From what I know, the property market is fairly flat in most of Germany so we will rent for the time being. Where are the best places to find rental accommodation? I've tried a few on-line sites but they are fairly limited in their portfolio.

What term are rental contracts usually for and as a foreigner (we are both British nationals) will it be more difficult to find rental accommodation?

Apart from rent and utilities are there any other costs associated with renting? E.G. council tax equivalents etc.

What would you say the cost of living is like in Konstanz? Taking rent out of the equation, how much would a couple with two cars need to spend a month for a decent standard of living?

Is there much of an expat community in Konstanz?

Are the Konstanz locals generally friendly to foreigners?

We run an internet based business but my wife may want to look for part time work. What are the work prospects like for an English speaker?

What are the costs of utilities like? What can we expect to pay for electricity, gas and water for a 2 bedroom apartment?

The bureaucracy in Portugal can get tiresome. What's bureaucracy in Germany like?


I look forward to your feedback.

1. Immoscout24.de has pretty much all available properties.
2. Open-end, with a 3-month notice period that extends the longer you live there. Being British won't necessarily be a problem, but tenants will find it easier to rent to someone who's already in the area.
3. No council tax, but electricity and water, probably, depending on the region.
4. Impossible to say, but bear in mind that this is a popular region to live in.
5. Not so much, but have a look at the Bodensee forum on this website. I would imagine that the expat community in the Algarve is a lot larger. Rightly or wrongly, Germany is (thankfully) not on the radar for Brits looking to live abroad.
6. You're not foreign, you're British. Seriously: they distinguish between economic migrants from the east (bad) with contribute-to-the-local-economy migrants from the west (good). But being able to speak the language will be the key.
7. If she can teach, good; otherwise limited.
8. Depends how much you use. You can get the precise unit costs from the local providers, then compare with your current usage.
9. Is this a serious question? You would be the first people in the history of the world to move to Germany to avoid bureaucracy.

Good luck. It's a gorgeous region.

Thanks for the reply STB. LOL, I know Germany can be bureaucratic, but Portugal is another level. It's completely inconsistent with the various governmental departments interpreting the laws differently or not even familiar with the laws. :?

My may aim is to work out real the cost of living in Konstanz. I know it's a popular place and one of the more expensive areas to live in Germany, but from our trip over last year things like food, petrol and clothes are comparable if not cheaper than in the Algarve.

Looking forward to coming over in September for a proper look. You're right. It is a beautiful place part of the world.

Good luck...I'm seriously considering moving my brood (wife and 2 kids under 5) from UAE to Bavaria or over the Austrian border in Vorarldn . There's a few jobs in Munich for me. Wifey speaks fluently and I speak a little.

Would be interested to hear about your experience.

Beer much better than Superbok and Sagres :-)

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