Places to live in Sydney

sprjenkins · 14-05-2007, 06:41 PM

Hey guys and girls,
I've lived in Melbourne all my life but it looks like i'm probably moving to Sydney at the end of the year. The problem is not being a sydneysider, I don't know where to start looking for a house/apartment.

I mean I can just look at real estate site's and find places in my price range but I still wouldn't know if its in a nice suburb/area etc. I'm looking at spending between $300-500 thousand, depending on location/price.

I wouldn't mind living reasonably close to the beach, but this isn't the primary consideration and its just my girlfriend and I so the place doesn't have to be huge, however if we could get a house in a nice suburb (doesn't have to be at the beach) for this price that would be great to.

Oh and I'll be working in the CBD, so I can't be to far away. So yeah any ideas on what suburbs to start looking?

Thanks for your help in advance, Joel

pottsy44 · 14-05-2007, 06:48 PM

rouse hill seems like a nice new area and they are building a t-way that goes right through to parramatta, so you could catch the train from there. nice area.

also in the blacktown area that is nice is stanhope gardens and ropes crossing. all the above should be in your price range.

GXL078 · 14-05-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprjenkins

I wouldn't mind living reasonably close to the beach, but this isn't the primary consideration and its just my girlfriend and I so the place doesn't have to be huge, however if we could get a house in a nice suburb (doesn't have to be at the beach) for this price that would be great to.

Oh and I'll be working in the CBD, so I can't be to far away. So yeah any ideas on what suburbs to start looking?

Thanks for your help in advance, Joel

If you want to live close to the beach and/or city you will be looking at a unit for that money. Now is a good time to buy. For a house, at the absolute bottom end of the market, in the worst street in Matraville (8Kms for the city, walking distance to Botany Bay Beach) $510K for a 3 bedroom house that was passed in at $650 last year. (just bought by a friend of my wife's)
You could buy a nice unit in Coogee for your money ($400-$500K). We have a 2 bedroom 10min walk from Coogee beach and its worth around $300-$350K, but is nothing flash.

sprjenkins · 14-05-2007, 08:38 PM

thanks i'll have a look at those, a unit or apartment is something I might look at now and in 5+ years or so when we have kids we will trade up.

One Drone · 14-05-2007, 09:30 PM

I agree with pottsy. Rouse Hill I drove through a few days ago. Beautiful area and excellent location. T-way and the new Rouse Hill Mall is being built. To be the new largest mall in Syd!

GXL078 · 14-05-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drone

I agree with pottsy. Rouse Hill I drove through a few days ago. Beautiful area and excellent location. T-way and the new Rouse Hill Mall is being built. To be the new largest mall in Syd!

It's 40km for the city/beach Legoland

The G6ET Spot · 15-05-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcgxl

It's 40km for the city/beach Legoland

More like 60k's to the city.

XR6TCraig · 15-05-2007, 09:38 PM

I grew up in Melbourne like yourself and lived in Sydney for 4 years between 2001-2005. The commute in Sydney is a **** fight.

I feel that if you are going to commute to the city to work, then I would live in Hornsby, Epping or Stratfield. These areas are well serviced by public transport and are among the better suburbs without getting into the top end stuff like Manly, Bondi or the Inner Nth Shore which you won't be able to afford.

The Newcastle train stops at only a few stations, among which are Hornsby, Epping and Stratfield. If you could get it instead of a normal suburban train into town, this is a much quicker and more comfortable trip.

For example, Epping. If you get a train stopping at all stations to Central, it is a 40 minute train ride. If you can get the Newcastle train as it goes through Epping, it is a 20 minute trip. Hornsby, the same thing just add 10 minutes to the express trip or 20 for all stations.

The beauty about Hornsby though is you feel like you are in a big country town. And you are 10 minutes from the Old Pacific Hwy which is great fun in a car ( except if you suffer from car sickness)!

I suppose what I am alluding to is to do your research before you buy anything. Close to the city doesn't neccesarily mean a quicker ride to work everyday. A bus from Balmain in peak hour would be slower than the Newcastle express train from Epping. The less time on the bus or train the better your quality of life.

My 0.02c

5tumpy · 14-05-2007, 10:19 PM

Have a mate that lives in Kellyville Ridge... 2hr each way commute... If you want to be near the city, buy an apartment/townhouse around Strathfield, if you want to be close to the beach buy a unit in the St George/Sutherland area...

If you want a house, and don't mind Commuting an hour or so, I'd be looking around the Camden area, it's beautiful out here, the best of both worlds! Not to mention everyone actually speaks engarish out here...

HLC · 15-05-2007, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5tumpy

Have a mate that lives in Kellyville Ridge... 2hr each way commute... If you want to be near the city, buy an apartment/townhouse around Strathfield, if you want to be close to the beach buy a unit in the St George/Sutherland area...

If you want a house, and don't mind Commuting an hour or so, I'd be looking around the Camden area, it's beautiful out here, the best of both worlds! Not to mention everyone actually speaks engarish out here...

an hour from camden commuting? and the rest lol. it takes an hour for me to drive from parramatta to camden (got a mate that lives there) so factor in trains, to the city!

5tumpy · 15-05-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HLC

an hour from camden commuting? and the rest lol. it takes an hour for me to drive from parramatta to camden (got a mate that lives there) so factor in trains, to the city!

I live in Harrington Park (Camden area) and it takes me an hour on the train, and 20 mins maximum in the car. That's to Circular Quay. Comparing it to Parramatta is ridiculous mate, for a start, Parramatta is virtually the opposite direction to Sydney. Then there's the fact that unless you use the M7, it's suburban roads, whereas the drive to the city is 80 km/h at least all the way.

In peak hour, you wouldn't be driving into the city, but out of peak hour a good run is about 45mins, and a bad run would be an hour...

As for living in Parramatta, it's overpriced, overrun by people who don't even have a basic command of English, and it's a dump. I worked there for 2 years and will never work there again...

Scott · 14-05-2007, 10:31 PM

^^ I lived in Sydney for some time at Parramatta, Castle Hill, Strathfield & Paddington. I've gotta say that Strathfield was the most convenient for me at the time as I covered all of Sydney (& Newc/Woll). There is some nice spots and some crappy spots in Strathfield/Homebush but it's in the middle between Parra and the City which was handy. Strathfield is a very heavily Asian populated area so as a single aussie male at the time I struggled with not being able to talk to the neighbours but that is the way of the world these days hey?

If I moved back, I would pick Manly or a surrounding suburb. Can be pricey but I found the only way to embrace a new city is to live near it's good bits so you don't just end up out in the burbs wondering why you bothered moving! A good tip for enjoying Sydney is to be nearer to the water and the city as these are inevitably where the action is.

Pik0 · 15-05-2007, 01:29 AM

Although i might get flamed there are some places around balmain/ rozelle drummoyne area for that price, they will be fairly small and fairly rundown but its you and your gf only and its a good thing to try and fix up. Or even a uni as well. Its also about 20 mins in peak hour to the city. From my house i could getto the city with no traffic in about 5 mins. Its a beautiful area and close to the paramatta river which is pretty much the harbour. So its not that bad around there.

http://www.domain.com.au/Public/Prop...did=2006312885

Bit over but you get the idea

Steffo · 15-05-2007, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pik0

Although i might get flamed there are some places around balmain/ rozelle drummoyne area for that price, they will be fairly small and fairly rundown but its you and your gf only and its a good thing to try and fix up. Or even a uni as well. Its also about 20 mins in peak hour to the city. From my house i could getto the city with no traffic in about 5 mins. Its a beautiful area and close to the paramatta river which is pretty much the harbour. So its not that bad around there.

http://www.domain.com.au/Public/Prop...did=2006312885

Bit over but you get the idea

You've probably listed the best areas so far.

A nice apartment anywhere in the Inner-West is a wise move. East is a rip off, and anything else good is too far away.

Blue Oval Mopar Man · 15-05-2007, 02:18 AM

Mate , why the hell would you want to live in Sydney ???

Only one good thing ever come out of Sydney ........ The road to Queensland !

P.S. And the place is full of cockroaches

Scott · 15-05-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pik0

Although i might get flamed there are some places around balmain/ rozelle drummoyne area for that price,

I completely forgot about this area, good suggestion!

normxb · 15-05-2007, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprjenkins

Hey guys and girls,
I've lived in Melbourne all my life but it looks like i'm probably moving to Sydney at the end of the year.

If you're not moving till the end of the year , what might be helpful if you've got the time & cash , is to go for a few trips there for a weekend or three. Northern area one trip , South & West or inner west on other trips .

Have a look around , maybe one of the Sydney guy's could give you a "guided tour" . That way you can get a bit of perspective of the place .

Just a suggestion , don't buy straight away , Rent for 3-6 months , this way if you don't like the area you're not tied down . This is what I did when we moved from Sydney to the bush , just to make sure it was the right move .

Good Luck with your future and hope this helps

Norm

Falcon Freak · 15-05-2007, 07:37 AM

I heard Redfern and Cronulla are good suburbs.

FF

HLC · 15-05-2007, 08:46 AM

Parramatta. dead centre of sydney. cant go wrong.

GXL078 · 15-05-2007, 09:29 AM

The Northern Beaches are very nice, but not very handy to the city (1 hr bus trip, no trains) Manly would be OK if you worked near the Quay, you could catch the ferry to work.

**FTE217** · 15-05-2007, 10:14 AM

Inner west is great ! What ever you buy in there being a semi/unit etc will keep going up.
Drummoyne to Ryde is very central for town and western freeways 20-25min run to Manly.

digitalpunk · 15-05-2007, 10:17 AM

I have lived in Sydney all my life, lived about 5 minutes from Parramatta for the majority of it. I have an ex girlfriend who lived up Hornsby way, spent a lot of time around there, that was ok and not too far from the city, although it is costly with the tollways to get to the city from the Hornsby, Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Pennant Hills areas. Parramatta was ok, that will probably be the second Sydney CBD in a few years time, the area is just growing and they are always doing some type of work in the area. My current girlfriend lived with her parents when we first met, they lived in Crows Nest, that was nice, although not my scene, her parents loved it though, they moved to Leichhardt about 12 months ago, that was pretty good, it isn't far from the city and had a very lively nightlife with the nice resturant strip in Norton Street. My girlfriend and I have recently moved to Newtown and we both love it, we are just behind King St in a little apartment, renting for moment to see if we both like it (and to see if we can live with each other). We are walking distance to a gym, two train stations, the bus stop is practically right outside our doorstep, the bus comes every 10 minutes and it is only a 15 minute trip to work to Alexandria, my girlfriend works in the city and it is only a 15 minute train trip for her. Along King Street you have restuarants, cafes, bars and theatres and any kind of shop you can ask for.

GXL078 · 15-05-2007, 10:59 AM

Newtown is great for food (as is Glebe Pt rd) but I imagine it would be hard to sleep (very noisy) and not many houses have off-street parking.

GXL078 · 15-05-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcgxl

Newtown is great for food (as is Glebe Pt rd) but I imagine it would be hard to sleep (very noisy) and not many houses have off-street parking.

Coogee is a bit like that now, a backpacker getto with streets full of old furniture and junk and violent, drunken brawls every weekend.

digitalpunk · 15-05-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcgxl

Newtown is great for food (as is Glebe Pt rd) but I imagine it would be hard to sleep (very noisy) and not many houses have off-street parking.

They were my concerns but we were very lucky, we got a very modern place with an undercover carspot and we don't face King St so we don't get any of the noise at all.

Conrad · 20-05-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xcgxl

Newtown is great for food (as is Glebe Pt rd) but I imagine it would be hard to sleep (very noisy) and not many houses have off-street parking.

Glebe represent!!

Redfern - I wouldn't suggest it.
Glebe - I wouldn't suggest it (Unless you are up at Glebe point).
Balmain/Rozelle/Leichardt/Drummoyne - Good Areas i would suggest it.
Parramatta/Hornsby/Blacktown - Wouldn't suggest it, too far.

Paxton · 15-05-2007, 11:50 AM

Whilst some parts of the Shire (South of Sydney) will be out of your Price Range, others will be in the sweet spot (450,000-500,000) of your budget.

The Commute is about 40 Mins both ways, however there are Trains, which you won't get West, East or in the Northern Beaches. The Shire has a good community feel to it, however I have been called a Snob more than once because I call myself a Hobbit. The best thing about the Shire is the Royal National Park. If you like Driving, you will have driven this road at least once.

Look in Engadine, Loftus, Bangor and Miranda/Gymea, however these are getting to the pricey end of your budget.

Good Luck with the move, and remember to keep us posted as to where you go.

Andrew.

Hally · 15-05-2007, 12:51 PM

You won't get trains West, East or North? Do you really live in Sydney?

Last time I checked, trains in Sydney went everywhere but the Northern Beaches (and limited to Eastern Suburbs)........

Unco · 17-05-2007, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

Whilst some parts of the Shire (South of Sydney) will be out of your Price Range, others will be in the sweet spot (450,000-500,000) of your budget.

The Commute is about 40 Mins both ways, however there are Trains, which you won't get West, East or in the Northern Beaches. The Shire has a good community feel to it, however I have been called a Snob more than once because I call myself a Hobbit. The best thing about the Shire is the Royal National Park. If you like Driving, you will have driven this road at least once.

Look in Engadine, Loftus, Bangor and Miranda/Gymea, however these are getting to the pricey end of your budget.

Good Luck with the move, and remember to keep us posted as to where you go.

Andrew.

i'll have to second that. i lived in sydney for 10 years and if i was to move back i would go to the shire, hands down.

the drive through Audley national park is quite beautiful and if you keep heading south through it you end up in Wollongong, take the freeway to get back up - a lot faster but no scenery.

lots of trees, water and a good community. buy something near a train station, they'll take you straight to the city, no need to change lines.

eldreamin · 15-05-2007, 01:39 PM

The best options for your price range are probably the shire (as mentioned) or drummoyne/abbotsford/chiswick/concord. This area has been undergoing alot of development recently and there are buses and ferry's to the city on a regular basis during peak times.

It is still close to the water and close enough to the city to be able to enjoy the nightlife if that is what you are looking for. I guess the worst part of this area (from when I lived there) was the planes travelling to the airport. Unfortunately in sydney now pretty much everywhere within 30km's of the city gets aircraft noise.

Personally I had to get out of sydney and I moved up the central coast. I no alot of people that commute to sydney every day and depending on where you are going (city or north sydney, different trains) it can take an hour 15minutes to get there up to 2 hours on the train. (Damn north sydney all stations trains.) It is a much more relaxed atmosphere, none of the pollution, no stuck up rude people and the beaches are so much nicer.