Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Oct 24th 2007, 3:55 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 532
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Hello, we are newbies to this site. We are hopefully moving to Sydney around Christmas time (subject to visa approval).
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
We are a family of 5 (me, oh, kids (12, 8 and 3) and are looking to settle somewhere on the northern beaches not too far from CBD. We have been looking at Dee Why, Curl Curl, Manly, Collaroy. Wondered if anyone had any experience of these areas, schools etc. They look very nice but it would be great to hear from anyone who actually lives there.
Look forward to chatting to you over the next few weeks.
The areas like St Ives, Pymble are very nice and have the benefit of good links to the city, good schools etc although the property prices reflect that. At the end of the day it will depend on how much you have to spend on a property versus what you want out of life in Australia.
Oct 24th 2007, 5:10 am
#17
Gone Senile Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Sydney
Posts: 3,014
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Wow, I feel I've stirred up a hornets nest here 
There are so many differring opinions. I must admit OH is quite happy not to have to sit on a train to commute, he rather fancies a ferry or even a bus for a change. Also weekends on a laid-back sandy beach with not too many tourists sounds like it may be worth a slightly more difficult commute.
Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
There are so many differring opinions. I must admit OH is quite happy not to have to sit on a train to commute, he rather fancies a ferry or even a bus for a change. Also weekends on a laid-back sandy beach with not too many tourists sounds like it may be worth a slightly more difficult commute.Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
I would absolutely adore Mosman or Balmoral but can't afford the mortgage! Balmoral has a great inland kids beach, loads of visitors too. If you have the money go for it.
Keep your options open in the Northern Beaches area it is amazing the differences one can find. You can go from busy burb to sleepy hollow or sleepy burb to acerage all in the space of 5 kms
I fancy Terry Hills which is 5 k from us but could be the wilds of nowhere if you get the right place. It is also 5 k nearer the beach!
Oct 24th 2007, 9:13 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Knutsford,Cheshire
Posts: 31
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Hi, We're moving to Sydney too, OH is flying out on 8th November I follow with our 2 children in January. We have the same dilema which area,school etc.
Good luck
Good luck
Oct 24th 2007, 10:47 am
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Sydney beachside
Posts: 3,506
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Close to city, close to beaches, close to harbour, lovely shops, gorgeous houses etc, etc.
BUT housing is probably the second priciest in the whole country, for all the above reasons. Great if you can afford it.
Oct 24th 2007, 12:17 pm
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: where else but Queensland
Posts: 474
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Wow, I feel I've stirred up a hornets nest here There are so many differring opinions. I must admit OH is quite happy not to have to sit on a train to commute, he rather fancies a ferry or even a bus for a change. Also weekends on a laid-back sandy beach with not too many tourists sounds like it may be worth a slightly more difficult commute.
Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
There are so many differring opinions. I must admit OH is quite happy not to have to sit on a train to commute, he rather fancies a ferry or even a bus for a change. Also weekends on a laid-back sandy beach with not too many tourists sounds like it may be worth a slightly more difficult commute.Any opinions on Mosman or Balmoral from anyone? They look nice and seem to have lots of schools and the commute looks very easy. OH is going out for 2 weeks on Saturday so we are trying to narrow down his search a bit.
Thanks
Oct 24th 2007, 8:32 pm
#21
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 39
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Are there suburbs along this railway line (perhaps Chatswood to Hornsby, or Epping lines) where you can get a nice 3 or 4 bed family house within walking distance of the station for around A$800?
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
Oct 24th 2007, 9:06 pm
#22
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: where else but Queensland
Posts: 474
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Are there suburbs along this railway line (perhaps Chatswood to Hornsby, or Epping lines) where you can get a nice 3 or 4 bed family house within walking distance of the station for around A$800?
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
Oct 24th 2007, 10:01 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 532
Re: Hello, we are new and moving to Sydney
Are there suburbs along this railway line (perhaps Chatswood to Hornsby, or Epping lines) where you can get a nice 3 or 4 bed family house within walking distance of the station for around A$800?
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
Seeing posts where people mention property in Pymble for A$1.5m is kinda scary!!
I genuinely would like to spend $800 k and we looked at a couple of properties that were less than $1.0 million all on the rail line Chatswood to Hornsby and I would say they tended to fall into two brackets. Either they were a) Too small (or rather smaller than what we have at the moment); or b) Needing some improvement (ranging from needing new carpets and a damn good clean up to needing to be gutted).
The properties I looked at (in the $1.2 - $1.5 range) were all very nice houses that you could move straight into with minimal or zero work.
At the end of the day therefore I would say it is possible to get something in that range but it depends on your expectations. You might need either to compromise or to be prepared to invest (time and money) to get it how you would like it.
