Chortlepuss

I live in Mt Gravatt East and it's a lovely area - very expensive to live as it's so close to the city. I pay $480 per week for a rather crummy 3 bed bungalow. Suburbs slightly nearer city - Holland Park, greenslopes are a bit more, but it's stiff competition to secure a rental. Nice houses with pools tend to be in the $750 a week area - but when you're here a while, you don't stress too much about having a pool.
Be careful about commuting estimates - if you drive to the city at peak hours it can be desperately slow due to volume of traffic and there are a lot of accidents on the freeway, especially when it rains. Many people (myself included) use the busway or the train as this is often much quicker

MrsG76

Hi Bingobib777

In your post you mentioned a spreadsheet referring to NAPLAN top 20. I dint suppose you could send it to me. I want to see if there are good schools in the woollengabba area.

Thanks
Sara

bingobob777

Try this link

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=733785

Broad Shoulders

that's about right. I used to go from Redcliffe past/through the city to South Brisbane in about 50-55mins in peak hour traffic. To the city and then finding a park might add a bit more time though

Broad Shoulders

if McMansions are your thing, of course. I really don't see the point in North Lakes.

Brisneyland

It's not a great area. Bracken Ridge, Chermside, Zillmere, Fitzgibbon are all a bit dodgy especially after dark and it'll be a nightmare to get to the city in peak times from there.

If your budget goes to $550 you're well into a much better area (not sure what bingobob is on) like the Gap or some nice Northern suburbs Wilston, Mitchelton, Ferny Grove. 30 second search... first one... http://www.realestate.com.au/propert...orne-406631211

Brisneyland

Agreed. I've never seen the point of those places. Not a mature tree in sight, and you want trees, they keep the sun off the ground. Just a sea of tiled roofs that go right to the boundary. If I had a $ for every time I've heard, "it's a shed" about Queenslanders. FFS stay in England if you want a redbrick semi.

bingobob777

Eh I live in The Gap, I think I'm more than qualified to comment.

Tramps_mate

Certainly some nice affordable places in Upper Kedron and Ferny Grove..

Brisneyland

Fair enough. Your posts came across as very negative that was all. The OP asked for recommendations about areas with accessibility and safety and good areas being the main concerns. They did not ask if they could afford the perfect house in the perfect area complete with pool and aircon. 550 is very do-able for what they're asking.

bingobob777

People always think i'm negative because I think moving 10,000 miles to live in a crap house miles from the CBD is a bad idea, God knows why.

My link above gives what I think is an pretty accurate portrayal of Brisbane suburbs, plenty of people think Ipswich is alright but........................

Alfresco

It's not that far from the CBD, and looks fine to me!

bingobob777

I was never referring to that house, even though it is right next to the army base!

Tramps_mate

So do most people want to live within commuting distance of the CBD? I wont need to if I go there, I will just need the airport to be handy..

Alfresco

Oops. Sorry.


Then find somewhere north close to the airport.