Moving to Cairns - most suitable suburb to live and mortgage broker recommendations?
Jul 1st 2016, 10:30 am
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Moving to Cairns - most suitable suburb to live and mortgage broker recommendations?
Hi all, myself and girlfriend are excited to have accepted jobs in Cairns starting in September on 457 visas.
Initially we were interested in moving to Gold Coast but weren't able to find suitable work there, but we already have flights to Gold Coast in August and a month's accommodation so will initially have a holiday there to find our feet before moving north.
At the moment it's just the 2 of us, we would like a house (not apartment) with spare bedrooms should family and friends visit, outdoor private garden area (pool would be incredible bonus but not essential), and car parking for 2 vehicles. We prefer modern styled, brick houses, but are open to considering the traditional Queenslander style if renovated in a modern way.
We would prefer a more spacious house and garden versus being on the doorstep of the CBD, but at the same time don't really want to endure a long commute (we will both be working at Cairns hospital), ideally less than 20 minutes drive. It would also be nice to have shops and parks in nearby walking distance.
In a couple of years we will be starting a family, and after another year or two perhaps moving back down to Gold Coast area, so location for school catchment etc isn't important for our first house.
Neither of us have owned our own homes here in the UK, and we are keen to stop renting and buy our own place instead. We think our mortgage borrowing should give us a maximum budget of around $450,000 but obviously if we can do it for less, perhaps around ~$375,000 that would provide more of a buffer for other purchases.
Could anybody please advise us if there are any particular areas of Cairns that best suit our requirements? Are we being realistic with what we hope to get there?
And can you recommend any specialist mortgage brokers who deal in the area?
Thank you
Initially we were interested in moving to Gold Coast but weren't able to find suitable work there, but we already have flights to Gold Coast in August and a month's accommodation so will initially have a holiday there to find our feet before moving north.
At the moment it's just the 2 of us, we would like a house (not apartment) with spare bedrooms should family and friends visit, outdoor private garden area (pool would be incredible bonus but not essential), and car parking for 2 vehicles. We prefer modern styled, brick houses, but are open to considering the traditional Queenslander style if renovated in a modern way.
We would prefer a more spacious house and garden versus being on the doorstep of the CBD, but at the same time don't really want to endure a long commute (we will both be working at Cairns hospital), ideally less than 20 minutes drive. It would also be nice to have shops and parks in nearby walking distance.
In a couple of years we will be starting a family, and after another year or two perhaps moving back down to Gold Coast area, so location for school catchment etc isn't important for our first house.
Neither of us have owned our own homes here in the UK, and we are keen to stop renting and buy our own place instead. We think our mortgage borrowing should give us a maximum budget of around $450,000 but obviously if we can do it for less, perhaps around ~$375,000 that would provide more of a buffer for other purchases.
Could anybody please advise us if there are any particular areas of Cairns that best suit our requirements? Are we being realistic with what we hope to get there?
And can you recommend any specialist mortgage brokers who deal in the area?
Thank you
Last edited by juz; Jul 1st 2016 at 10:33 am.
