Moving to Sydney
 

Just looking for some information from all you guys in Sydney. I know these questions have been asked before but am just after a little advice. It looks like we will be relocating to Sydney with my OH's job,he will be working in North Ryde area.What I wanted to know was

1. nice suburbs to live around this area,we have a three year old so nice established areas pls.
2.rents are expensive I know,so if any recommendations for places to live further out these would be great too.
3.are there lots of meet ups in the area for people with/without kids?

Everyone has an opinion on what they want from an area I know that. What we want is nice area with parks,walks,playgroups etc with relatively easy commute to OH's job.

Hope someone can help

thanks

C:)

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Kinda hard from what you have put.

add some more things to your wish list.

you can check rents etc on www.realestate.com.au
and www.domain.com.au

what method of getting to work will he be using

Car, bike, lift, train, bus

Train travel if fairly cheap in sydney, (going by london fares)
so you could live further away, eg by the beach.

James

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

How much money? Sydney rents are ok.Nicest areas nearby are Hunters Hill and Lane Cove. Otherwise you could look at Pymble and the North Shore line.

You'll find plenty of other parents to meet with when joining playgroups and pre schools.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

North Ryde is easy commute from Ryde (buses), Gladesville, Lane Cove and many other subbs. It all depends how much you want to spend. Ryde and West ryde.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

My husband works in North Ryde and we live in McMahons Point. He drives but they recently opened a new train line from Chatswood to Epping so he could in theory take the train now from North Sydney.

The Lower North Shore is a lovely area to live, but you could also look anywhere up the train line to Chatswood and beyond.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Hi there!
I have similar question as the initiator of this thread!

We are a family with 2.5 kids (pregnant & 2y & 4y) moving to Sydney in november on a 457. What would be a nice area / suburb for us?

- I'll be working in CBD. Ideally i'd live max 40 minutes from office (door-to-door) by use of public transport. (the closer the better!)
- The area should have nice primary schools, some parks/playgrounds. childfriendly.
- Rent: because of LAFTA i could pay up to $1000 per week on rent. A house with only two requirements: (at least) 4 bedrooms and small garden.

My wife has a romantic thought about Manly, but I presume that would be 'a bit' expensive and would take me an hour to go to work? (pls correct me if i am wrong).
I have no clear motivation why i would completelty close out the western part but by just glancing at the map I would prefer to be closer to seaside.

It would be very nice to hear your thougths!!
Thanks
Wim

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

WVINK, If you are working in the CBD then Manly would be an excellent place to live for you and your family. There is nothing nicer than travelling to and from work in the CBD by ferry. I lived there for 3 years and always wished I had a job in the CBD. I worked in Gladesville and that took around an hour by road. Ferry from Manly to CBD takes 30mins. Jetcat 15mins and they run every 30mins or so and extremely reliable. Its wonderful to wind down from the pressures of the day on the ferry to Manly. Manly has a very nice feel that english people love. I lived there 93 - 96 and i revisited it 3 months back and it has got quite sophisticated with lots more eateries and drinking spots. It would make a very nice intro to living in Sydney but the downside may be finances restricting to apartments but with $1000pw you'll be laughing. BTW away from home allowance does not appear as taxable income so its an excellent way to go but would have a time limit of at most 2 years.

Andy

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the cheapest 4-bed property currently available on Domain.com in the Manly area is $1200 a week - and that's an apartment. Houses start around $1400 a week.

You might be better ditching the Manly idea and look at neighbouring suburbs that aren't quite so famous...;)

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

True it would be expensive if you have to have a 4 bedroom house. Would a 3 bedroom apartment suffice?
Fairlight is also close - you can still walk to manly ferry terminal.
Better value for money there.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

I try not to be rude as we all have different tastes but I really don't get the attraction of Manly.

BTW Vet, the ferry situation changed. Don't know the exact details but think they axed the Jetcat.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Well if the Jetcat has gone that is not a big loss. There's ample capacity on the ferries. I rarely used ithe Jetcat. You couldnt sit outside, it was more expensive and didnt give enough time to relax.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Thanks for the reactions!

Fairlight will be tough when 40 minutes is the max door2door travel time.
PRobably i'll have to look south of the 'splitbridge' (Google map rocks!).
What would you say of Balmoral, Spit Junction, Mosman and Clifton Gardens ?

I really don't want to do concession to rent price. 1000 pw is the absolute max, as i'd like to spend some money on other things in life.
With two young kids a house with (small) garden is preferred over appartements.
Would be nice if you got some advice
Thanks

Wim

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Whats Lafta?

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

LAFHA

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

You've chosen the most expensive part of the city. No 4 bed houses for $1000 a week there I'm afraid. You'll need to go much further north.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Jetcat 15mins and they run every 30mins or so and extremely reliable.

Has now been replaced by a new Fast Ferry service, takes 20 mins but is privately owned.

It would make a very nice intro to living in Sydney but the downside may be finances restricting to apartments but with $1000pw you'll be laughing.

Err...no! There are places for $1000 but North Manly and Manly Vale or Balgowlah would be your best option, still good for buses and ferry into CBD.

BTW away from home allowance does not appear as taxable income so its an excellent way to go but would have a time limit of at most 2 years.

No, LAFHA is not restricted to 2 years.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

I like the look of Gladesville and West Ryde if you want to be close for travel.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

I live in Manly and work in Woolloomooloo (sheep toilet cow toilet!!). I have a 2 bed apartment bang on the Esplanade with stunning views across the Heads and over to Rose Bay. Our rent is $650 per week, was $700 but landlord reduced it cos we are great tenants!! Seriously!!
Our friends have a lovely 3 bed with studio annex about .5km away and pay $850 pw rent. I get the ferry to CBD then walk or bus, my friend gets the bus to Wynyard, both options are good. If you are in the CBD it is easily within the 40 min range.
Loads of parks, beaches, restaurants etc. Manly is very family centric up until about 11pm, then the idiots come out to play, but we don't see them and its no different than any other seaside town the world over.
In my opinion you could find a suitable property within $1000 pw and with good transport links to the CBD within the Manly/Fairlight/Balgowlah area.

However, as you are on a 457 visa the ATO requires that you have a taxable Mininum Salary Level (MSL) dependant upon your trade/profession. You need to ensure that any LAFHA you qualify for does not take you below that MSL, if it does then your LAFHA will be reduced to meet that level. For example, you earn $150k, your MSL is $49950, your LAFHA (food at fixed rate and Rental at agreed or actual rate) plus any Novated Lease (car) you might have totals $110k. This would make your MSL $40k, so your rental component would be reduced to bring all your non taxable entities to $100050 and thus ensure your MSL is at $49950. You do need to bear this in mind when working out your take home pay as it will impact upon what you really can afford to rent.
Any advise you need just ask!!!

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Don't live in North Ryde.. your life will be over, there is nothing there apart from offices a shopping centre and el rancho!! Good luck with the move.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Thanks for all your great replies,really useful info. the OH wants to live far out and commute in but for the first 6mths think it would be easier to be closer to work.
We are looking at Lane Cove as suggested here and were wondering if anyone had any good/bad experiences with rental agencies down there.
Are the places that are available now not so good thats why they are available or is there just good supply of rentals?

Would it be in our favour if we found rental we liked to say offer 3mths rent up front to try and secure it any thoughts?

once again thanks a lot

C:)

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

We live in Lane Cove and find it to be a wonderful suburb... very green, all types of property, excellent transport into the city, and one of the best selection of shops/low traffic main road combinations in the area.
Definately check it out :)

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Ok so what is LAFHA?:thumbsup:

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Living Away From Home Allowance, search on here, plenty of threads. Or check out the ATO website and get the official lowdown.

Re: Moving to Sydney
 

Lane Cove is lovely. And you would be going against the flow of traffic from Lane Cove to North Ryde.
Dont dismiss the suburbs around your husbands work. We live in North Ryde and find it to be a very family friendly suburbs with great parks, plently of shops and it's a great central location with good travel links across the whole of the city (30 mins drive to the Eastern suburb beaches, 35 mins to the Northern Beaches, 25 mins to Castle Hill, 20 mins into town -- these timings are all outside of rush hour!) There are local libraries and plenty of play groups. Local primary schools all have good reputations. We kind of ended up here initially because we wanted to be near to DH's work but havent regretted it. East Ryde & Ryde have some lovely bits as well. Good Luck