JenJen

Ok so I wasn't overly struck about heading to Sydney instead of Melbourne having spent 2 years thinking of going to Melbourne and having been there and thoroughly loved it.

Since hubby got the job offer for Sydney though, most people seem to be heading for Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth basically nowhere near Sydney, wasn't too long ago twas other way round.

Combined with the fact that I've read several threads that don't encourage me to want to live there......
Threads from here and other forums where there are pages and pages of people saying that wether renting or buying unless you earn a small fortune forget living in Sydney, ppl don't like Sydney as it's apparently too built up, too expensive, too commercialised or we've even heard it's too gay ????? (errr WTH?), as rent and house prices are high as is everything else and people will never get the life they want in Sydney and it's not worth going basically!!!!

Obviously we're heading out to Sydney but disregarding my initial feelings about going, it'd still be nice to hear some positive encouraging things about where we'll be living be it temporary or long term !!!

Is this all realistic is everything about Sydney that bad? Would be nice to hear more positive things is all

Jen

Bailey1

We are also heading to Sydney as my partner is getting a job there. I have never been but have heard loads of positive things about it from people where I work. Most people are saying I will love it. I work in a restaurant and this is coming from people of all ages and different walks of life so I do believe that it is going to be amazing.
The only bad things I have heard are from people who have something bad to say about most things.
We must bear in mind tho' that it is a city and it will be busy and built up. But it will aslo be bustling and energetic...I really can't wait.

Grayling

I believe that the are still more migrants go to NSW than anywhere else.....but that may have changed.

As for expense......many parts of Brisbane, or indeed Melbourne or Perth, will not be much cheaper than a lot of Sydney.

It depends on the type of area you want to live. The 'best' areas are also likely to be expensive in the other cities.....you can not move to an area simply based on the cost of houses etc.

G

Jacque

Hi Jen

Sydney's a great place- don't believe the doomsdayers!!!

I've lived here most of my life, simply love the place and wouldn't live anywhere else. There's always something new to see, to do, to experience, and that's coming from a resident!

Sydney's naturally a huge city (like London) but there's beaches, semi-rural areas, beautiful national parks, rivers and picnic spots galore, besides all the fast lane life that you'll find in any big city. So much to explore, and you really need to see for yourself to appreciate.
So many people get hung up on housing and rental prices, but unless you want to live on the water or close in to the city, you're pretty much spoilt for choice. Come out for a reccie, if you haven't already, and drive out to the suburbs as well- don't just hang around the CBD and the usual tourist haunts. It's worth it

this charming man

Go to Oz thinking its the bomb and youll be sadly wrong,leave your pre conceptions in the UK and travel with an open mind and live there for at least a year and then consider your options.................... Sometimes the question is more important than the answer.

JenJen

Thanks for your replies...

I think having read alot of negative things and obviously having our original plans of going to Melbourne turned upside down made us all feel a little dispondant, i've also not been feeling hundred percent and haven't been well at all the last couple of days, sick and weak and achey, trying to arrange everything in 2 and a half weeks has probably caught up with us, I think having to say goodbyes even when you're feeling well would be bad enough, today it's knocked me for 6.

My hubby is used to an hours commute and he would be happy to do up to an hour commute (allowing for when he leaves off work) in Sydney so that we can live in a nice area we don't want to live in the inner busy areas but are reserving full judgement til we see the suburbs.

Thanks for soem reassurance, much appreciated

Kapri

Jen - I absolutely loved Sydney when I was there (albeit on holiday).
It's a great city - the only reason we didn't consider it was cost of living.

I'm sure you'll love it

Buzzy--Bee

Kathy you're not helping here!!!!



Buzzy

asher

Jen It's a fabulous place there is so much variety and compared to London it just sparkles!

there are leafy suburbs, beach suburbs town suburbs villagey suburbs it is a fabulous place for children take them to cockle bay.

seriously stop hankerng for Melbourne Sydney has everything Melbourne does and more!!

Once you feel better you won't be so down

paddyo

An hour commute gives you soooo many options, be it country, beach, city you really do have an open platter. We live in Manly which is 30 mins by Ferry from the Circular Quays which is then easy to get anywhere in the city. You could live further out in the north western hills which is a nice area or down south to sutherlandshire which is also ok. It really depends on what you want to do outside of work and what sort of lifestyle you are hoping for.

Buzzy--Bee

3 bed house in Manly - $1.3 million (terrace) - $3 million (detached). Manly is lovely if you can afford it!!!

Buzzy

Jacque

There are more options in surrounding suburbs,however, for the sub $1m mark. Look at Seaforth, Allambie Heights and Curl Curl, for example....


http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin...&tm=1212216682

http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin...&tm=1212216682

http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin...&tm=1212216877

paddyo

Oh, there is no way I could afford to buy or would want to at the moment, we are renting!! Still have our house in the UK to keep!

louie

Sydney is the most beautiful city I've ever been to (and I am pretty well travelled), the energy and buzz is great, the weather is pretty good most of the time (can be a bit humid in summer but nothing like as hot as Brissie or Perth which are too hot for me and cool in winter so it has the advantage of seasons), there are loads of things to do and see both in the city and within easy reach, there are fabulous cafes and restaurants and eating out is much cheaper in the UK and the people are mostly friendly and interested in poms (you'll get some stick when the Ozzies beat us at sport, but you just have to give as good as you get).

Which is why we are heading for Sydney (and yes we have lived there before so all this is not theoretical).

Does that help? Go with an open mind and you will love it.

JenJen

Thanks.

We won't be looking to buy for at least the first year, so it'll be a rental, the first 3 weeks after we arrive we're staying in lovely holiday accomodation, we'll be a tad squished but short term it works we'll be sharing with littlen and the boys will be in together.
I'm not extremely fussy but 4 beds would be lovely, one or two storey doesn't matter which, we'd rather not have an apartment as while we have the kids we don't feel it'll work.

We live in an estate that looks a bit like balamory - different coloured houses etc lol. it's what I call lego land with houses very close opposite and all round us, altho beleive it or not we're one of the less looked over houses where we live.
We don't want to live in the middle of nowhere with no neighbours, however I don't want to be able to have a conversation with the people opposite from inside our houses !!
The kids would like a pool, I'm not fussed either way but I would like to be able to bring my cat over to Australia once we're settled and we had been thinking about looking into getting a dog also once we're settled - though after all the threads i've read I think we're going to have to tell the kids it's very unlikely that'll happen.

Yes thanks kathy, the cost of living is a worry, hubby will be on $95,000 + and we thought that was excellent money but the last week of reading threads stating otherwise have us very concerned.
Threads saying that even if you have a PR visa school fees are pricey :O
I am worried at the moment but I accept that probably once we get past all these goodbye all the upheaval here and we're past all these germs i'm hoping to feel more positive about it.

As for the life we want, i'd like the kids to be happy, they're keen to get into cubs over there, my eldest has been learning to play guitar, he'd like to continue doing that, they like riding their bikes and goign out and about, they've not been camping yet but I think they'd like to, they like the beach, they've tried body boarding and haven't picked it up yet but they tried (the fact one of them swallowed half the sea and then threw up well thats just a learning curve)

For little one i'm concerned that we may not be able to afford nursery for him, he had speech problems months ago but since attending nursery adn playgroup 3 times a week he has not only caught up but is now above average for his age ! We'd like to find him a nursery asap, if I need to drive 20 minutes to it thats fine.

Sports is fine, I don't really root for any british teams anyway, really not bothered if Australia kick our arse, it'll just be an excuse to celebrate either way lol