You need tough kids if you want to send them to the state school in Upper Coomera. They had a riot there about 3 months ago. Here is a link to the local rag.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...-1226163673596

Yes Upper Coomera Helensvale seems quite nice. We opted for Upper Coomera for location at the time we didn't have jobs and were not sure whether we would find work on GC or Brisbane, we are literally a stones throw from the M1, so fairly convenient.

We are looking at Nerang (towards the mountains / Maudsland) or Highland Park. Have put in a rental application for Highland park, but don't hold out too much hope as there were 20 people looking Saturday and they already had five applications in also but we will see.

A good state school I hear is Coombabah, worth looking at this area. Good luck!

Yes I remember this.....I saw Channel 7 and Nine news reporters outside interviewing people.
There is tension between both, the minority at the school are Australian; the majority being NZ.

We have issues with the kids where we live (NZ's) - and I don't mean teens, these are small kids around 4 / 5 and 6 they play in our garden, they leave our outside tap on, they stand outside our bedroom / living room windows shouting. Trouble is there is no point in retaliation as it makes it worse. BUT I did throw my toys out the pram last week when I got home. I was reversing up the drive when one of the said kids ran out from behind the bush and sat herself slap-bang in the middle of the driveway (which is on a steep slope), I stopped and asked her to move politely only to be shouted at 'It ain't your house, so I can do what I want, you can't touch me'! This is from a 5 year old! So what chance in hell do I have of approaching the parent(s) if this kid is like this. WWIII will break out, so hence the reason for moving ! Sorry it's a bit of a rant - but feel somewhat better now

Lets not get carried away here. Shit like this happens in practically every high school across the 'developed' world at one time or another. And it wasn't a 'riot', it was a nasty brawl between some students and some outsiders. Not what you want to see and hear in any shape or form granted. Most people's issues are with the teaching from what I can gather which is another issue entirely. There are students there though doing very well so each to his (or her) own.

Hey Coldbeer - Wow thats funny you moved from the same place. If you don't mind me asking how does it compare to the Hills? We are used to a bit of hustle and bustle and with the kids its fun going to busy parks and socialising with other folk. Problem with the hills is not many people go to the park. Thats the only worry we have about Helensvale - that people maybe keep to themselves a lot. We'd definitely be going for somewhere nearer the shops for that reason and the houses there seem to be cheaper as they are nearer the motorway

Yes I think prices will come down a bit more. Although the estate agent we met there last week seemed to think otherwise ;-)

Can appreciate both modes of transport are a pain - and the train is dear. Do you always get a seat if you get on at Helensvale?

Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks!

I hear Nerang is a bit rough so check that out.

And that story is unreal. You should have ran over the little sh1t and pretended you didn't see her. Once she started breathing in fumes I'm sure she would have got out of the way

We don't have kids so not sure about the parks but there seem plenty around.

I found the Hill Dist a bit soul-less and very sprawling, you could be miles from the nearest shop or restaurant, Helensvales not so big but I think everywhere with large houses has an element of people driving into the garage and closing the door, one of the neighbours had a street party for Christmas lighting the lights which was good.

Your realo is dreaming, prices are falling like a stone, we are looking to buy, deposit and finance in place etc but are coming to the conclusion that further largeish falls are ahead. Two real examples, both nice large modern waterfront homes we considered.

1) Was bought for $975k in June 11 (6 months ago), owner had to sell for some reason, went on at 975, no interest, then offers over 900, no interest finally sold for $840k, the guy lost $135k in 6 months

2) Was bought for $1.1M 2 years ago, after not selling with no indicated price for 5 months, just went to auction and was passed in at $810, realo called us after the auction "he'll take $850k", don't think he got it.

There are literally hundreds of houses like this on the market in the area and very few buyers. More coming on the market every week and price drops of $100k+ are common. We've been to about 30 open homes and we're usually the only ones who turn up. Everyone is "desparate to sell" or "sacrificing" their property. Just do a search on realestate.com.au and see what I mean, I hear similar things are happening on the Sunshine Coast and starting to happen in Brisbane (and probably coming to other large cities too).

The commute is a pain, but better than the Hills to Syd CBD IMHO, you won't always get a seat from Helensvale on the train and it is slow, and gets packed from there, but good free parking at the station, for us to drive to the train, do the journey and walk to office in Bris was about 90 mins, and just too much, we leave early in the car (about 6:45AM) and usually get into the CBD in around an hour, but it can be much worse and the driving is very bad - like a racetrack.

The weekends are great though especially with the boat and I wouldn't swap it for Sydney even on more money.

Hey Coldbeer

Yes agree completely with what you say about the Hills. The actual area I find really nice, just remote. The people are a different breed though. You're right though - everywhere with large houses is probably like that. We lived in Cremorne and loved it so much but everyone has tiny houses there and the park is they're back garden

Thanks for the examples! We will be ready to buy at end of the year so it sounds like that may be a good time to buy. Christmas is always a good time to buy. Awesome getting your take on it as you're actually there

Bummer about the train. I'll get the 0704 which I'd hope would be quieter. We want to live low down on Discovery drive and so be able to walk to the station. There's 2 of us so that way we can come back separately.

Boat sounds great. Good on you! How much is one of those bad boys?

I'm in IT - testing. Apparently according to agents I'll be on 5% less in brisbane. With property half price it seems like a no brainer

Just briefly the 7:04 is one of the trains I got, very busy (they don't call the line the Bombay Express for nothing). Getting 2 seats together on the train can be tricky, when we travelled together we couldn't always do it, and worse coming back as you'll be going from Central or Roma St probably, as does everyone else. Consider driving...

As to boats, its a great area to own one, you can spend anything from a few grand for a tinny to hundreds, or millions for bigger ones, we got an 18 foot bowrider with a 220hp motor - its a flier, cost about the same as a new family car.

Bloody hell people in Brisbane wake up early. Hopefully the 6:49 might be better. And sitting apart wouldn't be toooo bad

To be honest we wouldn't fancy driving - more tiring innit? ;-) Then there is parking etc to consider. At least on the train we could watch something on the laptop/read and get some rest before getting home to the brats.

Boating sounds nice but don't think we're that flush just yet. Kids nappies are dear

Thats the thing, its light here early and people get up early, the freeway is rammed at 6:00AM (earliest we tried it) and I expect the trains to be similar.

Your call on the train but we found it just makes the journey too long and haven't taken it in months.

Good Luck, but please be aware - you will grow to hate the commute however you choose to do it.

Hey man I really appreciate you letting us know this. Better we get an idea now than after its too late. Right now we are 40 mins on bus and its not too bad. Just hope the 1 hour on train isn't much worse. You said its better now than when you were in the hills. But I suppose it depends which side of the hills. We're not far from the motorway. And hopefully the short walk to the station makes it easier than driving, parking and then getting the train. Or maybe I am clutching at straws

I wished I had of!!!!

As for Nerang, we have family and friends dotted around this area; like with anywhere it has it's good and bad, so we have done a bit of research, so all 'should' be good at the areas we are looking

Any reason you're decided on the Gold Coast?

I appreciate it's lovely down there (in parts) but if you have kids you may limit your time with them.

7am train (so leave home at 6.45am) leave Brisbane 5.05pm, home by 6pm ish - not much time to see the kids and they potentially may need after school care (age dependant).

The commute is the only reason I don't live on the coast. Instead I live in Brisbane and go to the coast just about every weekend (Gold or Sunshine Coast). Best of both worlds - with my job I'd not have much time in the evening to go to the beach anyway, so weekends are fine for me.

House prices are potentially a bit higher but not outrageously so if you live a bit further out (20 - 25min train commute).

Just a thought!

The above is a good point, we have no kids and are lucky to be able to work 8:00-4:00 but its still a tiring week. We're in bed by 9:00PM, up at 5:30AM and mornings are a military operation to get out of the house.

I personally really like the GC but its a tough call, and I have friends in the area too. I'd really like to be somewhere like the Isle of Capri but the extra few km's rules it out.

itxrd - pick your location carefully if you plan to walk to the station, not much residential less than 15 mins walk, you're limited to the very top of Disco Drive (which is itself about 3 km long).