Petals

We all have different ideas of what constitutes a nice place to live, so really its a good idea to wait until you get here and stay in temp accommodation as no budget to worry about and get the feel of the place before making a decision.

sr71

The nicest suburbs I would consider would be out of the following

Albert Park
Middle Park
Toorak
South Yarra
Armadale

There are a few of the top private schools around these areas too.

Brighton is too far out

Icecube

Brighton / Sandringham has the advantage of being on the bay

Icecube

Having done he commute from W/town it is a nightmare under or over the bridge at peak times.

OzTennis

Via Melbourne Road/WGB or not WGB yep, via Douglas Parade/Francis St/Footscray or Dynon Rds no.

No mention of Parkville or East Melbourne which I throw in and definitely 2 of the money no object suburbs. There are some magnificent period homes (think iron lacework etc) and lots of parkland and they are both next to the CBD if that's important. I'll also throw in Kew, Hawthorn and Kooyong. Bayside can't go past Brighton, Sandringham, Beaumaris but getting further away from CBD.

The top secondary school in the state, private or public (by results) is consistently MacRobertson GIRLS high school. It is a selective entry government school. Funny how they say public school in the UK and private school in Australia as well. MacRobs is a public i.e. govt school.

OzTennis

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/Fo...did=2010323766

Bet this is out of OP's range!

But you could get this one next door for less than half the price:

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/Fo...did=2010327549

RedDragon2008

What makes you assume this?

Plenty of executives looking in the $5m to $7m price range

Hebe

I know many executives but they are not looking in that price range - who are these people? Do they work for you?

OzTennis

That's not what the agents I know selling in this price bracket think.

RedDragon2008

Well its a reflection on the suburb is it not.

RedDragon2008

Depends who you mingle with I guess. Plenty of middle mngt executives networking with each other.

Many are self employed high net worths, looking for family properties and prepared to pay without compromising. The issue in the $3m to $5m range is there is alot of properties where you need too compromise.

RedDragon2008

Ok, going back to what the poster might want, look at www.realestate.com.au for rental and house purchase prices in the suburbs suggested to you. Usually next to the property is a map which you can then expand and see where it is in relation to the CBD, train station, beach, etc. The inner suburbs are better serviced with public transport and generally schools too. It appears to be a culture here in Melbourne where a lot try to get their kids into privates, especially after Yr 2 or 3 (age 8 onwards). There are scholarships at most privates for Yr 5, Yr 7 and Yr 10. Childcare is hard to get into but you can but try. Look into the City of Stonnington (South Yarra, Toorak, Armadale, etc) and the City of Boroondara websites(Camberwell, Balwyn, Deepdene, etc) for more info on their schools (covers all state, private, kinders, etc). Like an earlier poster has said, there's really no point in planning till you have yr visa in hand as this can take forever in a day.

spouse of scouse

My golden retriever is the CEO of our house and as nice as our home is, he's always looking for something better when we're strolling around the neighbourhood. He's REALLY fussy though, many's the time I think he's found the perfect place but the minute he lifts his hind leg I know it's a no sale. So I fully understand the concept of high net worth executives not being prepared to compromise.

OzTennis

No, I think it's more a reflection on the economic times. My family have personal experience of trying to sell in the 'executive price bracket' and they aren't shifting and don't draw the level of interest they did in more buoyant times. You can get a few thousand 'hits' a week on the internet for your property and then get a handful of parties turning up for each of many OFI's and they try and tell you the property is worth well under what you are asking which is well under what it would have been if you were selling a few years ago.

spouse of scouse

It doesn't matter if it's a shack or a mansion, a property is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.