Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

So... long story short - have lived in Oz briefly before - was torn between staying and going BUT two things sent me scuttling home - pregnancy and very ill dad. We lived in Sydney last time.

Fast forward 6 years. Hubby still desperate to return. My dad is gone. Very few other family members left and not that close. We have two children, 2 and 5.

He was offered a job in Sydney last year. In spite of the large salary and relocation package – I felt it really wasn’t worth it due to Sydney prices – if we couldn’t match what we have here – then why would we move? I did my homework and financially, we would have not been better off. Because I feel we live in such a lovely place now, I didn’t feel that it would improve my childrens life either.

Now he’s been offered a very good job in Brisbane. I am more open to this new opportunity, because I think that overall, we could have a better lifestyle even taking into account higher costs for everyday items. Whilst I wouldn’t work immediately as I anticipate childcare issues with my youngest, I doubt I would have trouble finding work (am in IT)

So I am looking for ideas for somewhere to move initially (if we decide we will go for it)

His job would be quite central – looks like Milton nearest train station (I imagine the train being a better option than driving – correct me if I’m wrong) and the nearest main station Roma St – which I guess means we have a decent choice.

I am not one for living in the middle of knowhere (so hubbys idea of living in the blue mountains last year was not taken seriously by me)
If theres a pub/hotel within a short walk for hubby he is happy. I have to be near to some form of ‘urban’ life – a few restaurants in the area would keep me happy. Some shops a bonus! Realistically to improve our lives, we would not want big commutes. 30 minutes max by public transport. We need family friendly, safe, quiet. I am not so fussed about beaches as long as there are open spaces and places for my children to play. But also indoor play for those rainy cold days. We need good schools, state or private. We need childcare thats not booked up for the next decade lol!

Our house budget would probably be about £500k after we’d rented for a bit but could probably stretch to more.

Any ideas to throw at me?

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

So many options, grab an apartment at Kangaroo Point or Southbank for a couple of weeks, hire a car and go exploring. Do a search on here, there are heaps of threads on Brisbane suburbs. If I were you guys, husband working in Milton, two small kids, I'd be looking around the inner North & West, Kelvin Grove, Red Hill, Toowoong, Indooropilly, Ashgrove, Bardon - depends on your budget.

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

New Farm, Bulimba, Ashgrove, Paddington. 500k won't get you much in them though.

Move further out you'll get more house but you'll lose access to urban life. I live one suburb further out than Ashgrove and I've lost access to it :unsure:

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

As an example, for GPB£500 stirling (AUD$750k) you might be looking at something like this in well regarded Indooroopilly around 7km from the CBD:

http://www.realestate.com.au/propert...illy-110222617

It has a couple of pubs, a large shopping mall (340 retailers), restaurants, good schools, lovely green feel in the suburban parts, and 9 minutes on the train to Milton. Train is about 12 minutes to the CBD. It is also close to Mt Coot-tha/Mt Nebo and some lovely picnic areas and rural drives.

It is also close to Taringa (2 mins) and Toowong (5 mins) on the train as well as Rosalie (Milton stop) for more shopping and restaurants. Any of these places are worth looking in. As Kim said Ashgrove, Red Hill, Bardon and Paddington will all put you close by and near urban options but they have high demand so your budget would be in the lower end but still find you a nice smaller place.

A cheaper option might be around Nundah Village in the northside which is also on the train line to Milton (23 mins).

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

thank you for those suggestions. thats really helpful actually as it gives me a starting point. I actually meant about 500AUD - doh! (habit - I hit the £ key) but could stretch further. I like the sound of Indooroopilly too. Will have a wander using google maps :)

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

Doh!! I checked out the street today as I went to Indooroopilly shops...looked like a decent area.


Nundah, approx 8km north of Brisbane, is a more up and coming area and you will be more likely to find something in the AUD$500k range. I suspect it has its good side and bad side like many places. Not sure about schools, or know the area much really, but they did bypass the main road so now it has a little village style area with pubs, restaurants, shops etc and is on the train within 23min of Milton and less to the city.

It also has great access to the airport (7 mins), right near the new toll tunnel to the city (airport link) and is undergoing urban renewal with new apartment developments in the village: http://www.circanundah.com.au/index.htm


Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nundah,_Queensland


Example House $500k:

http://www.realestate.com.au/propert...ndah-109508656


Location:

http://www.circanundah.com.au/images...al-view-01.jpg


Royal English Pub (another pub is the Prince of Wales):

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_S8JRp0ohGk...glishHotel.JPG


Catholic Church:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2476/3...83ac256c_z.jpg
Corpus Christi Catholic Church: Nundah, Brisbane by Craig Jewell Photography, on Flickr


Nundah Historical Cemetery:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4021/4...fd45b8c3_b.jpg


Nearby Parks:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3349/4...153619de_b.jpg

http://www.harrypearsonplaygrounds.c...200447%202.JPG


Access to Boondall Wetlands Bike Track (to bayside):

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/...e/P1016176.jpg

http://i1040.photobucket.com/albums/.../boondall5.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3229/5...e65dfe92_z.jpg


Nundah Village Festival:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6089/6...887ceb31_z.jpg
Day 11: Something fun by Sockneed Lady, on Flickr


Future Potential:

http://www.circanundah.com.au/news/d...M_20110514.pdf
http://www.smartcompany.com.au/prope...-just-845.html
http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/ne...e-2237546.html
http://www.circanundah.com.au/docume...h-brochure.pdf (pdf)


Google Street View(s):

Parks

Nundah Village

State School



This is just a suggested place to check out. There will be other places worth checking as well that others may know within the $500k budget with restaurants/pubs, good schools and short commute to Milton.

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

fish you are a star! thank you so much for all that input. thats definately somewhere that looks promising. The house you linked to is lovely, and gives me hope (every time I looked at houses that we could (not really) afford in Sydney area my heart sank a bit - and I really would love a house, not a unit) I'll go and check out the schools now...

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

Yes, Nundah definitely ticks most of your boxes - lots of good restaurants, a good supermarket, pubs (not that I think either of them are particularly good), good rail service to the city and Milton although not all trains stop at Nundah, Toombul shopping centre just down the road.

I can particularly recommend the Jam cafe for a weekend breakfast and Siam Sensations for one of the best Thai meals in town.

Re: Young Family - help with Brisbane suburbs please
 

It might not give specific advice about family suburbs but you'll find some interesting insights on Brisbane from this website:
http://www.brisbanism.com/
All the best with your plans.