Hello!!

Just looking for some advice and experience. We have been house hunting for some time, currently renting in Bondi, 2 bed late 70s unit. Like the position, but Mr Chillibird does not like living in a unit and does not really like Bondi (too busy with all the tourists in summer).

We've been looking in the Eastern suburbs (from Bondi down to Maroubra, incl Kingsford etc) for a 2/3 bed house/semi/unit with some outdoor area (which is obviously v v expensive to buy round here). I work in Kings Cross, he's working out near the airport.

We also have a baby on the way, due in under 3 months.

We've been getting some pressure from the inlaws to look at other areas (parents in law and sister in law live on the Central Coast, and the nephews do have a lovely lifestyle with lots of space and freedom), north shore, 5 dock etc but I am reluctant as most of my friends are over this way and I like living round here. I don't want to be isolated when I'm off on maternity leave with a new baby, neither do I want a long commute when I go back to work next year.

Will living in a unit with kids drive us nuts? What about a garden? Are these other "reasonable" suburbs the holy grail we have been searching for?

So many people we know do live quite comfortably with 1, 2 or more kids in a unit with no outdoor space.

Any advice greatly appreciated...

I think you have to base your requirements around you going back to work and your husbands work. You're looking at at least two years before you need to worry about outside space for your child, even more for 2 or 3 and it's easier to start with a duplex type thing and move up as and when you need - less stress on the pocket as well.

A unit with even one child would have done my head in, especially when you're thinking buggies and all the other crap you end up carrying around.

You shouldn't be isolated when you have the baby. You may not have family around but you should get a good network of other mums and bubs wherever you are.

If I were you, I'd be fighting tooth and nail to stay in the East. To my mind, living in a unit somewhere central is far preferable to any mcmansion out in the sticks.

If all your friends are here, your work is close by, you like the buzz of the area, then stay. You can be sure that once you've bought elsewhere, you're unlikely to ever be able to move back.

My kids were born and have lived their whole lives in the eastern suburbs. The facilities - playgroups, pre-schools, schools, beaches, activities etc for kids around here were fantastic. Even 20 years ago when my children were small there were loads of kids living in units around the place. Lots of my friends did. They seemed to cope and often went to a nearby park or the beach to run around and let off steam.

Without knowing your budget it's hard to suggest where you should look. But any unit with a small garden, courtyard or outdoor area would suffice. Near me in Clovelly there are quite a few small townhouse developments which all have courtyards on title. Cost more than apartments but are far cheaper than semis. And a surprising number of apartments also have outdoor areas or gardens. I'd avoid upper floor units for two reasons - nightmares about toddlers falling off balconies plus the buggy lugging problem.

I know it's hard around here - good luck

I agree that you don't want to be living way up the coast and commuting to Kings Cross and especially near the airport every day! Especially with a baby - you'll be sorting out daycare, I guess, and all the to-ing and fro-ing will add to an already long day for you all.

How about a ground floor unit with a courtyard? That's what we're looking for, as we have cats. There's a 2-bed 2-bath for sale on Old South Head Road at the moment.

Thanks Everyone for the replies!!

We have been looking for something like you've described. We can't afford a house really (unless we find a bargain semi in randwick/south coogee) but something of reasonable size.

Just wanted to check I'm not being unreasonably stubborn, as I think location is one of the most important things when it comes to what to buy...

I can't add anything constructive but have to say I love the title of the thread. I really wanted to say that you should contemplate buying with dollars instead of babies.
Phew got that one of my chest.


I'll get my coat.....................

Ah, so that's where we're going wrong...
Dollars you say?

Well the baby bonus is what 6k? you'd need quads, quins or better just for a decent deposit

Is that what that octomom was up to then? sneeky

just go we'll courier it over to you

Your all heart Sean

I have the perfect place for your situation and requirements, BUT, its an apartment. Please dont dismiss it though.
We lived there.
The views are stunning, the facilities great including pool, sauna tennis courts.
For the kids there is a large park area out front with swings, slides etc. Only residents are allowed to use all this so its never busy.

It is also perfect for both jobs being a few hundred metres from Southern Cross Drive which goes to airport one way and Kings Cross the other.

http://www.myhome.com.au/buy/nsw/syd...ment/p000x99h/