Hey all,
Originally from the UK. Have been living in NZ for over 9 years and have NZ Citizenship.
We love it in NZ, BUT it is massively expensive and we have a couple concerns for the kids as they get older - (1) money worries and if they'll be able to afford their own home, and (2) likely to get bored as there isn't much to do here in NZ other than utilize the great outdoors.
Our other driver is we want to be mortgage free at a time when we are both still healthy, working and able to earn so we are looking to migrate over to Brisbane in the next 6months - 2 years. All depends on how our research goes, jobs etc. I'm an electrical engineer and specialize in real time management of the national grid so looking at AEMO, Powergrid jobs etc and the wife is a practice nurse. We have two boys 10 and 5 yrs.

Please give me the low down of Brisbane. At a guess I'd assume I'll be working in the CBD. The Mrs can work at a local GP surgery near wherever we live.
All the advantages and disadvantages of Brisbane ?
Where are the good suburbs to live ?
Where are the suburbs not to live and why ?

Cheers

Would not similar concerns follow you to Australia though? Very expensive housing. Every possibility that the kids may leave for the brighter lights and career opportunities of Sydney or Melbourne or London or elsewhere.

Suncorp Stadium. Best rectangular stadium in Australia. That's it I am afraid.

From our research of equivalent to what we have in NZ properties for sale all over Brizzy, they are so so much cheaper - by approx 40-50%. I understand that many people consider Aus properties to be expensive, but in relation to NZ and what we are used to, we just aren't seeing them anywhere near comparable. Property prices here in Tauranga surpass Auckland consistently. They are completely ridiculous and in our opinion from the research we have done on Brizzy, the property prices seem so much more in line with what NZ prices should be and so much more affordable. Aus has even got cheaper mortgage rates (only slightly), but cheaper all the same. For that matter alone, so long as we don't go stupid and buy a huge mansion for over AU$1M we'll be laughing and either be mortgage free or very low mortgage, meaning we'll be cashed up to do as we please, give the kids some never to be forgotten experiences, do a bit of travelling maybe (assuming all settles post Covid vaccines across the world), get chance to visit back to the UK, maybe do a bit of a trip around Europe again.
Yes, every possibility the kids will leave for the bright city lights of elsewhere when they grow up no matter where we are living, but Brizzy and Australia has so much more going on than here, there is less likelihood of them disappearing as soon as they are old enough to, and being completely honest I'm excited to have the option of living in another country, close to theme parks, water parks etc and looking forward to experiencing all that with the rest of the family.
So in answer to your question, No. I don't think our NZ concerns would follow us to Aus.

I know nothing about Tauranga house prices, apart from NZ being way over inflated in the first place. Something the present government is attempting to rectify. I'd check very well on exactly where these 'good deals' are in Brisbane, if I were you. There are localities with substantial social and meth drug problems . Often cheaper places are cheap for a reason. But I'm not living there, but know someone that moved out of Logan due to ongoing and intensive drug issues around them. We live in Perth and know many families were kids moved East ot overseas for employment opportunities. But if your mind is set on reestablishing in Brisvagas best of luck.

You often refer to "Brisbane house prices". Brisbane is huge and the prices vary a lot across its many suburbs. Which suburbs are you seeing these properties in? If we know that we might be able to advise on the desirability of the suburb, and its effect on prices.

We're pretty much looking North, North West & North East of Brisbane CBD. The Mrs has earmarked 24 suburbs and she's now going through the crime stats to see if we can whittle that down any and then she's gonna be looking at schools.
Here's a list of a few with properties for sale - Albany Creek, Eatons Hill, Cashmere, Warner, Bridgeman Downs, Carseldine, Aspley, Ferny Grove, Mango Hill, North Lakes plus several more Trying to keep within 45 mins drive of Brisbane CBD with an office on the North side of the river. Also trying to be no more than 30 mins from a beach.

You may find something within your price bracket in Mango Hill/North Lakes/Warner if you get in quick. Prices are sky rocketing here, I've not seen anything like it.

We moved over from NZ well over a decade ago and got a comparable property for circa $400k less than we sold the NZ place for but those days are long gone. I'd say the desirable parts of SE Queensland are more expensive than the good parts of NZ BUT there are far more people here to outbid each other on auction day. Everyone wants to live within commuting distance of the city and near a beach, just like you do and why not, its a fantastic place with a lifestyle that's second to none. Best place in the world IMHO.

But I'm wondering why you left out good schools from your wish list? If you have children this should be a major deciding factor for you. Most of the good schools here are fee paying and going to the right ones can definitely influence decisions when it comes to offers of places at residential college at certain universities. If your kids aren't academically inclined there are some excellent schools that offer trades/apprenticeship pathways.

Academic or otherwise, education counts for a lot here, as does living in the 'right place' and working for prestige employers. When hiring managers look at your resume they'll be looking to buy-in a chunk of your former employer's kudos - hoping you'll be bringing it with you. There are some scarily overqualified people in the job market in QLD right now so the hiring managers are taking the cream of them. I'm never seen such a concentration of over achievers outside of a SE Asian country. Its like someone uncorked the brain and talent drains and directed them towards SE Queensland all the way down to Byron Bay . Ever since the Brisbane Olympics was announced the whole bluddy world wants to live here and there are some very bitter people who constantly carp-on about the place because they can't.

Anyway, if you're really keen on the more affordable areas of North Side definitely take a look at Capestone Village (Mango Hill) I think it will tick all your boxes and even has a nice new train station so there's no need to drive into the CBD. If you're lucky someone may give you some tips about good schools too

"Most of the good schools are fee paying"--well maybe, but that is true of most of Australia.

To offer a (gently) different perspective from Brisbannite's: if providing educational opportunities for your kids is important, but also budget-constrained, there are some excellent state school options as well. But in our family's experience, most of those are "south of the river", i.e. in Brisbane's southern suburbs, rather than the northern 'new-suburb' ones Brisbannite has mentioned.

The problem with gaining access to Brisbane's 'good' state schools is that, in general, your family has to live within a defined "catchment area" for the school. And that can be expensive, in terms of extra house purchase costs, or extra rent--but generally not *as* expensive as private school tuition, especially if your family has multiple school-age children.

Meanwhile, the state system can be quite good, even in affordable areas. For example, at a primary-school level, there's this one ( https://www.myschool.edu.au/school/46548/naplan/results ) Look carefully at the catchment area, and there are some quite reasonable properties available within it, whether for sale or rent.

And at the apex of the state system, there's Brisbane State High School--also on the south side of the river. Top educational results, top reputation in terms of progression to G8 universities afterwards. Accessible variously through a catchment area, an intake exam, or applications to be considered on athletic or artistic merit.

We moved to Cashmere when we first arrived in Brisbane in 2001, got a 2.5 acre plot of land for 140k, the good old days
Albany Creek, Eatons Hill, Warner etc are OK, just dormitory suburbs just used for sleeping.
Mango Hill, North Lakes, lego land personally I can't stand it, and 45mins from the CBD maybe be possible at 3am but not in rush hour, not sure how long the train takes.

Most properties don't seem to be listing a price now, but an average house in an average area is getting close to a million

There's a good breakdown of the prices and %age increases here: https://e.infogram.com/499bc838-64bf...ed#async_embed A lot of places have experienced around 25 -30% increase for the year to September 2021. But there's still a lot of affordability in some areas.

@ Brisbannite.
Yeah so as you'd expect we have similar requirements to a lot of folks heading to Brisbane.
We'd like to be up to 45 mins away from Brisbane CBD, within 20 mins of a decent beach and close to a decent golf course. We'd like to go back to more suburban living as we've had 5 years of living rural here in NZ and to tell you the truth I'd rather not spend every spare minute I have tending to the section. We don't want a postage stamp by any stretch but an acre will be too much and say 800SQM probably not enough. It just needs to be manageable.

What is your opinion of Bribie Island as there's a few properties cropping up that the Mrs seems keen on and she's telling me good schools, shopping, beaches, golf course.
What would it be like to live there - one road in and out. Is there anything about Bribie that isn't good.
Cheers

If you're from Tauranga I think you'll appreciate the lifestyle on Bribie. Shops aren't too bad but most of them are on or around Bribie Island Road rather than the island itself. You'd have to go into Morayfied, North Lakes and Chermside for some items. There are some nice marina-type/waterside developments that are worth taking a look at. Golden rule of thumb in QLD is never be more than 20 mins from a beach, petrol station, Dan Murphy's or Bunnings. The island is a good 20 mins drive to Caboolture along a fast stretch of road to the nearest station, then 50-60 min train journey into Brisbane.

Average size for a manageable block of land without being on top of the neighbours would be 2000-3000sqm which is easy to keep on top of with a ride-on mower as grass grows pretty much all year round, but you wouldn't want to spend more than 30 mins cutting it in the height of summer. Plenty of people around to do it for you and strim the edges if you need it done though. A large shed is considered to be essential. Pool too. Large covered outdoor entertainment area with a fan is a must, be prepared for it to be too hot & sticky to sit outside comfortably at night sometimes.

Some nice fruit and farm shops around. Pick strawberries if you want. Buy fresh local fish, seafood, pineapples and mangoes.

Sandstone Point is good for a slap up meal. Can get a bit noisy if there's a concert or large event on though. Reserve a table.

Biggest downside to the island is the bridge - one RTA is all that takes to block it and you'll need a boat to get off. A second crossing is needed but will never happen.

Occasional storm, flooding and bushfire type events - fairly normal stuff for QLD/Australia though. Be prepared.

Can get very congested at peak times. Caboolture hospital is the nearest and not the best. Redcliffe is better. North Lakes has some good medical facilities. If you have pets find a good vet and an out of hours animal hospital (ticks, toads); boarding kennels etc.

I wouldn't live on the island itself but somewhere between it and Caboolture, for example Sandstone Lakes; possibly Ningi. Look at Ningi, Sandstone Point, Beechmere etc for lifestyle blocks but watch the flooding and bushfire risks. If you really want the island life and a golf course it has to be Banskia Beach / Pacific Harbour. Fantastic views at sunset towards the glass house mountains over the water. Sublime.

If you want to be closer to the CBD but still have a 'beach' look at Redcliffe and surrounds (good but not great sandy beaches, not so great at high tide).

BTW have you looked at Mount Coolum on the Sunny Coast? Some high end properties there close to the beach, and there are some very nice but older properties in Twin Waters too, which has a great golf course. The Sunshine Coast is really taking off, some large employers and plenty of health sector jobs. Better than Bribie IMO and with more going on for families. Search for Boardwalk estate or Waterline Close in Mount Coolum on Realestate.com.au to get a feel for what's available (this area also has a great fish and chip shop).

You're not going to get to the CBD in 45 mins, I just checked on google maps and it can be up to 2 hours in peak hour traffic. The gateway motorway is often a car park if you have to travel in peak times.

Yes, that would quickly get old, my preference would be to drive to the station and then train it the rest of the way. May be possible to drive the whole distance if doing shift work and traveling outside of rush-hours but I wouldn't want to do it during crappy weather or at night.