Places to live in Sydney

[poolkeeper]

Maroubra..

[5tumpy]

Originally Posted by HLC

an hour from camden commuting? and the rest lol. it takes an hour for me to drive from parramatta to camden (got a mate that lives there) so factor in trains, to the city!

I live in Harrington Park (Camden area) and it takes me an hour on the train, and 20 mins maximum in the car. That's to Circular Quay. Comparing it to Parramatta is ridiculous mate, for a start, Parramatta is virtually the opposite direction to Sydney. Then there's the fact that unless you use the M7, it's suburban roads, whereas the drive to the city is 80 km/h at least all the way.


In peak hour, you wouldn't be driving into the city, but out of peak hour a good run is about 45mins, and a bad run would be an hour...

As for living in Parramatta, it's overpriced, overrun by people who don't even have a basic command of English, and it's a dump. I worked there for 2 years and will never work there again...

[lotto]

Originally Posted by eldreamin

lotto that is just absolutely cruel and nasty. you shouldnt say things like that as he may consider it.

As for rude people on the coast, I no that there are some but compared to sydney there are much fewer.

I still think that russel lea/drummoyne/abbotsford/chiswick is probably the best way to go. As for the wealth areas, most of the wealth is moving away from those areas and out into the hills district, unfortunately the services out in the hills district suck. It is a safe liberal seat and the state govt is labour so that wont be changing anytime soon either. Oh well the best option has got to be to come up for a week or 2 on holidays and have a look around for yourself.

what do you mean,mate??

i lived in maquarie fields for most of my life,i have moved to gosford ,mainly for work reasons,but i love it,especially the surf- love avoca,and my best mate lives in the block! real people ,who would give you the shirt off there back!!

do you have a with my areas,ELDREAMIN??

[GK351]

Out of the three places you mentioned 2 of them have been
news headlines for "Riots, Vandalism, Cop abuse" and what not, i dont know about
anyone else here but id try steer clear of that sort of stuff.

Who would give their shirt off their back around the block (redfern)? If anything
people would steal the shirt of YOUR back in redfern.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by sprjenkins

Hey guys and girls,
I've lived in Melbourne all my life but it looks like i'm probably moving to Sydney at the end of the year. The problem is not being a sydneysider, I don't know where to start looking for a house/apartment.

I mean I can just look at real estate site's and find places in my price range but I still wouldn't know if its in a nice suburb/area etc. I'm looking at spending between $300-500 thousand, depending on location/price.

I wouldn't mind living reasonably close to the beach, but this isn't the primary consideration and its just my girlfriend and I so the place doesn't have to be huge, however if we could get a house in a nice suburb (doesn't have to be at the beach) for this price that would be great to.

Oh and I'll be working in the CBD, so I can't be to far away. So yeah any ideas on what suburbs to start looking?

Thanks for your help in advance, Joel

come to the VAULCLUSE of the west . glenmore park . its new . and house prices start at around 340k . at 500k you will get a nice 4 bedder less than 5 years old , with a good block . we have everything here . just 1 hour from everywhere . house prices start at 340k . 700 will buy you a rich mans mansion . and 1 mill and up acreages . 500k at parramatta will buy a 30 year old brick house . in fair condition as a comparrison . and 10 minutes from sydney it will buy a 3bedroom modern unit . or renovation knockdown job.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Look you don't want to be out of the CBD too far, and a lot of people who are posting are just championing their own areas.

Not to sound like a snob but the wealth areas of Sydney are the North Shore, Eastern Suburbs and the Inner West.

All are well serviced by either Buses or trains, low crime, good shops, sporting facilities etc.

If I had to narrow down suburbs:

For the north shore - a unit in cremorne or mosman, about a 20 minute bus ride to the city 30 minutes to the northern beaches, or Woolstonecraft/Waverton - 10 minute train ride to the city, 35 minutes to the northern beaches.

For eastern suburbs - Rose Bay, Double Bay - about a 20 minute bus ride to the city, 15 minutes to the eastern suburbs beaches

For inner west: Drummoyne/Russell Lea/Balmain/Leichhart, about a 20 minute bus ride to the city - probably 45 minutes to the beaches

Or if you want to almost live in the city: Pyrmont - opposite side of Darling Harbour - 8 minute walk to the city, although this suburb is a little rougher than those listed above. And if you do go Pyrmont - stay the hell away from the Goldsborough appartments.

ok i'm not putting your area down, cause it is well renowned ,but for 500k he just cannot buy there . . and besides people do want to be away from the city . some in your area dont go to sydney at all . just like therest of us . 1 or twice a year. a friend of mine once said , when he was asked where he lives , he said . in y house . which is where everyone spends most of their time.

[The G6ET Spot]

Originally Posted by xcgxl

It's 40km for the city/beach Legoland

More like 60k's to the city.

[XR6TCraig]

I grew up in Melbourne like yourself and lived in Sydney for 4 years between 2001-2005. The commute in Sydney is a **** fight.

I feel that if you are going to commute to the city to work, then I would live in Hornsby, Epping or Stratfield. These areas are well serviced by public transport and are among the better suburbs without getting into the top end stuff like Manly, Bondi or the Inner Nth Shore which you won't be able to afford.

The Newcastle train stops at only a few stations, among which are Hornsby, Epping and Stratfield. If you could get it instead of a normal suburban train into town, this is a much quicker and more comfortable trip.

For example, Epping. If you get a train stopping at all stations to Central, it is a 40 minute train ride. If you can get the Newcastle train as it goes through Epping, it is a 20 minute trip. Hornsby, the same thing just add 10 minutes to the express trip or 20 for all stations.

The beauty about Hornsby though is you feel like you are in a big country town. And you are 10 minutes from the Old Pacific Hwy which is great fun in a car ( except if you suffer from car sickness)!

I suppose what I am alluding to is to do your research before you buy anything. Close to the city doesn't neccesarily mean a quicker ride to work everyday. A bus from Balmain in peak hour would be slower than the Newcastle express train from Epping. The less time on the bus or train the better your quality of life.

My 0.02c

[lotto]

Originally Posted by GK5766

Out of the three places you mentioned 2 of them have been
news headlines for "Riots, Vandalism, Cop abuse" and what not, i dont know about
anyone else here but id try steer clear of that sort of stuff.

Who would give their shirt off their back around the block (redfern)? If anything
people would steal the shirt of YOUR back in redfern.

yes,i agree i was just having a lend,a bit of fishing-i havent really lived in those areas-but i have driven through them very quickly mind you!!

[GXL078]

I grew up in suburb called Botany. My dad still lives there. His street is full of townhouses now and they are always for sale. Its 8km from the city, serviced by bus and literally 10 minutes from the domestic airport,(but not under the flight path) so you don't notice the planes that much. Maroubra surfing beach is 15 minutes east and Botany Bay is a short walk. Eastgardens shopping centre has it all and its quite close, as is UNSW. Botany has gone up in price ,its become the home to many a cashed up AFL /NRL player. My dad lives next door to some guy named Orford and Paul Kelly (the ex-Swans captain Paul Kelly) lives around the block, or used to.

[lotto]

Originally Posted by lotto

mate your love sydney!!you wont miss melbournes flat landscape and cold winters,and yuppie communties and daggy art vogue try hards!and no nice beaches!

move here get yourself a boat or learn to surf?we have the best harbour in the world,great beaches,great weather ,

my suggestions would be Maquarie Fields,good value housing ,train close by,close knit community,
large shopping centre not too far away in campbelltown!!

secondly-REDFERN-the block -it has a lot of different size flats etc-close to the city-bohemian restaurants-multi cultural-art galleries!!

Gosford-its nicknamed Blacktown by the coast ,as its like BLacktown but by the sea-train straight to the city-nice mall-(only thing parking in the city -can be hard to get apark in gosford!!


Anyway-hope that helps-and dont believe what you hear we love MELBOURNITES!!

cheers

still trying to help


i thought of another one,

CABRAMATTA-multicultural restaraunts-nighlife-easy access to everything and anything-

i was going to suggest KINGS CROSS-but that has really gone down lately-with a lot of new businesses setting up there,i would probaly avoid it!!

good luck

[sprjenkins]

Thanks for the help guys, i'll have a look around I think, I'm going to try to get up there to have a look around. If someone has a spare couch for a weekend later this year that would be fantastic.

[XR6TickfordBoy]

Originally Posted by lotto

mate your love sydney!!you wont miss melbournes flat landscape and cold winters,and yuppie communties and daggy art vogue try hards!and no nice beaches!

move here get yourself a boat or learn to surf?we have the best harbour in the world,great beaches,great weather ,

my suggestions would be Maquarie Fields,good value housing ,train close by,close knit community,
large shopping centre not too far away in campbelltown!!

secondly-REDFERN-the block -it has a lot of different size flats etc-close to the city-bohemian restaurants-multi cultural-art galleries!!

Gosford-its nicknamed Blacktown by the coast ,as its like BLacktown but by the sea-train straight to the city-nice mall-(only thing parking in the city -can be hard to get apark in gosford!!


Anyway-hope that helps-and dont believe what you hear we love MELBOURNITES!!

cheers

Well the thing with Melobourne is that we can live 80-100klmhr away and still get into the CBD within 40mins! As A Melbournite I'vr heard "live in Refdern" living in Melbourne from the reputation, you wouldn't go near the joint! My personal opinion, dont go near melbourne or Sydney, live in Brisbane far better than both!

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

some in your area dont go to sydney at all.

Sorry I'm confused. The areas mentioned are all well within a 10km radius of the CBD and I'd say that easily the majority of the people living in those suburbs commute to the city.

As for $500k - true you would struggle to get a house for that in those areas, but you would be able to get a nice big unit or townhouse.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

Sorry I'm confused. The areas mentioned are all well within a 10km radius of the CBD and I'd say that easily the majority of the people living in those suburbs commute to the city.

As for $500k - true you would struggle to get a house for that in those areas, but you would be able to get a nice big unit or townhouse.

well you may be right . but not every one works in the city . i travel from glenmore park to botany everyday . i go to the city once a year . and have lived in sydneys west all my life . i worked at white bay for 12 years . with a veiw of the cbd . and never went there from work . often went to balmain though . it's kinda like we're all from sydney . even if we live 60kms from cbd . unless you work there you dont really need to go there. lots of people have a pool in the west , but never swim in it , lots of people live 5 minutes from the beach but only go a couple of times a year , lots of them put in pools . there is work all around sydney , from the cbd to 10 minutes out . to 2 hours away . thats all i'm getting at .

i didn't quite understand your statement of " you wont want to bear far from the city . heck theres a city every 10 minutes away.

[GXL078]

Glenmore park to Botany, that's a hike and a half! My dad lives in Botany and doesn't work.

[Unco]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Whilst some parts of the Shire (South of Sydney) will be out of your Price Range, others will be in the sweet spot (450,000-500,000) of your budget.

The Commute is about 40 Mins both ways, however there are Trains, which you won't get West, East or in the Northern Beaches. The Shire has a good community feel to it, however I have been called a Snob more than once because I call myself a Hobbit. The best thing about the Shire is the Royal National Park. If you like Driving, you will have driven this road at least once.

Look in Engadine, Loftus, Bangor and Miranda/Gymea, however these are getting to the pricey end of your budget.

Good Luck with the move, and remember to keep us posted as to where you go.

Andrew.

i'll have to second that. i lived in sydney for 10 years and if i was to move back i would go to the shire, hands down.

the drive through Audley national park is quite beautiful and if you keep heading south through it you end up in Wollongong, take the freeway to get back up - a lot faster but no scenery.

lots of trees, water and a good community. buy something near a train station, they'll take you straight to the city, no need to change lines.

[Mark351]

Penrith! I grew up there.

[new2ford]

That price range is going to have you on the outskirts of Sydney unless you're looking at a flat. Did someone say Double Bay? That might buy you a garden shed there.

Hornsby area (north of at your price range) has some advantages
- at the apex of a transport triangle, you can get to city and Parramatta by car or train in similar times (about 40 minutes by car), also fast interurban trains (30-40 minutes to central), good ring roads/motorways to get across Sydney quickly
- high altitude, stunning scenery, stunning climate (no humidity) yet minutes to Hawkesbury if you like boating etc
- only part of Sydney without air pollution
Downsides
- lifeless, a true dormitory, you have to go elsewhere for entertainment, good food etc (unless you like Maccas, greasy takeaways, fatty meat, lots of salt and sugar)
- hopeless shops, likewise you have to go elsewhere (but good transport/roads helps here)
- terrible council, don't consider building here, buy an existing house with everything you need and don't change it

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by new2ford

That price range is going to have you on the outskirts of Sydney unless you're looking at a flat. Did someone say Double Bay? That might buy you a garden shed there.

It would buy you a pretty good unit there.

[Squalo]

I also think the Inner West is a great part of Sydney. I've lived in Rozelle, Balmain, Annandale, Drummoyne, Leichhardt and now Rodd Point. Lots of great weekend markets, good food and pubs, close to the CBD by car, bus and light rail (and ferry in some spots). Good cycling infrastructure too (cycleway to the CBD, and around the Bay Run).

The Inner West seems to have a better sense of community than other areas comparably close to the CBD. It's experiencing a baby boom at the moment too, so if you plan to have kids soon there will be plenty of kid-friendly stuff there.

Also, living close to the harbour means the average temperatures are more moderate, especially in summer when the breeze comes off the harbour.

The Northern beaches are pretty much the same travelling time as the Eastern subutbs beaches, and arguably better.

Downsides - traffic during peakhour commute (as with every other part of Sydney), aircraft noise (I don't mind it so much, you get used to it), and to get to the Blue Mountains, Royal NP and Kuringai Chase NP you need to negotiate an hour of traffic. Otherwise I can't find much to dislike.

I've also spent a few years in Picton (south of Camden) and highly recommend it as a nice rural-eque area if you're ok with a commute (the Picton-CBD trains are very reliable, far better than the Wollongong service).

[ford_baute]

I agree with the first few pple. North West area rouse hill , beaumont hills , bella vista all very close to the M7 M2 and M4 and the new west fields they are building is very very big also there is rouse hill regional park which is over 100 acres easy not sure how big it is at the moment but more land is getting added to it.
I live in the Hills area (kenthurst) and the traffic can be a pain but it all depends when you leave in the mornings and its the same every where in syd.
And if you want to go to the beach just just get on the F3 go to north avoca lovely beach and its easier to get there compared to sydney beaches , not to many people and best of all you dont have to pay for parking and walk miles to get there just to find out the beach is packed

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by Dave_au

It would buy you a pretty good unit there [Double Bay].

Generally 1 bedroom, no car space. If 2 bedrooms (still no car space) it would be high maintenance prewar block probably on New South Head Rd or similar. Rates and levies can be a killer - I saw one unit there (block had lift) with nearly $10 grand a year charges! It costs to live in Double Bay!

But - if you hear of a bargain there let me know! It IS the place to live when lotto comes in!

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by ford_baute

I agree with the first few pple. North West area rouse hill , beaumont hills , bella vista all very close to the M7 M2 and M4 and the new west fields they are building is very very big also there is rouse hill regional park which is over 100 acres easy not sure how big it is at the moment but more land is getting added to it.
I live in the Hills area (kenthurst) and the traffic can be a pain but it all depends when you leave in the mornings and its the same every where in syd.
And if you want to go to the beach just just get on the F3 go to north avoca lovely beach and its easier to get there compared to sydney beaches , not to many people and best of all you dont have to pay for parking and walk miles to get there just to find out the beach is packed

Golden rule of Sydney real estate - get a place near a train line even if you don't use it much now. This will be increasingly significant in years to come.

There will be a train line built to Rouse Hill.

[gtfpv]

good advice paople but 1/2 of this topic is once again complete BS. i wish some people wouldn,t bother posting just to write a story, or get the post count up . he said his price range was 350 to 500k . there is only one optionhere and it is 40 mins + from the cbd . on the extreme outskirts of sydney 500k is midrange in housing . 350 is starting price.

Check out Sutherland Shire. 10 mins to Cronulla, 30 mins to Illawarra beaches
House pricing from 400-600k, the train line isn't the best line in Syd but sufficient and regular, 25 mins from the CBD (no traffic) or about 40 to an hour or so in peak hour. Train is a 30 min trip.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Check out Sutherland Shire. 10 mins to Cronulla, 30 mins to Illawarra beaches
House pricing from 400-600k, the train line isn't the best line in Syd but sufficient and regular, 25 mins from the CBD (no traffic) or about 40 to an hour or so in peak hour. Train is a 30 min trip.

1hr and 6min from Cronulla to city according to the Ciy Rail trip planner

[ler]

I was curious is it hard to find a single bedroom to rent in sydney like if you want to live in a safer area but for a reasonable price? Like people having trouble with their mortgages that need to rent out a bedroom to help pay for the mortgage.

[pertuan]

Reasonable price is really up to definition. But no, its not that hard to get a single bedroom apartment in Sydney. There are heaps around. If you're talking about sharing a house, best check with areas around universities because from experience, thats where most of them are. Either that or around the beaches.

[pottsy44]

Originally Posted by new2ford

Golden rule of Sydney real estate - get a place near a train line even if you don't use it much now. This will be increasingly significant in years to come.

There will be a train line built to Rouse Hill.

yea ive seen some plans for this. the line will end on blacktowns side of rouse hill. also there will be a massive shopping centre in rouse hill to (baulko side), i heard it will be one of the biggest in the southern hemisphere

camden/picton is probably one of the best rural area with a close proximity to the city. like someone else said, the trains are pretty reliable on the lines out that way. and it only takes 30mins to get to the beach from campbelltown and about 20mins from picton, and there is no traffic to the beach for either. 100km/h roads all the way to wollongong.