Choosing where to live is an important decision that you want to get right. Sarah Tester from ‘A Piece of Perth’ shares some advice to help you select the best suburb to suit you.
With so many suburbs in Perth it can be a hard task to find the best suburb that caters for your needs as an individual or as a family. Getting it right from the start is essential for a stress free move. There are many important points to factor in when deciding on a suburb, such as proximity to work, local amenities, distance to the beach and leisure facilities. Transport links are also something you will need to take into consideration especially if you are working in the city and planning on getting the train. The train line runs through the centre of the freeway so only suburbs that neighbour the freeway will have train stations.
Before starting your research it’s a good idea to make a list of all the important factors you require in a suburb, such as schools, job opportunities and budget, then tackle each one as you go. Try not to set your sights too high. Many migrants come over with the dream of having a house by the sea with a pool in a suburb where they can walk their kids to school, all for AUD$500 (£278) rent per week – it’s not going to happen! Prioritise your needs and work from there.
Rental accommodation
Finding a rental property in Perth can be challenging, especially if the property is in a popular suburb. It’s common practice in Australia for agents to hold block viewings so you can be up against 10-20 other people in a bid to secure the rental. Make sure you’re one step ahead and have your application pack ready. Character references and previous landlord references, bank statements and any criminal check certificates will all give the landlord or agent confidence in you as a tenant. If you love the property then make sure you fill out the application there and then if possible. You don’t always have to go through an agent to find a rental. Search sites such as Gumtree for private landlords or check local publications such as the Quokka. Local shopping centres have notice boards where you can find properties advertised.
Buying a property
To buy an established property or to build? This is what you will be asking yourself when it’s time to take the next step in becoming a Perth home owner. The convenience of buying a property and being able to move straight in is very appealing, but more migrants are coming to Perth and building their very own dream home.
Building is now even more affordable as the government has increased the first homebuyers grant to A$10,000 (£5,562) for new builds. Many new homebuilders are offering great new build packages for affordable prices. A couple of areas north of the river where you will find many new homes and estates being built are Yanchep and Alikimos, where house and land packages can start from just A$450,000 (£250,335). To get an idea of what is on the market today, visit www.realestate.com.au and www.reiwa.com.au.
Choosing a suburb
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a suburb…
I want a family friendly suburb – There are many family friendly suburbs in Perth both north and south of the river. Many have lush green parks with a choice of playgrounds and open spaces to walk your dogs. Many also have good access to either the beach, Swan Valley and Swan River. A few of these suburbs include Alkimos, Kinross, Woodvale, Carine, Aveley, Canning Vale, Applecross, Secret Harbour, Baldivis and Mandurah.
I want to be close to the CBD – If you have employment sorted in the city or just love to have the city within arm’s reach then there are many suburbs to choose from. Suburbs like North Perth, Subiaco, Mount Lawley, and East Perth are a great starting point. However you will pay a premium for properties in these suburbs. If you wanted to bring the budget down then suburbs just outside the city, such as Maylands, Bayswater and Belmont are just a few of them. If you don’t want to be in the city but still want ample entertainment, restaurants and cafés close by then Joondalup, Fremantle and Mandurah are good options.
I want to live by the coast – There are many suburbs that line the gorgeous WA coastline and all vary in affordability. The more affluent coastal suburbs include Cottesloe, Trigg, City Beach, North Coogee and North Fremantle. Some of the more affordable northern coastal suburbs include Quinns Rocks, Alikmos and Mindarie. Coastal suburbs in the south are a lot more affordable. Secret Harbour, Safety Bay, Madora Bay, Rockingham and Waikiki are just a few of them, where properties can fetch A$450,000 (£250,377)
Sarah Tester is director of A Piece of Perth. A Piece of Perth can help with your move to Perth. Become a member for free and get email support for all those relocation questions plus two suburb profiles to get your research started and a quarterly newsletter. Like A Piece of Perth on Facebook and keep up-to-date with the latest news about its associated businesses and events. Web: www.apieceofperth.com
