Please Help - First Time Home Buyers in Melbourne!

Ltp on 18/07/2016 - 22:28
Last edited 24/07/2016 - 18:21 by 2 other users

Hi All,

I need your suggestions and help in finding our first home in Melbourne. We are small family (my wife & kid under 2 years ) and I am working in city. We have recently moved here from Sydney.

Our budget is between 400-550K.

Could you please suggest few suburbs (or upcoming suburb) which are good, safe and have a good return on investment. I am happy to travel up to 50 mins through train and happy to put kids in Catholic school if a good public school is not available.

What are the suburbs we should avoid in regards to safety. I understand there is no guarantee about safety, but could you please provide names of few suburbs I must avoid, considering I have a young kid and I may be coming late from work sometime around 8-9pm.

Must have
Safe area
Near train station
Good Catholic school or primary public school

Good to have things
Bigger land
3 bed + 2 bath
Good rental prospective

Happy to do bit renovation!

Any help will be much appreciated!

Financial

Comments

  • cDNA on 18/07/2016 - 23:09

    Move to a different state or try a coastal city/town.

  • usmanyousaf on 19/07/2016 - 00:51
    -1

    There are few new developing suburbs where you can purchase a property within the budget.
    I think it is better if you look in Northern & North western suburbs. Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn, Greenvale are just some examples.

    • cr7 on 19/07/2016 - 05:28
      -1

      Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn are bad examples. Wollert/Epping is a good suburb for your criteria

      • ozshaz on 19/07/2016 - 07:22

        What is bad about Roxburgh Park and Craigieburn. Seems like a lot of development is happening there. Does Wollert has a train station?

      • usmanyousaf on 19/07/2016 - 19:58

        I won't say they are bad examples. Definitely, there are new suburbs being developed and WOllert, Epping, Tarneit are also some of them among Roxburgh Park, Craigieburn & Greenvale.
        All I want is to give an idea of the area where the fellow bargainer can bargain for house.

        • Banana on 19/07/2016 - 20:33

          Greenvale is okay. However not really accessible by PT and not many shops around there.

  • chumlee on 19/07/2016 - 06:53

    On that budget you should consider an apartment in the burbs otherwise keep saving.

    • ykwon10 on 19/07/2016 - 08:43

      ^^ THIS!

      I am sorry to say..with this budget, you have very limited choices (at least with SE suburbs). You will probably have to look at West or Northern suburbs. Follow the train line and check out those suburbs individually. Many new developments in the West, you will be able to secure a landed property. However, just be mindful of your other criterias such as good school, safety, train station, etc. Good luck! and welcome to Melbourne!

  • chumlee on 19/07/2016 - 09:05

    Maybe check out Plumpton before it gets developed and gets out of your budget

  • tp on 19/07/2016 - 10:35

    Thanks everyone for their inputs.

    what are good Northern and west suburbs ?

    we should target.

  • dasher86 on 19/07/2016 - 11:33

    for your price range you can get a townhouse in the North.
    i'd be looking at Pascoe Vale - Glenroy on the Cragieburn Train Line.
    http://www.domain.com.au/sale/glenroy-vic-3046/?bedrooms=3&p…
    otherwise if you want more land you're going to have to move even further out.

  • angelkulit025 on 19/07/2016 - 11:51

    The problem with the western suburbs is the traffic and a lot less alternative back roads to use (Western Ring Road is the only option). Northern suburbs might be best for you with atleast better traffic and good public transport with Craigieburn and Upfield Lines =)

    • pyramid on 19/07/2016 - 11:55

      Western suburbs are fine if you are not driving in-out of city. Taking train is only option for them most of the time.

      • angelkulit025 on 19/07/2016 - 12:00

        even trains in the western suburbs can become horrible most of the time because they're only sharing a single track from Newport station and even V-lines from Footscray station.

  • ukulele on 19/07/2016 - 16:05

    Have a look at the frankston area. Especially near John Paul College, Karingal area. I have lived there basically all my life and it's been great; it's a little far for you but you have a lowish budget. Of course the naysayers will always hate on frankston, come down and have a look for yourself.

  • tp on 19/07/2016 - 21:08

    any review or suggestion south morang or mill park ?

  • Storeseconds on 24/07/2016 - 15:54

    I'm in the same boat sortof, I'm moving to Melbourne for work and don't really know a lot (or anything) about the cities suburbs.

    Any advice on houses in good suburbs with a budget of 700k?

    My wishlist is:

    -New house
    -land size of 450m minimum
    -Safe suburb for a family
    -Within 30 mins travel to Port Melbourne for work

    Cheers for the help!

    • pyramid on 24/07/2016 - 18:12
      +1

      Check Altona, footscray

    • chumlee on 24/07/2016 - 18:28
      +1

      Laverton may be an option. You can take Korroroit Creek Rd to Grieve Pre and just onto the freeway to get to Port Melbourne that way to get ahead of the point cook crowd on the freeway. Good public transport too or if you are keen you can ride your bike to Spotswood and take the punt ferry across to Pt Melbourne for a few bucks each way

      • Storeseconds on 24/07/2016 - 22:13

        Thanks guys, I've scoured realestate.com.au today and my searches put me in that general area of the western suburbs. Is Point Cook OK or is it just a large suburban housing block with no services and a clusterf*(profanity) of traffic getting in and out of the place?

        • dasher86 on 25/07/2016 - 10:47

          definitely more of the later if you're trying to get to Port Melbourne in 30 minutes.

          New housing that distance to Port Melbourne will be hard to come by.

          If you buy existing you will have plenty more options.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join