Seeking Advice: Starting a Family and Working from Home in a Small 2 Bedroom Apartment

sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 10:49
Last edited 04/04/2024 - 06:11 by 1 other user

Hi everyone, my partner and I are at a crossroads and could really use some insights from those who have been in a similar situation.

We're considering buying a small 2 bedroom apartment as our first home, but we're a bit apprehensive about how feasible it would be to start a family and work from home in such a space.

For context, we are both early thirties and want to start planning for a family next year. I work from home 4 days per week and my partner works from a laboratory.

We'd love to hear from others who have experience with this setup. Was it possible to manage both starting a family and working from home in a small apartment? What was your experience like? Would you advise it to others?

Any advice or personal anecdotes would be greatly appreciated as we navigate this decision. Please feel free to ask any follow up questions.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Edit: Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. We have decided that we will wait and find an apartment slightly larger in the same area for maybe $50k more. I have done some research and have found a few which would be perfect. Fingers crossed the owners decide to sell within the next 6 months.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Dollar General on 03/04/2024 - 10:53
    +13

    During lockdowns, many people did it in one bedroom apartments. No pain no gain

    • Gdsamp on 03/04/2024 - 10:56
      +23

      Well that covers off the starting a family part.
      OP can then use the other bedroom for WFH. Follow for more insights

    • JIMB0 on 03/04/2024 - 12:21
      +30

      Many people got divorced after the lockdowns as well.

      • fredk1000 on 04/04/2024 - 21:50
        +3

        At least they did not die like some did.

    • HeWhoKnows on 04/04/2024 - 22:36
      +1

      But best to have a 3rd bedroom or even a sunroom to set up as a home office.

      Its the only way

      You need a dedicated area for a home office.

      So either 2 bedroom plus sunroom or 3 bedroom apartment.

      Otherwise it ain't going to work for you

  • El cheepo on 03/04/2024 - 10:59
    +8

    Where would you be set up to work in a 2 bedroom apartment if you had a child?

    Would your apartment be big enough to accommodate your work space in a common area?
    (Also factoring in extra kids stuff like toys/high chair etc floating around in that open space depending how you feel about clutter)

    At the end of the day though, it’s all doable. Just depends what you guys are willing to put up with.

  • Duckie2hh on 03/04/2024 - 10:59
    +10

    Why 2br apartment and not a 3br townhouse a bit further out?

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 11:04
      +7

      We would prefer this option, but the townhouses further out are still out of budget. The apartments we are looking at are advertised at $470k, whereas the townhouses are at least $520k. Most are around $650-$750k.

      • Duckie2hh on 03/04/2024 - 11:19
        +2

        Hmm. Tough position as there is high turnover cost to cycle through properties. How many kids are you thinking?

        • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:11
          +1

          We are hoping for 2 within the next 5 years.

          • Jebus on 04/04/2024 - 10:25
            +17

            @sophielouise869: I wouldn't do a two bedroom apartment then. The repayment difference between 520k - 650k over the life of a home loan is small, and the jump in quality of life you'd get from a 3br townhouse compared to a 2br apartment is potentially huge.

          • sauce2k on 04/04/2024 - 16:27

            @sophielouise869: 2 within next 5 and assuming you planning to stay in this 2bedder? It will be a punish im sorry

        • drprox on 06/04/2024 - 08:13

          Yep which doesn't get talked about enough. Basically the minimum you're losing is 7-8% (stamps and agent fees) moving but call it 10% once you account for 100 other things. It's a LOT of money.

          • rogerwilko on 06/04/2024 - 08:45

            @drprox: The assumption is that in five years you have been paying down the principal and building equity. You then have the option to use the equity to purchase another property. You would also expect your wage to have increased over 5 years as well.

            • drprox on 08/04/2024 - 04:06

              @rogerwilko: All good and well, none of which reduces the transaction cost.

      • Porker on 03/04/2024 - 14:11
        +6

        Side issue, on assumption that you have your finances already sorted, then keep/maintain the pre-approval. If you're re-assessed once you have a child, your borrowing ability will be heavily impacted/reduced.

      • cameldownunder on 05/04/2024 - 09:26

        The way they build apartment blocks …. Mascott / McQuarie I would be very weary of buying an apartment.

      • RedDevil860 on 05/04/2024 - 10:24

        Are you trying to live in the city? Can always move bit further out to get a bigger place.

  • djones145 on 03/04/2024 - 11:00
    +6

    questions
    - will ur partner work from home ( now and future)
    - do u have meetings and are on the phone alot ( impacts whether u need an enclosed room or not)
    - laptop or desktop?
    - how many kids do u want
    - any family close by
    - schools and childcare, consider what is close

    i personally
    - got a house ( knew i was gonna have a few kids) but that was 12 years ago cheaper
    - got a room as an office ( cause i have meetings ) and has a lock! kids run in during lockdown and holidays
    - was close to parents!!!!!
    - was in a lovation where there was lots of childcard and primary andnsecondary schools i wanted to go to

    • Geillis on 03/04/2024 - 12:14
      • was close to parents!!!!!
      • was in a lovation where there was lots of childcard and primary andnsecondary schools i wanted to go to

      Yo have come up with a great word. Lovation is close to parents-you can't beat it these days.

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:15
      +2

      Really great questions for us to consider. Thank you.

      My partner is a scientist, so he will never work from home.
      I have a pretty hectic desk set-up, but I'm happy to downsize this if required.
      We are hoping for 2 kids within 5 years.
      My partners family will be a few streets away and they are lovely.
      Very good schools (public) and childcare options closeby.

      The houses in the area are astronomical ($1 million plus).

      • djones145 on 03/04/2024 - 19:29

        like others have said 4 bedrooms would be nice. but 3 is possible. try looking for town house or even a duplux

        a house woyld be nice but depends on ur financial position

        being close to parents and close to good schools and child care is high on the list.

      • GordonHanley on 05/04/2024 - 12:15

        2 kids in a 2 bedroom apartment is going to be painful regardless of whether you WFH or not. Obviously owning your own property is extremely beneficial but if it was me and I was prioritising kids I'd be looking at finding a cheap rental and continuing to save for a property that works. Maybe even move in with your parents if possible.

        Rushing and buying an apartment that won't suit your needs sounds like a great way to screw yourself financially.

  • djsweet on 03/04/2024 - 11:02
    +5

    Its possible. I know people who do it.
    Would I do it. No. I would not. I can't think of anything worse.
    Its down to you.

  • mini2 on 03/04/2024 - 11:02

    Get a work pod/silence booth type thing? At least there's a segregation of workspace and your living space.

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:16

      I could wear my noise cancelling headphones.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 04/04/2024 - 06:52

        What about meetings?

        • AndresF on 04/04/2024 - 09:42

          Noise cancelling headphones + very high quality microphone to isolate noise coming from your end

  • Fredfloresjr on 03/04/2024 - 11:04
    +31

    Doesn't matter if you buy 5 BR house or beachside mansion. Working at home with growing baby/toddler is very challenging - They will cry, have tantrums, will demand your time especially when they are not well. Most of the time you will be unproductive.

    You need extra hand in short.

    • donbot on 03/04/2024 - 15:56

      This. 1000 times over.

      • vshek on 04/04/2024 - 16:08

        Yes unless ur office space is detached (back yard shed etc) any bedroom apartment will have same challenges and 100% agree with Fred.
        You will have to sort out few days daycare or some family member to take care of the young one while you are WFH.
        I personally had my 1st child while in 2 Bedroom appartment and i did WFH a few days a week. It did not bother me much and I dont know if a 3 Bedroom would have made any difference either.

    • trapper on 04/04/2024 - 16:07
      +2

      Also when young children feel like they are being ignored, they will up the bad behaviour to astronomical levels.

      This is crayon scribbled all over your walls territory.

  • bobbified on 03/04/2024 - 11:22
    +2

    A property is not a permanent asset that you can never dispose of. If you buy something and later find is not suitable, you can always sell what you've got and buy something else.

    I work from home 4 days per week and my partner works from a laboratory.

    You can always tell your partner to take the baby (when you have one!) to the laboratory each day so you can work in peace at home. haha

    • Nebargains on 04/04/2024 - 10:01
      +5

      You can always sell and buy something different, but property transaction costs are so high that it might just be better to buy the right thing in the first place. Stamp duty + other associated costs are a killer.

    • rumblytangara on 04/04/2024 - 16:29

      OP is talking about 2 kids within five years. That's too short a time to be trading around properties, and once they have a couple of kids another house move is vastly more complicated.

  • MrHyde on 03/04/2024 - 11:24
    +2

    I used to live in a 2 BR apartment for 20+ years. Was bachelor pad; got married; got two kids and we all lived in there for a while. Was perfectly fine till Covid hit. Became way too hard with WFH and kids running around/shouting in the small space. We moved out into a bigger 4 BR house then.

    If the kids are at school while you are WFH; I would say its fine. But considering that you don't have kids yet; when you do - they'll be at home most of the time; including your better half - it will be difficult. I'd recommend hiring a small office space nearby for the working part - can be got for about $1000 a month.

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:22
      +2

      Thats a great idea about the office. There are some spaces that I have seen in the city (Wollongong) which would be suitable and have childcare! https://bubbadesk.com/ This one is interesting, but a little on the expensive side.

  • askvictor on 03/04/2024 - 11:27
    +9

    Australians tend away from apartments. But look in Europe and Asia, and it's how most people live. Often in more cramped conditions than you'd consider to be tiny here. It won't always be easy, but it's possible.

    Also, consider that at the moment, the rental income for an apartment around that price might well be greater than the mortgage payments. So if it's really not working out after you've tried it for a bit, you can rent the place out, and rent something else that's larger (and probably further out), with your rental income paying (most to all of) your rental outgoings.

    • Dollar General on 03/04/2024 - 11:51
      +10

      Many Australian’s don’t understand this. In Europe & Asia they live stacked on top of each other but there’s so much infrastructure around them they don’t spend a lot of time inside.

      We follow the yank model of moving further out into new development areas with no infrastructure and get bored of the 4 bedroom home with a home cinema and complain about needing to drive everywhere

      • CanadaAye on 04/04/2024 - 14:41
        +1

        Who gets bored of that?

    • trapper on 04/04/2024 - 16:09
      -1

      Australians tend away from apartments. But look in Europe and Asia, and it's how most people live.

      Yes and it sucks, life for kids is crap in many countries. Why do that in Australia.

  • Porker on 03/04/2024 - 11:31

    'Small' is quite subjective - do you by any chance have floor plans? As example, will you require a bedroom for WFH or is there another location, eg study nook, that can support this?

    Can your WFH work support interruptions? My WFH has me not using my open area study/sitting area as it's still too loud with kids such that I have to use a bedroom (to close the door).

      • bich.light on 04/04/2024 - 10:59

        I'm from Sydney and $470k seems like a lot for an apartment in Figtree.

        I've recently purchased a 3 bedroom apartment and share the main bedroom with my partner. We each have our own offices to work from home and love the space. I think for your situation, a 2 bedroom apartment would only initially work. Your child would share the main room with you but eventually want their own space as well.

        • sophielouise869 on 04/04/2024 - 14:17

          It does feel very expensive, but honestly, this is one the cheaper options. Wollongong and surrounds have all increased rapidly. Its wild.

      • deeevan on 05/04/2024 - 07:29

        For a bit more, this 2 bedroom provides more storage, internal laundry (couldn’t see any mentioned in the other place), and the crucial little balcony for some “outdoor”
        https://www.domain.com.au/1-70-uralba-street-figtree-nsw-252…

  • tsunamisurfer on 03/04/2024 - 11:49

    It all comes down to the individual.

    Some people can make it work, they can isolate themselves to a room or just block out the noise.

    During lockdown it was horrible (3 bedder with 2 kids), but that's more on my children (they are both competitive and argue over the smallest things). By the 2nd day of the lockdown I wanted to volunteer to work at the office, I was afraid of my children more than I was afraid of COVID.

    A small baby can probably work provided someone is there to look after them.

  • Hardlyworkin on 03/04/2024 - 11:54
    +6

    90 something percent of the world would be stoked to have a small family in a 2 bed apartment. Australians are still of the mindset that we all will live in a big house on a big block.

  • elgrande on 03/04/2024 - 12:04

    It can work.

    Bonus tip, when your child goes to school when they are a bit older you can WFH from the desk in their room.

  • Barrlawyer on 03/04/2024 - 12:16
    +7

    My wife and I had a baby during COVID in a 2 bed 2 bath apartment. The living space is quite big in that we fit a workspace, 5 seater dining table, 2 couches, a coffee table and 75" TV setup; while being able to properly walk without hitting anything. I admit that this space is a luxury even is most townhouses.

    When the baby came along, we got rid of the coffee table in anticipation that when he starts to crawl there is more space.

    This was 2 years ago. My son walks now, is at the daycare 4 days a week and we're continuing to work from home 3-4 days in a week.

    In hindsight, we ideally would have loved another pair of hands to help with the baby than more space. My wife and I recounted this story to another couple in a similar situation to you, and were asked if we'd do it again. The answer is yes, but with one of our parents/siblings to help in the first few weeks.

  • Mechz on 03/04/2024 - 13:00
    +2

    Sounds pretty easy, could probably even fit a 65" TV in the second bedroom.

  • joka on 03/04/2024 - 13:39

    We’ve outgrown a three bedroom townhouse and we have a 2.5 year old and a newborn. I can’t imagine how you would do it with a two bedroom home. We outgrew the home even with the one child. I think I underestimated the amount of clutter we would accumulate, it’s unimaginable.

    I even think a four bedroom will still not be enough.

    Also consider the tight space and how you will cope with two others constantly without having anywhere to go for some peace and quiet.

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:18

      Ah, this is what we are worried about. We are worried about outgrowing the house too quickly and feeling like we need to upgrade within 5 years. Thanks for your feedback. Its definitely food for thought and we will consider this.

      • cooni on 04/04/2024 - 11:52
        +4

        As an alternate perspective, you deal with the space you have. We're in a fairly small 2br apartment, 6yo and 4yo. They are in a bunk bed. Things are perfectly fine and I can imagine it will be fine at least until one hits puberty so that gives us a few years.

  • Benoffie on 03/04/2024 - 14:11
    +5

    Obviously people around the world do it. Australians have a distorted sense of space. However, it comes down to who you are as people and how you live.

    But if you're in an area with access to good parks and it's relatively safe, then the size of the apartment may be of little consequence.

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 14:13

      The location is great. Close to my partners family, good schools, walking distance to shops, parks and a train station.

      • Benoffie on 03/04/2024 - 15:43

        Then these are all things to weigh up.

        But then the other things to consider become more financial. Will the apartment appreciate? Will you likely have 2 or more children?

        It might be more difficult short term but a move to a bigger place now may pay off long term (the 20-25+ years youll have the kids with you).

  • sumyungguy on 03/04/2024 - 15:00
    +4

    Getting a mortgage before you get pregnant is smart. You can always deal with the temporary income loss on the run. The problem with 2-bed units is their limited capital gain compared with houses (and perhaps 3-bedders).

    • sophielouise869 on 03/04/2024 - 15:05

      Yeah understand this. We would just prefer to get in the market now with what we can afford, as opposed to renting until we can afford a house with 3 bedrooms (which could take 3 years to save the deposit). Thanks for your insight.

      • sumyungguy on 03/04/2024 - 15:19
        +3

        If you're able to bank the difference between rent & mortgage, you may be better off purchasing later on. Consider the fixed (lost) costs of purchasing then selling later to upgrade. Try to model your your position for the two different scenarios. Buying property with low appreciation isn't winning.

  • Muzeeb on 03/04/2024 - 16:43
    -5

    If your username checkouts and you want kids then my tip is….that's not how it works.

    • belongsinforums on 05/04/2024 - 10:20
      -1

      869 are all lucky numbers in Chinese

      • Muzeeb on 05/04/2024 - 10:27
        +2

        69 is a lucky number in Australia

  • Euphemistic on 03/04/2024 - 19:50

    Depends on how you work at home, both the job, and ypur actual work style. If you don't need lots of quiet, or a separate space for zoom meetings etc you could make it work. If your work does need 'private' space, youll want a separate room for an office. If youre easily distracted youll never get anything done if there is the slightest (oohh a squirrel) in your workspace.

  • sacah on 03/04/2024 - 20:38
    +1

    My wife and I had our daughter in a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom inner-city apartment, so a bit smaller than the floorplan you posted. We're both fairly minamalist, so I fitted a little desk in the lounge room easy enough. We also had no family or friends near us and managed just fine.
    If you have family nearby who could look after your child for short stints if you have an important meeting, or childcare for days you are packed with meetings, the rest of the time you can juggle it ok provided your workplace is flexible for you to make up hours outside core business hours.
    I also like the idea of getting in to the market and pay off your own place, and decide if/when you have a second child and if/when you need a bigger place. The plus side is you'll know better what you want in a place after you have some experience.
    Who knows, you might be like us and decide you don't want anymore after the first (-:

    • sophielouise869 on 04/04/2024 - 14:19
      +1

      Your comment has given us a lot of optimism! Thank you! That is good news. In a situation where we don't really have much choice, it feels good to know that others have done similar and it worked out well for them.

  • deeevan on 03/04/2024 - 23:39
    +1

    I don’t really get what the issue is? If your work location was an office or laboratory, you would find a childcare for your child during your work hours. Not really sure why WFH should change this.
    It’s not like your partner will also be WFH and able to look after your child while you work. Occasional care is a thing if you don’t need them cared for the whole day.

  • ZloyKrys on 04/04/2024 - 07:39
    +1

    I grew up like that and thoroughly not recommending that you go this route. The first problem is, you best borrowing capacity is NOW. Once you start family and until kids are 18+ you have to factor in a significant drop in serviceability for loans and if you don't trust me fire up a borrowing calculator to see how much difference two kids make. So buying something that can accommodate two kids can be only done now when you have the maximum borrowing capacity otherwise you need to be able to increase your income significantly to offset it (+extra stamp duty and other selling fees).

    Personally, I'd move a suburb or two out and buy a 3br villa or a townhouse even not in best shape internally as it's cheap to fix, use LMI if needed and/or fix other drags on borrowing capacity like short term loans. In the long run it's all worth it

  • 2esc on 04/04/2024 - 08:41

    Heaps of people live in Australia live in more crowded situations. My first house was 2 bedroom and 2 small boys and it wasnt a problem but my wife wasnt working. Try to get a 3 bedroom as your already worried about it and you might have another child, have twins will this be your forever home?

  • squaredonut on 04/04/2024 - 09:19

    Anything is achievable, you could even do it in a studio, but it's what you personally value and can tolerate, you might not feel it's something you can adjust to. I have colleagues who are in 1 bedroom where their newborn sleep in their room with them, but now one of their in-laws have come over to help to alleviate on child care costs. But then my colleague has to sleep in the lounge room, and then also work in the loungeroom, but then during the day you have to contend with people who are going to be wanting to watch TV, use the kitchen etc.

    But again like i said, it's all possible if you can tolerate it, but if not then it'll just be stress, frustration and leading to arguments.

  • Nebargains on 04/04/2024 - 10:06
    +1

    Wouldn't do it. Unclear if you have lived together but living in a space that small you will be practically on top of each other 24/7 and you get no space. Our first place was a 2 bedroom unit that was a lot bigger than the apartment you linked to in another comment and it wasn't great. Lived there for 10 years but when we moved into a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom house it was so much better.

    Throw in a kid and that will feel so small! The baby stage goes by so fast and before you know it they are walking, then like 3 weeks later they are running haha.

    WFH is challenging with a kid, having a tantrum? Very distracting. Crying because of reason X? very distracting. I think that will just be magnified in places so small.

    Obviously you can only buy what the budget allows but I would attempt to get min 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and if possible 2 living spaces.

    • Tnetennba on 05/04/2024 - 13:47

      you will be practically on top of each other 24/7

      Maybe that's what OP wants

  • figarow on 04/04/2024 - 10:31

    Tell her not to bring the virus home and all will be okay.

  • Nirmitha on 04/04/2024 - 10:36
    +1

    Been in similar shoes. In most capital cities - an apartment is a bad purchase (source: capital growth data for inner city units - past 10 years). If you have an intention of owning a larger home anytime soon - consider rentvesting instead. Till you have enough cash+equity to buy a bigger home.The insecurity of being on a lease while starting a family being the downside.

    If buying an apartment - avoid those built in last 10 years (especially if you're in VIC where the openly corrupted VBA has let developers have a free reign and build quality is horrific). Unless you really know what to look out for. And ensure you check how many SQM in unit. Some (particularly recent) units are 2 bed but are incredibly small. You'll need 65+ sqm minimum.

    Layout: consider the workstation in your main bedroom or living area corner. Some good content on ideas to do this on YouTube. 2nd bedroom being for nursery+some storage. You need that distance to get any sanity.

    Wishing you the best. Tough times. No dual income household should be in your shoes, but in this corrupt landscape, the government (either party) will continue to keep real income growth as low as possible.

    • sophielouise869 on 04/04/2024 - 14:15
      +1

      Thank you for your comment, this was very helpful.

  • centrelink on 04/04/2024 - 11:25

    and here just buying another house for the sole purpose of my in-laws coming in from China just to take care of my soon to be born kids… how i wish i dont need to literally pay for a second mortage for no reason

  • H3R34TH4C0MM3NTS on 04/04/2024 - 15:25

    Still need more parameters before making a informed decision thats right for you . Can you do it..?.yes. Should you do it?…well who TF knows.
    If you are in the market for looking for a place to live you have to be constantly scanning and looking for opportunities

    I have a few questions which will help in your decision making whether small and cheap or big and expensive is right for you
    1.What property market are you buying into ..ie City/Suburb/Price range
    2.How much of a savings do you have right now
    3.What does you cash flow look like now and what will it look like when the new arrival comes
    4.how far distance and time wise is the commute for your partner.

  • trapper on 04/04/2024 - 16:00
    +1

    Will be fine while the kid is under two, then you will need to move somewhere with more space.

    So three years from now and you're out of there, and the place gets sold or turned into an investment property.

    Make your decisions with this in mind.

    edit: Also don't expect to work from home without someone looking after your child. lol there is no chance, in any sized house.

  • kaleidoscope on 04/04/2024 - 16:05
    +2

    Starting a Family and Working from Home in a Small 2 Bedroom Apartment

    Don't do it :)

    As in, you cannot do long term on a 2 bedder with a newborn, especially if you are doing 4 days wfh and worst case, planning to have parents / in laws take care of the kid. it will be too frigging small to the point it will drive you mad. The rooms are too close together in an apartment and will be too noisy and the amount of baby things that you're going to have in the place will make it very uncomfortable. (bassinets, playpens, feeding chairs, kids toys, etc…)

    Source:
    First hand personal experience.

  • BargainCowboy on 04/04/2024 - 18:03
    +1

    Don't overthink it OP, I'm doing it and it's not the best, but having kids is far better!

  • foxpants on 04/04/2024 - 18:07
    +1

    I WFH 2 days a week in a virtually identical situation, it's very doable with headphones on tbh, as long as it's understood work time is work time. It of course isn't ideal but we make it work and I love my WFH days. My PC is just in a corner near the kitchen, as the 2nd bedroom is my sons.

    A workaround to some degree might be one of those little office pods, pop one in the back yard if it'll fit, tiny little reverse cycle and boom, you have a private office.

    Feel free to ask more specifics, but the cliff notes are, it's fine.

  • endolphin on 04/04/2024 - 18:11
    +1

    Surely you don't mean that you will be trying to WFH while also looking after a baby/toddler. That's not a thing.

    While you are working I'm going to assume the baby/toddler will be elsewhere (grandparents, childcare, etc), so I don't think the issue is work. It's the outside of work time and how comfortable you are with the limited space when it is all 3 or 4 of you.

  • weee on 04/04/2024 - 21:09
    +1

    I hope by saying see how it goes won't freak you out, we've been there, rented 2 bedder, new born, HFW 4 days etc…
    looking back, memory is mixed, to put it this way, we survived easily, have we gong through again, we would survive just like that, I would suggest to take care of the financial part first, kids grow up even faster than you would have anticipated, the pain and sweet part are rather short, you would relish it instead of loathing it while looking back mostly, BUT don't stretch out too much financially which is far more important to a health family, what I'm humbly suggesting here is to go with a 2 bedder or something you could afford, assuming renting is worse than owning under the current economy weather, OP, trust me, its rather trivial on how you are going to cope with the new born while WFH compare to the true elephant in the room, the finance, like someone said before, don't overthink it too much, life for the most part is trial and error, learning while living there's hardly any moment of one solution fits all, live through your life instead of living through unnecessary apprehension, all the best to you

  • May4th on 05/04/2024 - 07:14

    Depends on nature of wfh as well. If you do a lot of zoom calls where you are leading/presenting will have different requirements to if you are doing passive computer work/occasional attendance only meetings where you can put a desk in the living. Babies, do-able in a two bedder, once 1+ and crawling/screaming/running around, very difficult

  • rogerwilko on 05/04/2024 - 07:59
    +1

    Don't sit on the fence or sit on the fence. Upto you, only time will tell if your right or wrong. I'm glad I did not sit on the fence, bought a unit and built up equity, sold it and bought a house. Suppose it's a worry not knowing how the property market is going to react a couple years down the track or what the government will do to try and bring down house prices.

  • freekay on 05/04/2024 - 08:50
    +1

    If you're ready to enter the property game, I'd say do it sooner rather than later. House prices, the way they are, will probably grow faster than you can save/earn. A jump from small thing to big thing is not as hard as trying to get the big thing a few years later, when prices have rocketed away from you again.

    My partner and I lived in a small 2br apartment (rental) and bought an investment property to get into the game before we had our first. It's fine when they're not able to walk yet. But after our little one could start walking, we sold our IP and bought our house in Sydney. Thanks to the COVID property boom, our IP had hefty boost in value, which helped us to upgrade to a larger place.

  • Hangryuman on 05/04/2024 - 10:00
    +1

    Hi Sophie - from my experience as a real estate salesman (in Melbourne) I see the Figtree place backs onto or is near a childcare, but looks like a 1200 metre or 19-minute adult-speed walk to the nearest primary school - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kmxcgvkBw1VMdSzx8 - so I'd guess you'd join the SUV queue to drop off and pick up littlie/s from there.

    Inner Sydney I see parents walk their kids to the nearby primary school but my experience suggests max 400m for default walking, and I saw gov figures of max 1000m for workers likely to walk to train stations

    I like tiny home living (try 14sq.m. in Japan!) - and found the bigger the home, the more junk accumulates - compact living makes easier choices for more stuff 'if we get that, we'll have to throw out something' - more thoughtful living

    kids thrive on closeness (we all love hugs) - one of the world's most crowded living environments Hong Kong also has some of the longest life expectancies - and kids are increasingly developing mental problems in their own bedroom staring at a screen all day - so I'd first seek the best walkable location for shopping, schools, and parks away from busy roads which may be cheaper to buy but lose relative value over time as roads get busier - so location, location, location - buy the worst place in the best street for optimal living environment and optimum value growth over time.

    Real estate agents have their finger on the pulse of the market - suggest befriend a few and ask to be advised first when something comes up that would suit a growing family. My first best house I got a call 'just came on the market - it will sell today' - I rushed over and signed before anyone else had seen it - try that.

  • Saver Scott on 05/04/2024 - 21:56
    +1

    Buy what you can afford. In this market, where the average Australian can’t afford a house or apartment = buy what you can afford and build your way up to a more suitable property when you can.

  • Vind1cator on 07/04/2024 - 09:26

    I love the Pomodoro technique for working at home. There are a lot more distractions and saying to eachother - "I'm going to do 3 Pomodoro's now" We know not to disturb each other for an hour and a half.

    We also hired a storage unit 3x3x3m out in Warragul for $120 inc gst a month which means we have a lot more space now that the baby has arrived with all her equipment. Much easier to fit into a 2 bedroom apartment when we have a space to dump summer/winter/camping/stuff. Just hired a van from Ubercarshare to take out the big stuff and then use the normal car for everything else.

    Gas lift beds are another good space saving thing.

    We enjoy having a 2 bedroom apartment in the city and will probably buy a bigger home in the country to live between the two.

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