Moving to Sydney from Hongkong

Where you live will depend greatly on what you can afford. 4-5 bedroom houses with pools and close to the CBD are getting VERY expensive. Anywhere within 30 minutes drive and your most likely looking at the million dollar mark. Double the commute and you can half the cost.

Thanks Adrian for your response, btw which areas are good residentials for families? the north side, south, east or west? I searched for properties on the web but i didn't know which area to live in. I don't mind properties costing anywhere between AUD half mill or slightly more so long as there are good schools-(public )there

hi neena,
Isn't it better if you rent a smaller place near to the city for 6mths, and do your research during that period, because you can then look , listen and read about the information you need.
Thats what i am going to do.
Cheers

Whereabouts is your husband opening his law office?

It's a bit difficult to suggest a nice place to live in a city the size of Sydney, and very spread out.

I'd go with renting a smaller place for 6 months while you research which are the more suitable areas.

I agree with Neena have a look at www.domain.com.au just to give you an idea of how hideous prices are in Sydney. Renting really is the best idea... then you don't get stuck anywhere you dislike.
Personally, I grew up on the Northern Beaches in Sydney (mainly) and it is horrendous for buying. It is a conservative area generally, so there tends to be good schools. Near the beach. True the prices have dropped a little in the las t 6 months... but say, you live in Manly, you buy a one bedroom flat for $350,000 (if you are lucky), but if you move just a little further from Manly... Say Harbord, or Dee Why the prices drop, and you are still near the sea. But I get alerts still for property, as I was interested in buying an investment property and you pay less for a house on the South Coast with three bedrooms than a flat in Sydney. It's a joke. Don't be put off, it is a beautiful place.

benconservato

Welcome to A2K.
Sensible advice.

What on earth are you doing in Lille - distinguished, on my last time through there, by my inability to find my way out, while in dire need of a toilet.

It didn't look too promising.

Europeans love to torture foreigners with their lack of toilets...

I am here with the man, he had a hard time in Sydney, trying to get a job, we finally were given the residency visa for him, but employers just didn't understand his qualifications and the fact that he went to really good Engineering schools and selective schools etc... so here we are for a few years.
So now it is my turn to find a job and be horrified about my French. He has one up on me being fluent in English. I know I have more understandable and translatable skills.

NEVER, would I have heard the things that are coming out of his mouth of late five years ago:
"The food is so much better in Sydney..." plus he is missing the surf.

I won't go into the things I miss, it would be a list a mile long.

Yes, Lille and that general area didn't appear to be a food Mecca. I really miss the Asian food when I'm in Europe - even the Asian restaurants there just don't satisfy my need - they seem much too bland.

I made such a show of myself in a Vietnamese restaurant in Chalon sur Saone that the owner came out to see who was disrupting his place!

I was just eating my meal as I would in Sydney, y'know, bowl to the mouth, chopsticks and go for it. This is NOT how it's done in France

MARGO !!!!!

G'day, G...

Howya going?

I'm just starting to surface again. Slowly, slowly!
At least you won the final test - debacle that it was - so you only got clobbered 2-1.

Do you realise there doesn't appear to be a test on in Sydney for New Year - and I've arranged time to go - bloody shameful it is! (or perhaps I've read the prograamme wrongly!)

What ho Lords next year?

MARGO!!!!

no - not done like that at all margo - not in France.

Yes, my man likes to tell everyone that I think the Asian food in France is "disgusting". All reheated and bland. I don't understand!

Yes?

dlowan has now disappeared... after such urgent calling. Or maybe it was joy to have you here?

It was joy.

MARGO!!!

Thanks, Deb!


I'm starting to be around a bit more - occasionally!

Benc... you weren't a journalist in Sydney, were you??

no, just one more artist that has to do graphic designer to live.

Hey neero,

If you want a $500,000 4-5 bedder, with a pool in Sydney you would have to move into the western suburbs, which is a area of growth where many homes are new (virtually),which you would most likely not like, since its away from the action and fun, including beaches. The best areas in Sydney are: Northern suburbs, Northern beaches, Inner West (don't be fooled, west is VERY different to inner west) and I guess the South of Sydney is fine, and quite nice in some areas.

Sydney is a very expensive city, too expensive. Good news is prices have and still are going to drop. Although rent is predicted to go up.

Have a great life in Sydney,

novaz04