Suburbs in Melbourne

[The_Hawk]

For the Melbournites, what are the good suburbs (or the ones to avoid) if someone was looking at moving down that way??

[Dutch77]

As someone who is/was going through this process myself very recently I really liked the Albert Park - South Melbourne area (we stayed with a friend who has a view of the last few corners of the F1 track which might have swayed me though).

Sidenote: looks like life is taking me in another direction to an opposite corner of the country though.

[Ideo]

Budget?

[Silver dub]

How far out of the city are you prepared to be?

[The_Hawk]

Details are sketchy at this point with no definitive plans on if/when/where, just a few pokers in the fire that could see me in Melbourne CBD.

But for the sake of argument:

East is what the missus has looked at so far... But I'm open to suggestion.

Rent vs Buy is equally valid

~$500k to buy
~$500 / week to rent??

Travel... hard to answer. Right now I travel just over an hour door to door so I wouldn't want to go further than that but would prefer to be closer. Would probably trade off land for travel... but closer is nicer.

Would also be looking for 4+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms, 2+ car spaces (bonus points for 5+ bedrooms (or a study) and a decent shed or garage for automotive tinkering).

[kaanage]

~$500k to buy
...
Right now I travel just over an hour door to door so I wouldn't want to go further than that
...
Would also be looking for 4+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms, 2+ car spaces (bonus points for 5+ bedrooms (or a study) and a decent shed or garage for automotive tinkering).

You'd have to look West for that combination unless the amount you quoted is a deposit

[SLAJ]

You could find a very nice place in the south east for that money, much nicer/safer than the west and with the Peninsula Link and Eastlink your trips to the city won't be too long

[The_Hawk]

I'm poking at realestate.com.au but it wants postcodes and the "surrounding suburbs" option doesn't search that far. I want to be able to pick Melbourne CBD and have it give me a 50km radius

edit: Domain seems to let me just pick the whole area then display it on a map. Nice.

edit2: There is 25 places showing up with 5+ parking spaces in my search

[dylan8]

We live a hour or so out from the city to the east. My gf takes the train daily to work.
Can buy houses for well under your price range, the difference between 30mins from the city and 1hours drive is about half the price for property (400k vs 800k+)

West is looking good lately as it's so much more affordable so much closer to the cbd. But as Slaj said it's been known to have rougher areas (not saying east doesnt have its bad spots)

[Jarred]

west is generally more affordable, although, generally also not as nicer areas.
anywhere east is generally ok. but as dyl said, you're looking to get out a touch before it becomes affordable (and quality of the suburbs can sometimes drop off a bit as you go further out).
ferntree gully scorsby, bayswater, knox, anything around that area should be in budget and requirements, and generally about 1hr from te city, give or take.

[Deadpool]

I'm living in the East in Doncaster East. $330 p/w 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bath, 1 Garage. 500K in the areas around me (Donvale, Templestowe, Doncaster, etc) won't get you any more than basically a small 1-2 Bedroom Place with 1 Bath and such. A house on 1/4 of an Acre with 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths sold down the road from us 2 weeks ago for $978,000.

$500 p/w will get you a decent place. Probably 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Double Garage in the surrounding areas. Takes me about 3 minutes to get to the Eastern Freeway and then 10 minutes or so on an okay run to get into the city.

The West would probably be more affordable.

[The_Hawk]

Mooroolbark and surrounds seems to have a decent range at a decent price.

[Ramee]

Mooroolbark and surrounds seems to have a decent range at a decent price.

If you are willing to go bit far like 50 to 60 km from City Pakenham area is a good choice. I think from there to city travel may take about 50 mins. Four bed rooms (even five), double garage and a decent size land for 500K is completely doable.

[Ryan_R]

West: flat, dry, bit boring, cheaper, gridlock over west gate bridge during peak*
North: generally a bit more crime
East: built up, well established, more expensive, Eastern freeway ends at a set of traffic lights*
South-east: not too bad, variety premiere/affordable suburbs. Monash freeway commute is often not too bad besides a couple of patches. I'd say from Pakenham it would be more like 1hr 20 depending on what time you leave (or take the train for about the same time)
South (peninsula): Nice/expensive/built-up, new freeways - no idea on travel time.

Commuting to CBD options:
Train (zone 1+2) ticket - ~$11-12 daily
Car - Can cost over $30 daily (early bird parking between $12-25 daily, toll roads up to $13 daily, plus fuel.
Bike/motorcycle/scooter - free on street parking, small fuel bill, often quickest commute.

*Major road construction plans to alleviate congestion over next 5+ years.

[Silver dub]

We are pretty far down on the Peninsula in Tootgarook and my wife works in Carrum downs.

Just to give you in indication it takes her 35 minutes to get to work of a morning and that is just over half way to the city for us. Keep in mind from Carrum downs on you will start to get more traffic but East Link helps the Commute a bit, so probably an hour 15 maybe 20 for us during the week but like i said we are a fair way down on the peninsula but nice and quiet down here compared to the inner city.