Help Needed with areas in Brisbane

[PrissyMissy]

Hi

We arrived in sunny Brisbane from New Zealand last week and are enjoying every minute so far, this is like summer for us.

Hubby landed work after first interview on day 3, we are really one of the lucky ones.

We need some help with the choice of areas to live now though ..........

We have looked at North Lakes, but it is 30km to the CBD and we would preferably like something a little closer if we could. We are hearing good and bad about North Lakes, so not totally decided if we would want to live there at all - any comments would be appreciated.

If you know of newer areas similar to North Lakes closer to the CBD, please pm or let us know. We looked at Carindale today, really liked the areas - but houses under $600 per week are going to be hard to come by.

We are looking for a family friendly area with good schools (in case the kids stop home schooling) and close to public transport. Not too much to ask I hope.

Any help would be appreciated.

[HadEnoughofJuju]

Hey there PrissyMissy, welcome to Australia and congrats to your hubby on landing a job so quickly. I can't speak much for Brisbane but there are some really nice areas there. Hope things go well for you and you find what you are looking for.

[Kars]

Hey Prissy - We live in Wakerley - it's really a great area with a good primary school. Gumdale and parts of Blemont ( not too close to the motoway ) are also good.

Hope this helps

[Fish]

Probably a bit late given when you posted prissmymissy but others may find it handy if too late for you. Good public high schools catchments are harder to find than good public primary schools so will concentrate on the areas that have good public high schools as well, and within your $600 budget and a modest distance to the CBD.

Keeping it around $600/week The Gap (7-13km's from CBD) is a possibility, the houses will be older, say something like this:

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-the+gap-412889719

The advantage is that it is in a extremely good public school catchment in a lovely leafy family area.

If you like character homes you could live somewhere like Graceville (~9km to CBD) which is in a good school area, on the train, with good amenities and not too far from the CBD.

Example: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-graceville-413628791

Holland Park West (~9km to CBD) is another possibility. Holland Park High seems to be doing well. This home is $100 over budget but I'm sure cheaper homes than this come up: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-holland+park+west-413505839

Mansfield (~13km to CBD) is not far from Carindale, in a very in-demand public school catchment, and a nice family area. Something like this next to the schools/park/bike tracks: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mansfield-413656487

Parts of Wishart (~15km to CBD) are in the Mansfield catchment as well: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-wishart-402716334

Indooroopilly (~7km to CBD) has a good reputation, as do most of the suburbs in the inner/middle western suburbs north of the river, but it is in a more expensive area. The public high school is very well regarded. You can get something like this though: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-indooroopilly-412816915

Inner city Newmarket (~5km to CBD) is in the Kelvin Grove College catchment. This very well regarded public high school also has a primary school.

This is what you get for your budget: http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-newmarket-413636975

School catchment map: http://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/maps/edmap/

Edited July 25, 2014 by Fish