Housing in Western Sydney

[Ace]

Well, I have been researching housing prices in Western Sydney over the last few weeks becuase it looks like Stacey and I might be moving over that way within next couple of years. I know, 2 years is a long way a way but I am beginning my research early because once we are in a position we may buy an investment property to rent out until we make the move and I figure the more i know about the realestate market in the various suburbs the better.

I know bugger all of the suburbs in the area and want to know where to steer clear of. Given my chosen career I am more warey of the bad areas because its not good having the scum you deal with knowing where you live. We are thinking that we will need to go towards the more western side of sydney because we wont be in a position to pay $500000 plus for a house. I reckon the $400000 mark will be our limit, with maybe a $50000 buffer if we need to stretch it higher.

I dont mind having to travel to work, but will most likely bike my way to the nearest station and then use the train to get to the nearest station to work and then ride to work from the train station.

My only requirement is that if there isnt already a shed there is enough room in the back yard for a double colourbond garage. :D

We havent ruled out the possibility of buying a block and building, but I havent really looked at the cost of new blocks of land in the newer suburbs.

[Yorkie]

blacktown and surrounding suburbs have places for $300-400k on 600m2 blocks so still room for a shed down the back and still on the main train line.
we found some areas around mt druitt to be the only areas we would not buy as there is still alot of trouble it seems.
probably need to take a drive around the areas to see what your in for, the newer estates are in the $400-500 range but then you get a big house on a small block with no room for a shed, stick to the older houses for space.

cheers

[Ace]

blacktown and surrounding suburbs have places for $300-400k on 600m2 blocks so still room for a shed down the back and still on the main train line.
we found some areas around mt druitt to be the only areas we would not buy as there is still alot of trouble it seems.
probably need to take a drive around the areas to see what your in for, the newer estates are in the $400-500 range but then you get a big house on a small block with no room for a shed, stick to the older houses for space.

cheers

Hi Yorkie, yeah, Mt Druitt is one that I do know, have a mate who got posted there and hear all about what goes on :D

I see what you mean about the newer estates, it seems to be the trend everywhere, its the same in Bathurst. Take a massive house, plonk it on a small block and live without much of a yard.

I will have a look a Blacktown, been looking more west than that so far.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Do not under any circumstances consider Shalvey or surrounds...I don't mean to offend anyone that lives in that area, I have a friend that lives there and now he's out of gaol (ha how stereotypical is that) he's not a bad bloke, but I wouldn't go to the shops or leave coins visible in the coin tray when parked. Just sayin'

Look on whereis, the area bounded by the M7, Great Western Highway, the future Western Sydney Orbital and Glossop St/Forrester Rd/Ropes Crossing. No thanks.

Some friends lived at Kingswood and Werrington whilst at uni, they didn't have a problem with crime. The area immediately east of UWS's Werrington South campus (Claremont Meadows?) always struck me as a nice area, quiet and modern.

Just up the hill from the 'riff, I know a few people who live in Glenbrook, lovely area. No idea on pricing though.

[Ace]

Do not under any circumstances consider Shalvey or surrounds...I don't mean to offend anyone that lives in that area, I have a friend that lives there and now he's out of gaol (ha how stereotypical is that) he's not a bad bloke, but I wouldn't go to the shops or leave coins visible in the coin tray when parked. Just sayin'

Look on whereis, the area bounded by the M7, Great Western Highway, the future Western Sydney Orbital and Glossop St/Forrester Rd/Ropes Crossing. No thanks.

Some friends lived at Kingswood and Werrington whilst at uni, they didn't have a problem with crime. The area immediately east of UWS's Werrington South campus (Claremont Meadows?) always struck me as a nice area, quiet and modern.

Just up the hill from the 'riff, I know a few people who live in Glenbrook, lovely area. No idea on pricing though.

Hi Mark, I was just looking at a few houses in the Werrington, Claremont Meadows and surrounds areas. The houses seem to be quite nice looking, well the ones that are for sale anyway.

Is South Penrith seen as more up market than the rest of penrith? Seen a few houses for sale there and they seem to be a bit higher in the price bracket than other areas of penrith.

Matt

[isuzutoo-eh]

TBH i'm not too sure about which bit of Penriff (<- this is the correct pronunciation) is the up market area. I spent most of my time at Kingswood/Werro and the plaza if I wasn't at uni.

[p38arover]

Matt, Emu Plains is the place to be in Penrith. Close to shopping centre and railway station (Mountain trains), the M4 (and me! :p)

Forget Glenmore Park. Bloody awful street arrangement, streets too narrow to park - nowhere for visitors to park except on the grass verge (ready to be booked). Try driving in or out during peak hours, or on Saturday or Sunday. There are only two access points to Glenmore Park and, as a result, it's awful. Or worse! I know you won't believe me so I suggest you see for yourself.

Forget some areas of Cranebrook - read the local papers to see why (and talk to bus drivers about why some won't drive through there). It's not within walking distance of a railway station, either.

Kingswood? Some areas are of lower socio-economic standing, some have problems with persons of Pacific Island appearance..... I wouldn't buy there.

Glenbrook is overpriced and has bugger all going for it. People advertise the village atmosphere (which is non-existent) to boost the price they ask for houses.

[THE BOOGER]

Ace any idea where you might be going as if you buy in say werrington but work in the north or south it may be a 2.5 hour commute. If only an investment property then west is best look at estates like green leaf starts around 375k. The bad ares have good ares within 10 min but the good have bad also that close. I live at edensor park but wouldnt live at the old bonnrigg estate less than 10 min away:D

[ugu80]

You will find lots of workmates living in Claremont Meadows, St Clair, Erskine Park or Regentsville.

[dobbo]

Is South Penrith seen as more up market than the rest of penrith?
Matt


South Riff, You could drink at the Jamo and pick up a few random Low bags on a Friday night. ;)


Mid to high threes will buy you slightly better than squaller, alternatively you'd be surprised how many folk in both our industries do the early morning commute from the North. You still get to hear the odd prison story from the deep water folk, (it is Mt Druit by the sea) and the Prison Sex stories get a bit tiresome after the first month, just don the Ipod and zone out.

[p38arover]

Is South Penrith seen as more up market than the rest of penrith?


No!

[wouldbeowner]

Hi Ace. Does it have to be Western sydney - can it be Northern or Southern Sydney area?
Does it have to be a free standing house rather than, say, a townhouse?
Cheers

[Ace]

Hi Ace. Does it have to be Western sydney - can it be Northern or Southern Sydney area?
Does it have to be a free standing house rather than, say, a townhouse?
Cheers

Hi mate, would prefer western sydney but open to suggestions. I think Stacey is keen on western Sydney as her dad lives in the mountains and its an easy run up the M4 from western sydney. I am chasing a spot in Highway Patrol once my 3 year tenure is up, clocked up my first 12 months in september last year so heading towards the half way mark. I dont mind a half hour odd train ride to work, police get a free rail, ferry and bus transport card to get more eyes and ears on the trains as free security so im not fussed about travel.

It also has to be a house, we have dogs and we need the space. We are in a 2 bedroom unit at the moment and whilst it has decent sized yards (for a unit) I dont want a town house or villa or the like. Needs to be at least 3 bedrooms and have 2 car spaces at the minimum.

Im starting to see that we will need to save some more and make the budget 400-500k if we are going to get a decent house in the better areas. We are hoping to have about 30-50 grand equity in this place when it comes time to sell so we will have between a 5-10% deposit in that alone plus what we sell.

[Ace]

Matt, Emu Plains is the place to be in Penrith. Close to shopping centre and railway station (Mountain trains), the M4 (and me! :p)

Forget Glenmore Park. Bloody awful street arrangement, streets too narrow to park - nowhere for visitors to park except on the grass verge (ready to be booked). Try driving in or out during peak hours, or on Saturday or Sunday. There are only two access points to Glenmore Park and, as a result, it's awful. Or worse! I know you won't believe me so I suggest you see for yourself.

Forget some areas of Cranebrook - read the local papers to see why (and talk to bus drivers about why some won't drive through there). It's not within walking distance of a railway station, either.

Kingswood? Some areas are of lower socio-economic standing, some have problems with persons of Pacific Island appearance..... I wouldn't buy there.

Glenbrook is overpriced and has bugger all going for it. People advertise the village atmosphere (which is non-existent) to boost the price they ask for houses.

I know a bit about Glenmore Park, one of the guys on my team at work just moved up from St Mary's and lived in Glenmore park, the road situation is one thing he did tell me alot about, he said the same as you Ron. Nice area bit crap access.

There seems to be alot of choice in the Claremont Meadows, Werrington, Werrington Downs area for the 400-500k mark. One thing I dont want is a pool, not something I want to have to keep up the cleaning etc to, but i fear I might get out voted on that one, I have two water rats as family members :D Im not much of a swimming fan. But if a pool and a good garage/workshop can fit on a block and have room for the dogs then i'll be happy with that.

PS, I would be happy to live near you Ron, when we stopped in at your place that day Stacey commented on how nice the area was.

So whats the go with South Penrith then ron? Not a good area? The houses that are listed appear to be nice well renovated homes.

[clubagreenie]

Stay away from the boundary of blacktown west to penrith, south till past the M4 and north theres not much past the farming areas. East of B'town seven hills/kings langley, lalor (trailer) park (where I am) is in your price range and block size. Like anything, has it's places to avoid but is: right next to M4, M2 & M7. Close to major rail, close to btown and westmead hospitals (incl childrens) and it's about an hour or so to anywhere (mountains, beach, w'gong, gosford)

[Ace]

Stay away from the boundary of blacktown west to penrith, south till past the M4 and north theres not much past the farming areas. East of B'town seven hills/kings langley, lalor (trailer) park (where I am) is in your price range and block size. Like anything, has it's places to avoid but is: right next to M4, M2 & M7. Close to major rail, close to btown and westmead hospitals (incl childrens) and it's about an hour or so to anywhere (mountains, beach, w'gong, gosford)

Do you mean stay away from the area between Blacktown West and Penrith?

[KarlB]

I first lived in Penrith in 1958 (I was aged 9). It was a big country town then and at the time there was not one set of traffic lights in the whole town. I went to high school in Emu Plains (I was in the senior year every year as it was a brand new school). Emu was all orchards and dairy farms at the time. It was a great place to grow up. My old mum stayed in Penrith until her death 2 years ago. I spent time as a school teacher both in Mt Druitt (at Shalvey) and in Penrith. All in all, I feel I know the outer western suburbs of Greater Sydney very well. My advice is keep out, it is bloody awful. Look at the lower Blue Mountains (Springwood down). Travel time to Penrith is not bad, and the living environment so much better.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[dobbo]

So when you catch your new neighbour down the local with your blueray player on the table and a tourniquet around his arm, can you do anything or would it be classified as a conflict of interest?

[Scouse]

Casula's quite nice & there might be a suitable house for sale soon.

Nearly 800m sq block, double drive through garage, room for at least 2 more cars undercover out the back. 3br brick veneer, ducted A/C, big lounge room & kitchen. Nice, low maintenance native garden too :).

5min walk to the shopping centre & 10min to the railway station.
1 min drive to the M5/M7 junction, 20min to the airport, 30min to the centre of Sydney on a good run.

:D:D

[rick130]

Upmarket area south of Penrith ?

It's called Mulgoa, or further out, Silverdale :D

[Ace]

Thanks Karl, im not a fan of Sydney, im a country boy through and through, but the employment opportunities that the city areas open up for me in the force are enormous so im keen to get in and give it a go.

We havent really picked a set location yet but I hope to secure a job in the western sydney area. Where we will live is really an open book at the moment.

[Ace]

So when you catch your new neighbour down the local with your blueray player on the table and a tourniquet around his arm, can you do anything or would it be classified as a conflict of interest?

will you be contributing anything constructive Dobbo? Or did your first post use up all of your contructive input?

[Ace]

Casula's quite nice & there might be a suitable house for sale soon.

Nearly 800m sq block, double drive through garage, room for at least 2 more cars undercover out the back. 3br brick veneer, ducted A/C, big lounge room & kitchen. Nice, low maintenance native garden too :).

5min walk to the shopping centre & 10min to the railway station.
1 min drive to the M5/M7 junction, 20min to the airport, 30min to the centre of Sydney on a good run.

:D:D

Sounds like the dream home Scott, and how much will i need to be prepared to part with to make this slice of heaven mine? :D

Where did you buy your new place at Scott? I cant remember.

[rick130]

[snip]
My advice is keep out, it is bl**dy awful. Look at the lower Blue Mountains (Springwood down). Travel time to Penrith is not bad, and the living environment so much better.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

Sage advice ;)

I grew up in Penrith, went to Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary and Penrith High (and was the only child in my street to go to a Public School, my best mate two doors away and his brothers went to Newington and his sister went to MLC, the two boys over the road went to Kings the girls three doors the other way were Tara tarts, so some streets are considered more upmarket than others, but I digress...)

My work spanned from Parramatta in the east to the Hawkesbury, up to Bilpin, the Blue Mountains to Leura south to Bringelly through to Smithfield and back.

The mountains are great but far too many people nowadays and travel throughout the region over ten years ago sucked, I can't imagine what it's like now.

Some areas are nicer than others, but it's really degrees and there is no way I could live back there after a decade away, even after spending the last five or six years at Greendale (about 7km south of Wallacia)

Matt, after living for as long as you have west of the hills you'll be in for a culture shock






(and a note to the Victorians, where Matt lives ATM is pronounced 'Bath-erst', not Bath-hurst' :p

[rick130]

Thanks Karl, im not a fan of Sydney, im a country boy through and through, but the employment opportunities that the city areas open up for me in the force are enormous so im keen to get in and give it a go.

We havent really picked a set location yet but I hope to secure a job in the western sydney area. Where we will live is really an open book at the moment.

Matt there are some nice little pockets like Mulgoa and, Wallacia to the south, Castlereagh and up through Agnes banks on the northside, Grose Vale, Mt Bowen and Kurrajong west of Richmond but public transport is woeful to non existent from what I remember and so a car is a must and therefore bottlenecks and slow traffic the result.

Ron's side of the river is good and usually prices reflect that.

[dobbo]

will you be contributing anything constructive Dobbo? Or did your first post use up all of your contructive input?


The only redeeming factor about living in the greater west is it's low population of ESL australians. Due to this fact, there are a lot of DIP (Dad's in prison), MADIP (Mum and Dad in Prison) and of course WAD (whats a Dad) families.

If you can live with this, go for it. I however would not.


(Too far away from the beach for my liking)

[Ace]

Sage advice ;)

I grew up in Penrith, went to Penrith Infants, Penrith Primary and Penrith High (and was the only child in my street to go to a Public School, my best mate two doors away and his brothers went to Newington and his sister went to MLC, the two boys over the road went to Kings the girls three doors the other way were Tara tarts, so some streets are considered more upmarket than others, but I digress...)

My work spanned from Parramatta in the east to the Hawkesbury, up to Bilpin, the Blue Mountains to Leura south to Bringelly through to Smithfield and back.

The mountains are great but far too many people nowadays and travel throughout the region over ten years ago sucked, I can't imagine what it's like now.

Some areas are nicer than others, but it's really degrees and there is no way I could live back there after a decade away, even after spending the last five or six years at Greendale (about 7km south of Wallacia)

Matt, after living for as long as you have west of the hills you'll be in for a culture shock


(and a note to the Victorians, where Matt lives ATM is pronounced 'Bath-erst', not Bath-hurst' :p

Hi Rick, thanks mate, yeah I know im in for a culture shock, it wont be a permanent thing. My plan is to do 3-5 years, fine a highway patrol spot, get trained up, do the time and get back out to a country area. I feel that for the benefit of my career I would like to experience working in "The City".

I have plenty of time to do the research and between now and then there will be a few trips down for drives around various areas I'd say.

[Ace]

The only redeeming factor about living in the greater west is it's low population of ESL australians. Due to this fact, there are a lot of DIP (Dad's in prison), MADIP (Mum and Dad in Prison) and of course WAD (whats a Dad) families.

If you can live with this, go for it. I however would not.

I cant live with that, and do not intend to live with that. This is why I have asked the question I did. Having said that, there are plenty of areas in bathurst, Orange and Lithgow which have similar problems, minus the NESL australians. But by all means say that, that is constructive, your post about blue ray players was not, partly due to the fact that I do not own a blue ray player. :p

[KarlB]

Older parts of Richmond and Windsor are very nice but you need to be very flood aware. The next big one is well over due. Same is true of Penrith. Think about the railway viaduct on the eastern side of the Victoria bridge and the elevated line across much of Emu Plains: 100 year flood level! A good rule of thumb for the Nepean area is: good soil = flooding.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[MickS]

Don't believe that once your tenure is up, you can green form out of there on the first bus east. You may be in for a rude shock. Depending upon staffing issues etc, it is not unusual for people to have to do their tenure 2 or 3 times before they can get out.

Positions in HWP are competitive as well. If you want to be half a chance, you need to start showing an interest in traffic enforcement sooner rather than later, so you have something to bring to the table at the time. That means start now. Try to get on their junkets...errr RTA funded operations etc etc.

I wouldn't commit financially until you know you can get a transfer.

[PhilipA]

Depending where you want to work , you could always try Gosford,East Gosford,Woy Woy.
There is a train to the city which takes 1Hr 20 fast or 1 35 slow from Gosford and 15 minutes less from Woy Woy.. Tascott, springfield,Point Clare, and Narara are also OK .

Avoid at all cost Wyoming.

All these are MUCH MUCH nicer than western Sydney but you would have to work in the city , North Shore or maybe the inner west as the train goes around the west of the city and traffic congestion puts anywhere west out of contention.

Regards Philip A

[Ace]

Don't believe that once your tenure is up, you can green form out of there on the first bus east. You may be in for a rude shock. Depending upon staffing issues etc, it is not unusual for people to have to do their tenure 2 or 3 times before they can get out.

Positions in HWP are competitive as well. If you want to be half a chance, you need to start showing an interest in traffic enforcement sooner rather than later, so you have something to bring to the table at the time. That means start now. Try to get on their junkets...errr RTA funded operations etc etc.

I wouldn't commit financially until you know you can get a transfer.

I understand that, but thanks for the heads up Mick. I am doing my best showing an interest, do as much traffic as my time in GD's allows. Very little opportunity for time on highway related operations and even secondments to highway due to GD's staff shortages. Highway patrol spots here are competetive, which Is why im prepared to hunt outside of the command. Once my tenure is up, i'll start shopping, if it takes another 12 months or longer after that then so be it. I want a highway spot, but have no problems staying where we are If i have to wait for one.

Plenty of people have moved out after their tenure is up here, the command seems pretty good in not holding people back.

[Ace]

Depending where you want to work , you could always try Gosford,East Gosford,Woy Woy.
There is a train to the city which takes 1Hr 20 fast or 1 35 slow from Gosford and 15 minutes less from Woy Woy.. Tascott, springfield,Point Clare, and Narara are also OK .

Avoid at all cost Wyoming.

All these are MUCH MUCH nicer than western Sydney but you would have to work in the city , North Shore or maybe the inner west as the train goes around the west of the city and traffic congestion puts anywhere west out of contention.

Regards Philip A

The central coast is an option Phill, and one that I suppose we can explore. I have plenty of time to explore.

[MickS]

Go and speak to your EDO and get on as many courses as you can. But be mindful that depending upon what courses you do, your commander won't sign off on a transfer due to the fact part of his/her training budget was spent on you and then you transfer out.

RBT is the flavour of the century....that's what they want to see/hear ;)

[Ace]

Go and speak to your EDO and get on as many courses as you can. But be mindful that depending upon what courses you do, your commander won't sign off on a transfer due to the fact part of his/her training budget was spent on you and then you transfer out.

RBT is the flavour of the century....that's what they want to see/hear ;)

Yeah, do as much of that as possible. Will be sending the EDO some reports shortly, the BAS course is one that I want to get done. But getting on courses here can be very difficult aswell because of the stress officers being in goulburn places on staffing GD's.

[p38arover]

Highway patrol spots here are competetive, which Is why im prepared to hunt outside of the command. Once my tenure is up, i'll start shopping, if it takes another 12 months or longer after that then so be it. I want a highway spot, but have no problems staying where we are If i have to wait for one.

You do realise that once you are HWP, we will no longer speak to you. :D

[p38arover]

partly due to the fact that I do not own a blue ray player. :p

Can I sell you one, cheap? :p

[Ace]

You do realise that once you are HWP, we will no longer speak to you. :D

LOL, its a risk im willing to take, and as per you other question, giving your track record im not buying any goods that have been hand selected by you :D

[ugu80]

Become a cyclist at TSG or Surry Hills and get a FJR1300 to commute with. Live wherever you like.

[p38arover]

Become a cyclist at TSG or Surry Hills and get a FJR1300 to commute with. Live wherever you like.

I thought you said they were now at Eastern Creek? :( Or is that just the bike cops? :confused:

[ugu80]

Hi Rover Ron

TSG at Eastern Creek, Surry Hills just regular local HWP but have bikes due to City traffic. Wheels OK?

[Ace]

Become a cyclist at TSG or Surry Hills and get a FJR1300 to commute with. Live wherever you like.

Motorcycle Highway patrol is not something I am interested in getting into, i'll stick to cars.

As I said, im not fussed where I work, i can travel. Just looking for input on areas to avoid and ones which are more desirable.

It was more the missus who requested that if we do move to the big smoke that we live in Western Sydney or the lower blue mountains, hence why I asked about the area. If we live in this area there is a wide range of stations I am able to commute to and work in, and a wide area that she is able to find work in, probation parole or DOCS. But she has at least 2 years left in her degree which coincides with my tenure being completed and allowing me to consider moving, all things considering, as MickS brought up.

[Bigbjorn]

Are there now upmarket areas in Western Sydney? The place must have changed a bit since I lived there. I always thought the up market areas of Sydney were North Shore Line, Northern Beaches, and Eastern Suburbs. Past Burwood, well "Thar be Westies".

[p38arover]

Hi Rover Ron

TSG at Eastern Creek, Surry Hills just regular local HWP but have bikes due to City traffic. Wheels OK?

I'd like the bikes. Could I pull over the ******* who drive without consideration for others (not necessarily speeding), e.g., hogging the RH lane (fine exceeds $110 :D ), etc.

The wheels look good on the IIA, thanks very much. I still owe you a nice bottle of red.

Matt, when I said Sth Penrith is not better than Penrith, I meant that it ain't neceesarily so. There are some nice spots in old Penrith (and in Sth Penrith). But Penrith houses are more likely to be older than Sth Penrith. I prefer Penrith.

A friend who has just moved to Emu Plains made the comment today that Emu Plains is a hidden jewel. People just don't know about it.

I think the ideal would be to buy a block (yes, there still are some around)and put a new house on it.

Any house around here is likely to be 30-40 years old.

Once you move west of Penrith, travel time increases markedly. Train speed limits in the Mountains are quite low. Springwood is, by train, 30 mins from Penrith but by car it's only 15 minutes..

[Ace]

Matt, when I said Sth Penrith is not better than Penrith, I meant that it ain't neceesarily so. There are some nice spots in old Penrith (and in Sth Penrith). But Penrith houses are more likely to be older than Sth Penrith. I prefer Penrith.

A friend who has just moved to Emu Plains made the comment today that Emu Plains is a hidden jewel. People just don't know about it.

I think the ideal would be to buy a block (yes, there still are some around)and put a new house on it.

Any house around here is likely to be 30-40 years old.

Once you move west of Penrith, travel time increases markedly. Train speed limits in the Mountains are quite low. Springwood is, by train, 30 mins from Penrith but by car it's only 15 minutes..

Thanks Ron, yeah, i got what you meant. Its like anywhere, there are good areas and bad areas.

Matt

[Ace]

Are there now upmarket areas in Western Sydney? The place must have changed a bit since I lived there. I always thought the up market areas of Sydney were North Shore Line, Northern Beaches, and Eastern Suburbs. Past Burwood, well "Thar be Westies".

I believe I said "more up market", as opposed to housing commission estates.

If I had the money to live in a house on the north shore, eastern suburbs etc i wouldnt be asking this question.

[p38arover]

I believe I said "more up market", as opposed to housing commission estates.

If I had the money to live in a house on the north shore, eastern suburbs etc i wouldnt be asking this question.

Actually, you might. Every time I go to these supposedly up market areas, I am dismayed by lack of street parking, the continual traffic, distance to shopping centres, public transport, etc.

Give me the outer west.

[Ace]

Actually, you might. Every time I go to these supposedly up market areas, I am dismayed by lack of street parking, the continual traffic, distance to shopping centres, public transport, etc.

Give me the outer west.

Im the same, the so called "Up market" areas closer to the coast are just to built up and to busy for me. I'd rather the western suburbs any day, which is largely why we are looking to live in that area. Whilst its still the city to me, and it comes with the headaches that living in the more densely populated areas generate I quite like the western suburbs of sydney, and areas like Mt Druitt aside i wouldnt mind living there that much.

As MickS said there are many factors which will affect the move, and how long it will take for me to get a spot in highway somewhere in the area is unknown but i'll be heading that way eventually. As a result would like to know the realestate market inside and out before I make the move, which I why i have asked the question so early. I'll spend the next couple of years watching house prices and what areas are going up and what areas are going down etc. We dont plan on staying there for ever, as I said 3-5 years, but I would like to have a house that has generated some equity in the time we are there.

[ugu80]

I believe I said "more up market", as opposed to housing commission estates.

If I had the money to live in a house on the north shore, eastern suburbs etc i wouldnt be asking this question.


I used to live at Villawood. Everything is up market to me.

Thanks Rover Ron, glad I could help you. You and your lovely wife enjoy the vino, I'm afraid it all tends to taste like vinegar to me.

[MickS]

Motorcycle Highway patrol is not something I am interested in getting into, i'll stick to cars.


Compared to the 70's and 80's...there are hardly any left nowadays. Besides ace, you'd need to wear those jodhpurs with one of these

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

...shoved down the front and the neat little SS leather hat and carrerra sunnies ;)


Are there now upmarket areas in Western Sydney? The place must have changed a bit since I lived there. I always thought the up market areas of Sydney were North Shore Line, Northern Beaches, and Eastern Suburbs. Past Burwood, well "Thar be Westies".

Nooooo....plenty nice places now....Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Minno...err Minto, Macquarie Fields....:D

Here you go Ace...should be able to work out where **** town is and isn't from these graphs...

Local Government Area Crime Maps (all in pdf) - Bureau of Crime Stats & Research : Lawlink NSW (http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_lga_crimemaps)

[Ace]

Compared to the 70's and 80's...there are hardly any left nowadays. Besides ace, you'd need to wear those jodhpurs with one of these

http://www.hansgissinger.com/i/up/preview/preview_salami_prints_1.jpg

...shoved down the front and the neat little SS leather hat and carrerra sunnies ;)



Nooooo....plenty nice places now....Mt Druitt, Dharruk, Minno...err Minto, Macquarie Fields....:D

Here you go Ace...should be able to work out where **** town is and isn't from these graphs...

Local Government Area Crime Maps (all in pdf) - Bureau of Crime Stats & Research : Lawlink NSW (http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_lga_crimemaps)

ROFLMAO, i wouldnt look good in the pants. We have a bike here in bathurst but it rarely gets used, only two of the highway guys are trained to use it. I just wouldnt feel safe riding around on one.

PS, Do you know how to open PM's Mick, or are you ignoring me in the hope that i'll go away and stop asking you questions :D

[Ace]

Just looking through those stats Mick, Glenmore park is all red for Break and Enter into dwellings. Blacktown is all red aswell.

Looking at those maps Werrington, Claremont meadows and in between Penrith and Blacktown seem to be the better areas, bar spots in St Mary's.

They show which areas are the safer suburbs and the ones less likely to be hit, but it doesnt show where the **** bags live.

[MickS]

They show which areas are the safer suburbs and the ones less likely to be hit, but it doesnt show where the **** bags live.

There wouldn't be a publicly accessible graph with that now would there ?

You also need to consider that wherever you end up...and this goes for anyone contemplating a move for whatever reason...your kid will go to school there...so you need to look at that aspect. And FFS, whatever you do..family comes first.

[Ace]

There wouldn't be a publicly accessible graph with that now would there ?

Im sure it wouldnt be that hard to find one, but publicly accessible, well thats a different story.

You also need to consider that wherever you end up...and this goes for anyone contemplating a move for whatever reason...your kid will go to school there...so you need to look at that aspect. And FFS, whatever you do..family comes first.

Yeah, that has been discussed at length also, having taught for 6.5 years before changing to the cops I feel that is an area that will be taken pretty seriously.

[Ace]

Suprisingly, for somewhere that has poor access to and from the area Glenmore park suffers from alot of break and enter incidents.

[mudmouse]

You do realise that once you are HWP, we will no longer speak to you. :D

Hey!

:p

Matt (another one)

[p38arover]

You and your lovely wife enjoy the vino, I'm afraid it all tends to taste like vinegar to me.

:eek::eek::eek:

OK, I'll drink your share. Maybe we can go for a ride one day?

[Ace]

Hey!

:p

Matt (another one)

I guess I'll just have to talk to mudmouse then LOL

[p38arover]

Hey!

:p

Matt (another one)

OK, I'll make an exception - or two. I do talk to another member of the forum who is ex-HWP (that makes him acceptable). :wasntme:

[Ace]

OK, I'll make an exception - or two. I do talk to another member of the forum who is ex-HWP (that makes him acceptable). :wasntme:

Are you sure Ron, we dont want to put you out or anything, wouldnt want you to feel obliged to talk to us.

[Ace]

Ok, back to the topic.

What about St Clair and Erskine Park? Good or Bad.

Houses seem to be reasonably priced between 380-500k for quite nice houses on decent blocks.

[mudmouse]

OK, I'll make an exception - or two. I do talk to another member of the forum who is ex-HWP (that makes him acceptable). :wasntme:

Aww shucks :p

[rick130]

Older parts of Richmond and Windsor are very nice but you need to be very flood aware. The next big one is well over due. Same is true of Penrith. Think about the railway viaduct on the eastern side of the Victoria bridge and the elevated line across much of Emu Plains: 100 year flood level! A good rule of thumb for the Nepean area is: good soil = flooding.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

Yep.

I've been told the flood in '61-'62 (before my time :D) got up to the lower end (Jamison Rd end) of Station St.

There are lots of houses below that level these days.

[frantic]

I know the boss has expressed a preferance for western syd, but have you thought about wollongong/shellharbour/south coast? For 4-450k you could get a nice house in most of the burbs down here depending upon what you want.

[p38arover]

Are you sure Ron, we dont want to put you out or anything, wouldnt want you to feel obliged to talk to us.

It's OK, Matt. However, if you are talking to me in public whilst wearing your uniform, can you make it look like you're giving me a ticket. I wouldn't want my friends to know I was talking to a copper. (You don't actually have to give me the ticket, though! :D)

[Ace]

I know the boss has expressed a preferance for western syd, but have you thought about wollongong/shellharbour/south coast? For 4-450k you could get a nice house in most of the burbs down here depending upon what you want.

not a fan of the gong, but spots down that way are harder to get than western sydney. I actually want a spot in Western Sydney, its the part of the city that i have had the most to do with and I actually dont mind it, there are areas that I wont consider, like the Druitt.

To be honest I'd love to get a spot in Coffs harbour, we both would like to live up that way, but I wont get a spot there. Anywhere on the coast is competetive. In terms of the availability of spots Western Sydney will offer the most opportunity within an area that is accessible from one house as opposed to moving all the time.

[Ace]

It's OK, Matt. However, if you are talking to me in public whilst wearing your uniform, can you make it look like you're giving me a ticket. I wouldn't want my friends to know I was talking to a copper. (You don't actually have to give me the ticket, though! :D)

No worries Ron, i'll dodge up some photocopied ones that I can write out for real but wont really count. Just to keep up appearances and all :D

[wouldbeowner]

Hey Ace, mention realestate and everyone's got an opinion - including me.

I have my preferences for different areas in Sydney. I am assuming you are a "young" bloke because you are starting to try and build a career. The only opinion I guess that is worth giving is that when you buy, use your brain. Buy somewhere that has good potential for capital gains. I appologise to any members in Western Sydney but, to be blunt, although there are very occasional exceptions, western Sydney performs poorly wrt capital gains when compared to other areas. Try to find something/somewhere that has a quality that is desirable or unique eg view, rural setting, potential for subdivision, somewhere that's going to have a new transport link built in the next 5 - 10 years, a charming design (eg old weatherboard with "english country garden" rather than brick veneer with Australian natives and bark chips) - some quality that gives you something where you wont be competing against 100 other homes that are exactly the same.
Good luck and keep your mind open to other areas as well.
Cheers
Tim

[Ace]

Hey Ace, mention realestate and everyone's got an opinion - including me.

I have my preferences for different areas in Sydney. I am assuming you are a "young" bloke because you are starting to try and build a career. The only opinion I guess that is worth giving is that when you buy, use your brain. Buy somewhere that has good potential for capital gains. I appologise to any members in Western Sydney but, to be blunt, although there are very occasional exceptions, western Sydney performs poorly wrt capital gains when compared to other areas. Try to find something/somewhere that has a quality that is desirable or unique eg view, rural setting, potential for subdivision, somewhere that's going to have a new transport link built in the next 5 - 10 years, a charming design (eg old weatherboard with "english country garden" rather than brick veneer with Australian natives and bark chips) - some quality that gives you something where you wont be competing against 100 other homes that are exactly the same.
Good luck and keep your mind open to other areas as well.
Cheers
Tim

Hi Tim, thanks for the input. I plan to do exactly that, but i need to be able to afford to buy in the area aswell. What you have said is why I am starting some preliminary research now. It wont be intensive research but I'll be keeping an eye on whats growing and what isnt. As MickS said I have to think of my family, have a son who is 6 now so will be in getting towards starting the later years of primary school when we make the move. Stacey also has to be able to find work aswell.

I also want to live in an area that I like, I would rather sacrifice some capital gains if it means living in an area I like better. If I can put a bit of equity in the house by doing some landscpaing and interior improvements and I have a bit more in my pocket when I move then i'll be happy, we wont be staying long enough to make a fortune anyway, unless we love it and decide to stay longer, which I suppose is a possibility.

Matt

[MickS]

Crunchybacks........[FishSlap]

[dullbird]

I guess the southern highlands is a little to far for yeah :(

I want people to move down here that we I can have mates close and we can push the houses prices up :D

[Shonky]

Do not under any circumstances consider Shalvey or surrounds...

^ What he said.

Like you, I am in a job (ASNSW Control Centre) where I judge areas by the amount and type of jobs my particular service gets called to in them.

Shalvey, Bidwill, Ropes Crossing, Lethbridge Park et al are firmly off my list of places to go, visit, or otherwise attend without driving a Shorland.

Shorland armoured car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Shorland_armoured_car_mk1.jpg" class="image"><img alt="Shorland armoured car mk1.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Shorland_armoured_car_mk1.jpg/300px-Shorland_armoured_car_mk1.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/1/14/Shorland_armoured_car_mk1.jpg/300px-Shorland_armoured_car_mk1.jpg

Lets just say I speak with your colleagues regularly regarding the above.

[Cloud Basher]

Ace,
I live in Claremont Meadows, I have for the last two and a half years and have about two years to go (will be posted out in Jan 2013 - I am a RAAFy). My house is 5 bedrooms, 930SQM block (almost a quarter acre!), very private, rear access, double lockup garage with carport and about to put a 9mx6m shed in the back yard. Will still have room for the pool in the next twelve months or so with enough room left over for the kiddies to still jump on the trampoline and the dog to dig holes. Has a good little primary school with a strict principal. Only 1100 people in Claremont Meadows and it is indeed a sleepy little village. the new subdivisions opening up have blocks about 500-700SQm. My house was around $450k when I bought it and in the two years involving the GFC it has only gone up at most $50K. But my street is very quiet, we know all our neighbors, we go 4WDing, shooting, motobike riding and have street BBQ's together, just like we used to in the sleepy little town I grew up in in the country. We could not have found a better house/place to live as far as the family and I are concerned in western Sydney. But keep it quiet, it is a very well kept secret!

As an aside I will be posted out in two years and will be looking to sell (as I said I am a RAAFy) so drop me a line in two years and we may be able to come to a deal!

Cheers
Dave

[ugu80]

Yeah, that has been discussed at length also, having taught for 6.5 years before changing to the cops I feel that is an area that will be taken pretty seriously.


Got a mate at Claremont Meadows. Not Catholic or religious, but he sends his kids to the Catholic School at St Marys to get better standards. Got another mate in Campbelltown did the same thing there (His local public school is Airds).


Rover Ron, love to go for a ride with you when the weather is cooler, strictly a fair weather rider nowdays i.e temperature between 17 & 22 degrees with no chance of rain, wind less than 15 knots and 30% or less cloud cover.

[Brian]

I'd like the bikes. Could I pull over the ******* who drive without consideration for others (not necessarily speeding), e.g., hogging the RH lane (fine exceeds $110 :D ), etc.

.

Ron, saw a sign on the F3 the other day that says "fine exceeds $220" for that offence. The price of inflation I guess. Or maybe different fines for different areas.
Cheers

[Ace]

Ace,
I live in Claremont Meadows, I have for the last two and a half years and have about two years to go (will be posted out in Jan 2013 - I am a RAAFy). My house is 5 bedrooms, 930SQM block (almost a quarter acre!), very private, rear access, double lockup garage with carport and about to put a 9mx6m shed in the back yard. Will still have room for the pool in the next twelve months or so with enough room left over for the kiddies to still jump on the trampoline and the dog to dig holes. Has a good little primary school with a strict principal. Only 1100 people in Claremont Meadows and it is indeed a sleepy little village. the new subdivisions opening up have blocks about 500-700SQm. My house was around $450k when I bought it and in the two years involving the GFC it has only gone up at most $50K. But my street is very quiet, we know all our neighbors, we go 4WDing, shooting, motobike riding and have street BBQ's together, just like we used to in the sleepy little town I grew up in in the country. We could not have found a better house/place to live as far as the family and I are concerned in western Sydney. But keep it quiet, it is a very well kept secret!

As an aside I will be posted out in two years and will be looking to sell (as I said I am a RAAFy) so drop me a line in two years and we may be able to come to a deal!

Cheers
Dave

Thanks for that Dave, I do like the look of the area, and you can see on the map that it's secluded, well as secluded as a suburb in sydney gets.

Let me know when your done and we'll buy your house, i'll PM a list of features i'll need in the shed :D:cool:

Seriously though. Looking at the various areas somewhere like Claremont Meadows, St Clair or Emu Plains is looking like the places we will be have a look around.

Matt

[Ace]

I guess the southern highlands is a little to far for yeah :(

I want people to move down here that we I can have mates close and we can push the houses prices up :D

Yeah, sorry Lou, to far away. :D

[ugu80]

Ron, saw a sign on the F3 the other day that says "fine exceeds $220" for that offence. The price of inflation I guess. Or maybe different fines for different areas.
Cheers

RTA used to put actual fine on the signs, however, fines increased every 1st July (nominally with CPI but always went to the nearest dollar over the CPI. Think of the compound effect of that year after year.) so RTA had to redo all the signs. Eventually someone figured if they put 'exceeds' in front of the penalty that the signs would be good for years to come.

[Bigbjorn]

^ What he said.

Like you, I am in a job (ASNSW Control Centre) where I judge areas by the amount and type of jobs my particular service gets called to in them.

Shalvey, Bidwill, Ropes Crossing, Lethbridge Park et al are firmly off my list of places to go, visit, or otherwise attend without driving a Shorland.

Shorland armoured car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorland_armoured_car)

Lets just say I speak with your colleagues regularly regarding the above.

A mate, when he was fairly newly wed, young, young kids, and impoverished, went to Willmott in 1973. This was then owner-occupiers only and in spite of being Housing Commission was a pretty good area. Not so the surrounding suburbs. Full of scumbag public housing tenants with armies of unsupervised outlaw kids. The Willmott bottle shop was held up three times in one day!!! The proprietor was understandably getting a bit fed up with this. He had been held up or broken into on a number of other occasions. Third time lucky and the proprietor let the dusky skinned perp have it with a shotgun and killed him. Caused a minor riot and the proprietor was accused by all and sundry in the do good touchy feely industry of being racist. They must think it is OK to shoot white crims but not black ones.

Most of the owner occupiers moved over the years and Willmott is now mostly private renters full of no-hopers.

[p38arover]

Rover Ron, love to go for a ride with you when the weather is cooler, strictly a fair weather rider nowdays i.e temperature between 17 & 22 degrees with no chance of rain, wind less than 15 knots and 30% or less cloud cover.

I understand completely. It's too hot with leather.

[Ace]

A mate, when he was fairly newly wed, young, young kids, and impoverished, went to Willmott in 1973. This was then owner-occupiers only and in spite of being Housing Commission was a pretty good area. Not so the surrounding suburbs. Full of scumbag public housing tenants with armies of unsupervised outlaw kids. The Willmott bottle shop was held up three times in one day!!! The proprietor was understandably getting a bit fed up with this. He had been held up or broken into on a number of other occasions. Third time lucky and the proprietor let the dusky skinned perp have it with a shotgun and killed him. Caused a minor riot and the proprietor was accused by all and sundry in the do good touchy feely industry of being racist. They must think it is OK to shoot white crims but not black ones.

Most of the owner occupiers moved over the years and Willmott is now mostly private renters full of no-hopers.

Plenty of suburbs like that around Australia. They think they are a law unto themselves. Funny thing is we go in to deal with a noise complaint because they are all getting ****ed and yelling. Not being racist but when a group of aboriginal persons get together the concept of inside voice goes out the many open windows. But when we get there, theirs will be the only house in the street, that at 3 in the morning will be making lots of noise but they genuinely think they are being picked on because they are black, Their skin colour has nothing to do with it. They, not all, are also the most racist people I have ever come across. I get called a captain cook mother ****er and god knows what else but thats ok.

These are the suburbs I wish to stay well clear of.

[ugu80]

Plenty of suburbs like that around Australia. They think they are a law unto themselves. Funny thing is we go in to deal with a noise complaint because they are all getting ****ed and yelling. Not being racist but when a group of aboriginal persons get together the concept of inside voice goes out the many open windows. But when we get there, theirs will be the only house in the street, that at 3 in the morning will be making lots of noise but they genuinely think they are being picked on because they are black, Their skin colour has nothing to do with it. They, not all, are also the most racist people I have ever come across. I get called a captain cook mother ****er and god knows what else but thats ok.

These are the suburbs I wish to stay well clear of.

Colleague asks a person of polynesian appearance if he is an islander. The reply, and I quote, "Coconut. Don't you call me a *&%#*** coconut. I'm a Maori." Anyone from the Cross in the '80s will recall the almost nightly brawls in the middle of Bayswater Rd between the aboriginals at the Mansions hotel and the islanders at the Taulofa Club (forgive spelling) across the road.

[MickS]

Colleague asks a person of polynesian appearance if he is an islander. The reply, and I quote, "Coconut. Don't you call me a *&%#*** coconut. I'm a Maori." Anyone from the Cross in the '80s will recall the almost nightly brawls in the middle of Bayswater Rd between the aboriginals at the Mansions hotel and the islanders at the Taulofa Club (forgive spelling) across the road.

Summer Hill pub the same. Stayers at Marrickville lol

And the samoan boys -v- the fijian boys.....ahh memories lol

[Ace]

Colleague asks a person of polynesian appearance if he is an islander. The reply, and I quote, "Coconut. Don't you call me a *&%#*** coconut. I'm a Maori." Anyone from the Cross in the '80s will recall the almost nightly brawls in the middle of Bayswater Rd between the aboriginals at the Mansions hotel and the islanders at the Taulofa Club (forgive spelling) across the road.

Its ridiculous really. These are the terms that the government adopts as politically correct. Islander, Torres Straigh Islander, Aboriginal etc etc