Townsville house

[Mudnut]

I will be moving to Townsville for work in December, and want to know what areas are best to live in. Also what areas to avoid!! Not interested in a new house, or suburb. Am thinking of a fixer upper Queenslander, as I am a carpenter, and want a small project (will be working 12 hour days / nights) to do in my off time. The family will stay in Clifton Beach north of Cairns, and will transfer back up there in a year or so. I can then rent out the Townsville house that has been renovated. Also limited to about 350k for price. Realestate.com has lots in this price range, just don't know the suburbs, smells from factories, train / industry noise - pollution - flooding issues - mozzies ect. Any information would be helpful.

Cheers,

Ken

[Keithy P38]

If its queenslanders you are chasing you'd be looking at Hyde Park, Belgian Gardens, North Ward, Railway Estate, South Townsville and to a degree, Hermit Park.

In my opinion they are all a bit iffy suburbs as crime is always happening in those areas. That said, it's everywhere and no doubt there will be stories from others about it happening too.

I live in Kirwan and have done for 8-odd years, not a break-in ever reported in my street in that time.

Your best bet for a future investor would be somewhere that has a close proximity to shops and reasonable proximity to the city. REIQ website should point you there pretty easily.

My investment property is in Wulguru - not the best suburb (if only I'd sold it years ago!), But as far as suburbs to live go, I love Kirwan! Never far from anything!

I'd stay away from Railway Estate, Oonoonba, Rasmussen, Condon, Heatley, Vincent, Idalia, Cranbrook (although they have their own KFC the lucky buggers), and I'm not a fan of Hermit Park either.

Cheers
Keithy