Thinking about buying in Perth advice please

[catcha]

Hi all,

Ive been living in Perth for about 18 months now and i'm seriously considering buying PPOR as I think my job will be pretty permanant here.

Me and my wife currently live in Yokine just a bit below Morley drive renting 3x2x2 villa we know the landlords but they still have agents to manage for tax reason I guess so its all sweet in regards to inspection they are not fussy.

I have a budget of about $450k + stamp duty around 20g take it up to 470 and place 70k deposit cash and borrow 400k from bank.

I catch the bus to work so living within safe walking distance close to a main road bus stop is essential eg Flinders Street, Wannaroo Road. My wife often works till 7pm and don't want her to walk too far to get home if she buses it.

I also like Morley and is close to the bus port

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-wa-morley-109514391

This has been on the market for about 183 day and has dropped from 470-480k just across the road from Galleria looking at oldlisting.com it was 550k at 2010. The front has sold the middle is being rented but is on the market and so is the rear the one person own all of it at the start. what am I missing why has this not been snapped up ? If I was ready to take the plunge I would offer 450k

Nollamara
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-nollamara-110686733
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-nollamara-110669285
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-nollamara-109841341

For the price I can get brand new but been reading there are lots of breakin etc hence the price of housing on offer is much cheaper

Balcatta

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-balcatta-110907099
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-balcatta-110889163
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-balcatta-110533905

Heard Balcatta is the better side compared to Nollamara

Bedford
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-bedford-109428246

Just besides Morley bus stops on Walter Rd location is good

Yokine

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-yokine-110817067

Question is should I avoid Nollamara ? I think If I got something near the main road and close to morley Drive as possible it would be ok? crime wise etc only another 5 mins travel time on bus compared to where I usually get off near IGA Yokine.

 

[WesternRat]

Are you only looking around that area? Or open to other options? How long is your current bus ride to to work, and how long is the maximum you'd accept?

 

[catcha]

well its about 30mins give or take, maybe if i live in Balcatta futher up a bit 35-40mins. thats the max i'll go or else i'll go insane. I know other people travel for hours for work but thats my preference.

I also considered Vic Park area and Carlisle well that always seem to be a place on the news for randon assults especially from the train station

 

[Rixter]

It really is a lifestyle choice since its your PPOR.

No one can make the decision except you because everyone is different.

What one person likes, another person will not like. If I said I loved the area and someone else says they hate the area, who is right and who is wrong?? No one. The area just is what it is. Its people who put 'tags' & make associations to things relevant to their paradigms. Its called opinion.

So dont be persuaded by other peoples opinions. You are in charge and controlling your life, not them. The only opinion that matters is yours.

I hope this helps.

 

[catcha]

Very True Rixter.

I mean in Nollarama you can pretty much pick up something brand new for 450k why is that and Carlisle is also the same, yes move across a suburb and its starting at 550k. Having something new is nice but to be broken due to crime rate in certain area of perth.

Question to you would you buy in Nollarama for PPOR or investment ?

 

[Rixter]

Very True Rixter.

I mean in Nollarama you can pretty much pick up something brand new for 450k why is that and Carlisle is also the same, yes move across a suburb and its starting at 550k. Having something new is nice but to be broken due to crime rate in certain area of perth.

Question to you would you buy in Nollarama for PPOR or investment ?

Personally I wouldnt buy in that area as it doesnt meet my purchasing criteria which is determined by my investment strategy. I like my current ppor area (Atwell) as it suits my lifestyle preferences.

 

[Magnum9]

If your wife will be walking around after dark, don't buy in Nollamara, it really is that bad.

 

[Chomp]

Sometimes peoples opinions can make you realize something about an area as well, you might not have noticed it immediately or before hand unless someone mentioned it.

A common perception of some suburbs are -

Morley dodgy
Nollamara dodgy
Bedford ok
Yokine ok
Tuart Hill ok
Maylands Dodgy but ok on the Inglewood side of the tracks and near the river
Inglewood very good

 

[Magnum9]

Mine is not an opinion it is first hand experience. Let's just say there are plenty of dodgy locals that you won't see at night unless they smile.

 

[Rixter]

Mine is not an opinion it is first hand experience.

You mean your opinion is based on first hand experience.

 

[Magnum9]

Exactly

 

[INVSTOR]

Morley is a big suburb! I think Morley near Kiara is good/safe. I don't like Morley close to the Galleria. I almost had my car/car keys stolen off me in the carpark. Lucky the dude changed direction once I put my keys in my handbag and stole another womans car/keys a minute later.

 

[Ausprop]

Lucky the dude changed direction once I put my keys in my handbag and stole another womans car/keys a minute later.

wow - it's pretty rough out in the suburbs these days. I find it incredible the lack of price disparity between some areas given what you have to put up with

 

[malaga]

Morley near shopping centre is good. Sister in law lived Halvorsen Street, fairly new front strata. Good neighbours, close to everything and good choice new stratas. Need to pick right street though.

 

[INVSTOR]

wow - it's pretty rough out in the suburbs these days. I find it incredible the lack of price disparity between some areas given what you have to put up with

I haven't experienced the 'other side' of Perth.

You can look up the crime statistics and ABS (thanks Rixter for reminder) to guide your decision, and local knowledge helps heaps too.

 

[catcha]

ive also asked a co worker that lives in Balcatta and there certain areas have quite a few home west houses like every second down main street. she knows cause she did the census back then.

I have to actually drive around day and night around the areas I think I want to purchase in and make a decision based on that and more research. Thanks to all that have replied its confirms my other views I have been reading on the internet

 

[propertyVIC]

If you're buying in Morley, make sure you know where the proposed light rail route will go. It was in the West Australian the other day. You might well like to be near it, but whether you would want to be 'on' the actual road it goes along is another issue.

I reckon Maylands is going places.

 

[MTR]

Very True Rixter.

I mean in Nollarama you can pretty much pick up something brand new for 450k why is that and Carlisle is also the same, yes move across a suburb and its starting at 550k. Having something new is nice but to be broken due to crime rate in certain area of perth.

Question to you would you buy in Nollarama for PPOR or investment ?

Nollamara was traditionally State housing area, then developers jumped in, perhaps it still has the stigma, considerbly cheaper than Yokine for sure.

My 2c worth..... Maylands is an area that I would consider, because of its proximity to city and river. Also lots of development happening in the area and if you pick the right pocket I think you will have lifestyle and enjoy growth.

Also, some of the links you posted, I personally would not purchase a villa unless it was the front villa, but that's just my personal preference and I also not buy on a main road.



Cheers, MTR

 

[hematite]

I like Maylands also, however it's hard to find a house there for <500k. There are some very dodgy bits, just like Bayswater. Best to stay away from Guildford road and look towards the river side or Inglewood side.

 

[catcha]

Well bit of an update I had a look at this place which is just up the road from where I live

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-wa-nollamara-109841341


4 villa's front and rear sold middle two still left. there was a family there looking at 2 and brough on the spot so 3 is still avaliable. but also on the right of the building they are building the same but only 2-3 middle are for sale rest gone.

I like the fact that is not Inner Nollarama 5 mins walk to the bus stop on flinders street. had a quick look around the area and neghbours all new housing looks great and I think some retirees live a few houses down.

Question to all if i'm buying new would I still need to go through the pest and building inspection stuff ????