Advice on cheap(ish) housing in Sydney?

Firstly, let me announce that Skews_Girl is now officially Mrs ChiDAMN!! :cool: and we'll be flying home to Oz at the end of this coming May.

SWMBO is a techy girl and has been lucky enough to be offered a position in Sydney NSW to continue her career. As a self-employed general dogsbody & fix-it man I have no intentions whatsoever of saying no... (Hey! I know which side my bread is buttered on! :;)

...but it means that I'm gonna have to find myself another shed,.

Oh... yeah... and accommodations in Sydney. (She won't forgive me if I forget that!)

On a more serious note; I don't know Sydney very well at all, 'cept for passing through. :- We've tried browsing the web to gain rough ideas on rental prices, etc. in the Seven Hills area - which is where she'll be working - and surrounding areas up to what we estimate to be a 1 hour commute...

...but the prices we're finding are ridiculously exorbitant. $600pw for a Granny flat? :o:~ I was expecting to find at least something in the $2-300pw. Am I really that out of touch after a mere 12 months overseas? :?

In practice we'll probably spend a week or so on our return doing the footwork between estate agents, but I thought it can't hurt to ask here - so we can save time and rule out areas where it's not worth our time, effort and petrol money to go looking - whether anyone has any suggestions as to relatively low-rental suburbs. (ie. by low rental, I mean NOT $600pw! :;)

We'd prefer a 2-3BR house, of course, but will settle for anything that will at least accommodate two, provided it's within a 1hr commute of Seven Hills.

(I guess I can live without a shed for a little bit longer. The Mrs is slowly beginning to accept the benefits of having sawdust carpetting in the living area.... :innocent: )

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Firstly, let me announce that Skews_Girl is now officially Mrs ChiDAMN!! :cool: and we'll be flying home to Oz at the end of this coming May.
)

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I was duped. When I was offered a "Grey haired, tree loving, grumpy, fuzzy Australian with big ears" I thought I was getting a Koala.

Congratulations Skew!!

There is no way of saying this nicely - a 2-3 bedroom house anywhere in Sydney for $2-300/week - your dreaming. You MIGHT be getting close if you doubled that. Travel (both public and private) is a real problem and getting worse. One hours comute from Seven Hills, at peak times, will put you at Penrith or into the Blue Mts. Someone living in that area might be able to give you more detailed info. Good luck.

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I was duped. When I was offered a "Grey haired, tree loving, grumpy, fuzzy Australian with big ears" I thought I was getting a Koala.<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

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We all wake up after the wedding and find something similar :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by BobR

We all wake up after the wedding and find something similar :rolleyes:

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I must admit, I do prefer the products of the one I got over the other. And I'm getting used to sawdust in everything.

On Accomodations:
I'm realistic. I'm not looking for a house, but I've got family planning to come visit eventually so a spare room'd be nice.

I'll go for a nice shed over a big bedroom. Just give me a pile of shavings in the corner and some air conditioning. I'll make like a polar bear and hibernate in them for the summer. Its where Skew and I are going to be anyway :U

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Firstly, let me announce that Skews_Girl is now officially Mrs ChiDAMN!! :cool: and we'll be flying home to Oz at the end of this coming May.

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Congratulations Skew and Mrs. Skew. :2tsup:


Don't know anything about Sydney except that I can sell you an opera house cheaply. :D


Peter.

Congrats Mr & Mrs Skew :2tsup:

Skew being in Sydney myself I can tell you you'll be lucky to get what your after for that amount daughter is renting in Seven Hills and for a 2 bedroom house with big yard and garage $380 is low. I suggest Rental Properties, Homes for Rent and Apartments to Lease - realestate.com.au

Ray

:think: The Blue Mountains would suit me fine.

I can always shorten her commute by building a trebuchet.

(Well... shorten it in one direction, anyway.)

Well, first up ...congrats!

On the accommodation front, Bob's dead right. two years ago I moved from Menai (SW Sydney) to Katoomba (1007 metres altitude) in the Blue Mntns. We are in a two bed cottage, no garage, but a 5x3 metre barn that was just a frame with a lid, and so I made it into a shed. The rental on this is still $300 per week. The commute for my partner is two hours from here to Central and then a 10 minute walk to Sydney Uni (2-3 days per week is tolerable). She marks papers or surfs with an iPad interspersed with snoozing. The trains on this line are more comfortable than the regular urban trains, but tend to run every hour with a few more at peaks times.

The trains are usually all stops from Katoomba to Penrith, but the next stop is Blacktown, which is one stop west of Seven Hills. The biggest problem is the delay between trains to get that one extra station, so it may depend upon whereabouts in Seven Hills the job will be (i.e. is it reasonable walking distance from Blacktown, or would someone from work be able to pu & dropoff).

There are more trains from Springwood, as many of them terminate there, and of course the trip is much shorter. Springwood is 371 metres, so not as cool as it is up here, and it's a very nice village/suburb, with good facilities. Katoomba is the centre of the Upper Mntns, and Springwood is the centre of the Lower Mntns. Faulconbridge (next village) has been described as having the world's best climate, but that's subjective of course.

On the practical side (for a handyman) there is only one decent sized hardware up here and that's a Home Hardware, and it's crap. For the Lower Mntns there is a small Bunnies at Valley Heights (one station closer to Sydney from Springwood), and there is a monster Bunnies at Penrith (in fact there are two).

On a different tack, you may get more joy out of looking for accomm in Windsor or Richmond, only because they link directly to Seven Hills Station. I imagine that they would be higher in rent than the Blue Mntns.

Here's a coupe of links for you to fool around with:
Cityrail Timetables

Real.estate.com

It's probably also worth mentioning that there's been trackwork on the BM line ever since we've been here - in which case you'd have to think it will end reasonably soon:C They put on good bus services, so it's not too bad (sometimes actually quicker).

HTH

Cheers, Brett

Skew's that site will give you a good idea, Seven Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mnts, Greystains.

Mrs Skew being in that area you would be close to two great sources of Koala's The Koala Park Sanctuary at Castle Hill and Featherdale Wildlife at Doonside so all would not be that bad.

For Mr Skew a selection of woodworking clubs surround as well as Trend Timbers, Hare & Forbes, Carba-tech, McJings ok so they are 45mins drive.

Will you be here by (Edited ) July for the Sydney Woodshow?

Oh Skew its ok we know mexicans usually migrate from south of the boarder just not via OS to hide the trail.:p

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

:think: The Blue Mountains would suit me fine.

I can always shorten her commute by building a trebuchet.

(Well... shorten it in one direction, anyway.)

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It would be quite poetic, if you got her to build it. :D

Congrats to both of you, but I'm sure you got the better end of the deal Skew. :wink:

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Originally Posted by wheelinround

Will you be here by June for the Sydney Woodshow?

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Congrats Mr and Mrs Skew :2tsup:
Woodshow is end of July this year. Ray, don't turn up in June. Very lonely. :doh:
I'm spending this weekend in the Blue Mountains. Lovely spot. If I had to live in Sydney i'd have a close look at the Blue Mountains.

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

I'm spending this weekend in the Blue Mountains.

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Fancy a beer somewhere Tony?

That would be good, i'll send you pm.

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

Congrats Mr and Mrs Skew :2tsup:
Woodshow is end of July this year. Ray, don't turn up in June. Very lonely. :doh:
I'm spending this weekend in the Blue Mountains. Lovely spot. If I had to live in Sydney i'd have a close look at the Blue Mountains.

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Who typed June :B:no:

So close Tony Blue Mnts part of Sydney only becassue Sydney makes money out of it. LOL

Have a good weekend hope rain stays away will you be going to Trend tomorrow??

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Originally Posted by wheelinround

Who typed June :B:no:

So close Tony Blue Mnts part of Sydney only becassue Sydney makes money out of it. LOL

Have a good weekend hope rain stays away will you be going to Trend tomorrow??

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No, family stuff at Katoomba and Ironfest at Lithgow.

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Originally Posted by wheelinround

So close Tony Blue Mnts part of Sydney only becassue Sydney makes money out of it. LOL

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Definitely the other way around Ray - the Sunday traffic back to Sydney confirms that!:q

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Originally Posted by NCArcher

No, family stuff at Katoomba and Ironfest at Lithgow.

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Ironfest sounds good take your wallet with cash $$$$$$ going to learn with the fellow on the pole lathe Tony:;

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Originally Posted by wheelinround

Ironfest sounds good take your wallet with cash $$$$$$ going to learn with the fellow on the pole lathe Tony:;

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No, that's next year. I'm doing the 10 day chair making course :U

Appologies to the Skews for hijacking the thread. :B But it does highlight what a great place the Blue Mountains is. I can check and see if any of the medieval tents at Lithgow are going for $2-300 a week. :U They may have the odd sword slash or arrow hole in them.

Congrats! and keep looking re: the accomodation.

Kings Langley is a nice suburb next door to Seven Hills, and I found several places below $450/wk - 3 br houses.

Blacktown (about 10 mins away) is moving downmarket a bit - but the lowest was a granny flat for $160/wk.
Several places in the $200-$300/wk bracket.

And regarding Featherdale, my sister works there, and my two nieces feature in their ads, on buses, in brochures, and now on TV :)

This link has the contact details for the lady who manages my rental in Kings Langley - I'd be surprised if she can't find you better than $600/wk !!!

Elders Real Estate Kings Langley - Kings Langley Real Estate | Seven Hills Real Estate | Quakers Hill Real Estate | Kings Park Real Estate | Blacktown

Cheers,
Andrew

P.S. If your missus is techy, she should hang around Norwest Business Park. Several big companies have moved their IT sections out there, and it's only minutes from Seven Hills.

Currently there are 4 rentals under $300 in Seven hills and over 10 in surrounding suburbs . . . mainly granny flats, but a few apartments are in there.

Linky

Congrats on getting hitched :2tsup:

(Skew, you can be as miserable and broke, like the rest of the married male population:roll:)

:oo: :wave: Fantastic you guys. Soooooooooooo happy for you Skew and Skewette.:2tsup:

As for rentals in Sydney, Can't be of any help there. But I can't rent a 2 bedroom place in outskirts of melbourne for under $320.:C Hope you find something fantastic.:U

you might find that a lot of granny flats around that area are top dollar as there is a lot of indian students being ripped off around there,

chances are you get a nice town house for 450 around that, in that area.

Congratulatios to both of you. Some cheapish accomodation here, but the three day drive to work could be a problem? :wink:
Jim

Congratulations.

Having recently moved from Sydney where I was renting, I can echo the previously expressed sentiments about getting a house for $300 a week 'Tell him he's dreaming!'

I was paying $360 a week for a 2 bedroom semi on a very busy street but fairly close to the city. No shed/garage or room to put one. I understand the rent for the place is now closer to $500 per week.

If you haven't rented before, then a lack of rental history and references will make it difficult to get a look in. I found that even down here in Tasmania, despite having a great references and rental history, because I was in one place for so long, it took a while to get approval.

Thank you for the links! I've bookmarked them all so I can watch over the next month.

I'll definitely look around Seven Hills, but I think eventually we'll want to migrate out blue mountains way. I've done the hour (either way) commute for so long i'm used to it and to get out of the city would be a relief. I like quiet/rural over city/bustle, but as always, depends on finances.

Work is about a 15 minute walk from Seven Hills train stop along Power road.

I was told to avoid getting a place to live in Blacktown, that it had a higher crime rate. Is that true?

I have plenty of rental references, but they're all Canadian and probably not of intrest to an Aussie. Oh well, see how it goes eh?

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Originally Posted by Skew's_Girl

Thank you for the links! I've bookmarked them all so I can watch over the next month. My pleasure

I'll definitely look around Seven Hills, but I think eventually we'll want to migrate out blue mountains way. I've done the hour (either way) commute for so long i'm used to it and to get out of the city would be a relief. I like quiet/rural over city/bustle, but as always, depends on finances. It's pretty nice up here. And you'll still be able to use your Nova Scotia clothes!

Work is about a 15 minute walk from Seven Hills train stop along Power road.

I was told to avoid getting a place to live in Blacktown, that it had a higher crime rate. Is that true? Sadly, yes.

I have plenty of rental references, but they're all Canadian and probably not of intrest to an Aussie. Oh well, see how it goes eh? Property Managers are a bit more relaxed up here (like everyone/everything else). It may be a good idea to email a couple of agents with your story and ask them how you'd go.

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Best of luck with it!

Blacktown's crime rate is not as bad as Sydney's or Penrith which is at the foot of the mountians.

Blue Mnt's has its own problems, traffic snarls all week during peak hr and weekends with people gettting away from rat race. Only one way up and down one accident along Great Western Highway will make it a parking lot same for the M4. High fire danger, Trains often are replaced as said before with buses for track work.

Seven Hills is easy to reach by car from Blue Mns but by pulic transport a long bus journey.:o

I think you mean Powers Rd Seven Hills and I think you may need to look closer at how to get to where you'd be working at.

A number of forumites live around the area. Nz_carver, Ozceltic and his lovely wife Wendy, and a few others.

Winston Hills is to the other side of Powers Rd and a quiet area. Old Toongabie also.

Have fun.

Real Estate & Property For Rent with 2+ bedrooms between $0 and $350 in Toongabbie, NSW 2146 (Page 1) - realestate.com.au

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Originally Posted by Skew's_Girl

I was duped. When I was offered a "Grey haired, tree loving, grumpy, fuzzy Australian with big ears" I thought I was getting a Koala.

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At least what you have is better than a drop bear
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/20...07/3334604.htm

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Originally Posted by Skew's_Girl

I'll definitely look around Seven Hills, but I think eventually we'll want to migrate out blue mountains way. I've done the hour (either way) commute for so long i'm used to it and to get out of the city would be a relief. I like quiet/rural over city/bustle, but as always, depends on finances.

Work is about a 15 minute walk from Seven Hills train stop along Power road.

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If you go to 131500 Transport Infoline - Home and enter Wentworth Falls station as the start point and the address of work in Powers Rd as the end point, you will get an idea of the commute time.
You can also get the approx return time.

When you talk about the hour commute, do you mean driving or by public transport?

By the way a 15 - 20 minute walk wont be much fun in summer.

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Originally Posted by ian

By the way a 15 - 20 minute walk wont be much fun in summer.

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A very good point indeed Ian, particularly for someone from Nova Scotia, coming to the west of Sydney.

Re crime: I had a look at this site. It's quite interesting, you can actually select the type of crime you want to avoid.:D

Theres a bus from Blacktown / Sevo to Powers Rd
Guess it depends on which end of the road you need to be at

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Originally Posted by Skew's_Girl

Thank you for the links! I've bookmarked them all so I can watch over the next month.

I'll definitely look around Seven Hills, but I think eventually we'll want to migrate out blue mountains way. I've done the hour (either way) commute for so long i'm used to it and to get out of the city would be a relief. I like quiet/rural over city/bustle, but as always, depends on finances.

Work is about a 15 minute walk from Seven Hills train stop along Power road.

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an hour commute in Sydney (if you're counting door to door) might be close to the norm for many Sydney workers. Just to get to soccer last Saturday took around 50 minutes and that was with almost no traffic

One other quirk of the Sydney Rental market.
many -- almost all ? -- rental properties are owned by mum and dad or DINK investors who are primarily in the game for the tax deduction you get through negatively gearing the property.
Hopefully you will find somewhere you can rent long term, but you should be prepared to move every 6 to 12 months as the place you are renting is sold to realise the capital gain (which in Australia is concessionally taxed).

My Link folder is growing! Yay!

Yeah, my hour commuting was on the bus/train.
I can drive. I just recognize that I'm not the best city driver, so I take myself off the road.
Good for the environment too. Mostly I haven't been able to afford a car, but from the look I might have to find a way. Oh yeah, and learn to drive on the left :doh:

You guys are right though, walking in the summer isn't really an option. I have your winter to adapt, but it'll still be unwise to think walking distances is a mode of transport; especially where i've never felt your prolongued high temperatures and UV before.

:( a lot to think about.

Winter in Sydney, that can be torturous - no permafrost, grizzlys hiding behind pine trees to snap your head off, no snow, no crazy-foaming-at-the-mouth Canuks with chainsaws filming a horror movie.

Worst thing about it is the traffic. But weigh it all up and you'll be right. :2tsup:

And sawdust isn't a hard thing to have around, but a wife who doesn't mind the sawdaust past her armpits - well she must be a rare one. :U

Congratulations kids. :woot:

Congrats to both of yous :2tsup::2tsup:

I can't help with that area except a friend has a unit down that way and would scoff at it being a high crime area.

Re walking in the Aussie summer heat I'd suggest that the aircon on most govt buses is a bit suss at the best of times ...

Congrats again and an early welcom to Sydney.

Congratulations on your wedding.

:2tsup:

Congratulations Skewy's, this suggestion is a bit different I know but I've known it to be done albeit in Victoria and with so much water around good old Sydney there may be a chance of living on a moored boat, like in boat minding, especially with winter approaching, at least until you get your feet on the ground :rolleyes::-:)