DannyCoyles

Don't live overly close at the minute but would like to. Firstly I grew up in a coastal town and find seaside towns great places to live and grow up. Always something going on and in most cases enough income from tourism to support local businesses all year round. I enjoy the beach and sea just as much in winter as summer. The sea is relaxing and I always feel better after a walk along the beach.

I think affordability is a key factor that is easy to overlook when making your choice. A lot of people base their decision on how much the banks will lend them not what they really want to be paying each month. Good luck with the lottery and that sea view!!!

Beginning to realise that the location is more important that the house. We originally built the perfect house in a good area that we thought would be our home for the next 20 years at least. The only thing that's missing is the beach, having grown up on the coast it's difficult not living as close now, I noticed a few others mentioned that as a factor in their decision making.

Perfect house or perfect location? We have all watched some type of property show that guides home buyers through the process of buying, they all face the same dilemma when it comes to location or house. How did everyone else decide what was most important and why?

Our son is in grade 2 (P3) in a very multicultural school, he sees no difference in anyone but has mentioned a few times that one or two of his friends of the same age don't play with other kids because of their skin color and that he didn't understand why. Race isn't mentioned in our house as it makes no difference to us and that's the way our kids think as well. I guess all kids pick up on what they hear at home and will act like their parents do in regards to all matters be it race, intelligence, height, weight or looks! As previously said bully's will find something to target and wouldn't be anymore concerned with race than being overly tall or short.

We do it and its not easy. My wife does the drop off at 8:30 and drives to work for 9, finishes at 5ish and picks up around 5:45 - 6:00. I work in the city so I don't get to do any of the drop offs or pickups, previously I worked 25 mins drive away and done both pickup and drop off's most days. Its not how we would like it to be but moving to a new country and buying a house etc. it was necessary, saying that I don't think my wife could stay at home 5 days a week, not having her family and friends (other than the new ones she has made here) to spend time with it would have made it more difficult to settle here. It is becoming more and more the case that both parents go to work from my experience, it is an expensive place to live and raise a family unless you are lucky enough to have one income that can cover everything.

Hi We have been in Melbourne for 7.5 years and would highly recommend Mornington. We don't live in the area but I would love to make the move from where we are now. We have 2 boys (3rd due next week) 7 and 4 and they have a great time every time we visit. It has everything you would need and really is a great lifestyle for you and the kids. With family in Rosebud it would make a lot of sense to live somewhere close by.

Hi, we are close to Berwick in Lyndhurst and have a 4 (nearly 5) year old boy. Not quite in the same boat, we have been here nearly 4 years, we moved from Northern Ireland, but I know where you are coming from. My wife works so not around during the day but weekends we are normally around. Let me know if you would like to arrange something.

Some examples of what I consider the "Australian way of life" to be is making the most of the outdoors by taking some food in an esky to the beach or park with little fuss or over planning. Going along to support community events like kids carnivals, local shows, carols by candel light at Christmas. Most socialising is done with the kids with us as most places are family friendly and no one complains about kids in a restaurant etc. Not noticing what other people dress like, what car they drive or how big their house is, most people dont care here. In general being a lot more relaxed about life and enjoying the things we can do as a family and with our friends. You might say that is no different from life in the UK. But remember these comments are directed at all cultures, some that are very different from what we consider normal. I agree that skilled migration is required and will be for some time to come. Some people dont understand the big picture and just see that their son or duaghter cant get a job above minimum wage because they couldnt afford the same level of education as that received by migrants. I have received comments along those lines many times.

I think it is the boat people that most of the issue is with. I know a lot of people don’t like skilled migration either as they feel that money should be spent on developing Australians for top jobs rather than using experienced migrants. The true extent of how migrants are affecting jobs will not be apparent unless there is a downturn in the economy on the scale of that seen in Europe, then people will really get behind the no more migrants cause. I do agree about adopting the Australian way of life, it’s hard not to unless you segregate yourself from people that are not from your culture, if you do that you are missing out on what Australia is all about in my opinion.

We live close to Cranbourne in Lyndhurst and find the area much the same as any other outer suburb. Busy roads during peak hour/school times, fairly quiet at other times. There are shops in terms of supermarkets all over the place and more getting built. bigger shopping center in Cranbourne and even bigger one in fountain gate about 15 mins away. Its close enough to the beach 15 minute drive. train to the city 1hr with good access to major freeways if driving. good sporting facilities for kids at Casey fields, Casey race leisure canter is fantastic and there is a massive indoor skate park called the shed. there are some good and some bad schools in the area so do your homework on that one. other things like drive in cinema and kart racing about 10-15 mins away, Cranbourne race track with horse and dog racing and 3-4 golf courses so lots to do. for us it provides all we need, somewhere peaceful to live with a short drive to our works (outside CBD) we live 1km from 1 train station and 3km from a new station at Lynbrook that we can get to without going on to a main road. we have a good primary school for our boys and easy access to the train for secondary schools and further education options if there is nothing suitable nearby. in our estate there are 2 supermarkets and other shops, petrol station, medical center and restaurants being built along with a residents only club with swimming pool, play area and gym etc. like most new estates there are wetlands and walkways with play parks, playing fields and a primary school. The outer suburbs all lack the community spirit of UK style towns, Berwick is nice and the restaurants are all full of people on a weekend but things close up earlier than we are used to and there is not the same atmosphere in bars. There are other places that are more "leafy" a bit closer to the city but expensive and areas along the peninsula that have more natural beauty but further out from the CBD and other facilities but generally good schools, again more expensive. Depends what’s most important to you, for us it ticks a lot of boxes.

I agree with this post, there are jobs outside of the CBD but getting them is difficult. I work outside the CBD mainly because it suits our young family for me to be close to home. I do infrastructure and projects with my only option within my current company is to become IT manager. I found for what I do outside the city paid better, maybe because they have less people to cover more areas. Companies outside of the CBD are usually smaller with less options for development and promotion. I expect to work in the CBD within the next few years in order to further my career.

It great when things go well and generally no one talks about these. A few years ago my brothers and sisters (5 in total) had to fly back to the UK from Melbourne as my mother was on life support, firstly my brother got a passport issued on Good Friday which is near impossible to get. Got flights with qantas that night, without saying anything to anyone they were taken to all the private lounges along the way and were looked after very well on the flights and didnt have to wait in any queue's. Not very often the passport office gets a good word or qantas at the minute but when it really mattered they came through and went above and beyone.

I sent you a private message Danny

I read this along with the other post you made on pakenham performing well. It seems to be the top end of the market that has been hit the worst. I looked at investment homes around the $300k mark last year and there hasnt been much change at that end of the scale. We got our house valued last July and again last month, $20k increase from the banks valuation, normal family home. One of my work colleagues just bought at auction in east bentleigh and found the prices had dropped a lot since last year. I dont think I would like to be buying or selling at the minute.