Our forever home?

We've been living in Australia for a while now, firstly in Perth and currently mid-north coast of NSW. Each place, although lovely, has only ever felt temporary. We've visited Tasmania and loved it and feel it could be the place we finally settle long term. We want to be near Hobart for work opportunities for me (Admin) and not too far from the airport for him as he's a FIFO worker. No kids, so schools not an issue. We're currently living on a small acreage property and would like to find a similar type of rural/residential home within 30-40 mins max driving time of Hobart CBD. The areas we're considering range from Kingston to Kettering, South Arm/Sandford area, Sorell, Lewisham, Forcett (and possibly Dodges Ferry - Carlton) where we would hopefully find a 3-4 bed property on 1-2 acres within close proximity to the water. We're heading over again in the next month or two and would appreciate other forum users input on:

• Pros & cons of the areas we're considering?
  
• Work potential in Hobart for Admin/Customer Service roles?
  

Many thanks

@jock&Tas should be able to help with this one:cool:

Employment is always the main issue for potential new residents. The only suggestion I have is to keep an eagle eye on relevant employment websites and contact recruitment agencies, although it is unlikely you will get any interest until you are resident here. There are some high profile new developments in the construction stage which could be of interest down the track: the new Myer building, retail complex and Crown Plaza hotel in Liverpool Street, a new hotel at the MONA Museum site, another at Macquarie Wharf and a 296 room hotel by a Singaporean group further up Macquarie Street.

As for the locations you have mentioned: the Eastern shore ones will obviously be easier for airport access. That area can tend to get very dry in summer: many properties have tank water only and need water delivered during summer. This may be a particular issue if you want to grow a little crop of something on your 1 or 2 acres.

Personally I love the Kingston - Kettering area. Kingston town centre has most facilities for day to day business - much more so than Sorell - and there have always been a lot of community based activities and organisations throughout that Channel area. The downside of course is the greater distance to the airport for a FIFO worker.

If you were working in the CBD, traffic at peak hours can be slow from Kingston into Hobart on the Southern Outlet. But then it can also be a problem in from the Sorell area...it only takes a car breaking down on the bridge to create a real bottleneck. However, it's all relative - it may be nothing compared to peak hours you have known in larger cities. :laugh:

These are the relevant council websites for those areas - Clarence Council covers South Arm/Sandford - which you might find useful.

http://www.kingborough.tas.gov.au/page.aspx

http://www.sorell.tas.gov.au/

http://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/page.aspx

Don't hesitate to ask if you have other questions.

Skani has covered everything :smile:

Good luck! We retired to the north coast of Tasmania and we love it here.

Thanks for your feedback. We wondered whether the properties towards Forcett were on town or tank water. The council websites are very useful, especially as we'd be moving with a couple of cats and each council seems to have different rules around pets.

1) How much would a home on rent cost in Hobart approximately considering we are looking for either 1 BHK or 2 BHK with 1 or 2 bathrooms. We would like to be in the main city and not in the suburbs unless the suburbs are very close to the main city(say like 2-3 kms). We are looking for a row house/bungalow rather than a residential building with a decent sized lawn along with it to play sports like badminton and grow a few veggies.

2) I know there are a few websites like Real Estate.com.au/LJhooker etc. Which of these websites is the most reliable one? Do they charge any commission over and above the rent they quote? Also, are the rates negotiable or are they fixed?

3) What are the general terms of deposit in Hobart? For eg. in India they usually take around 4-6 months rent as deposit which is refundable at the termination of the lease. Also, what is the standard tenure? For eg. in India they do not allow a leave and license agreement of home >11 months in some cases but obviously the same can be renewed if both the lessor and lessee want it to. And is there a standard appreciation rate per year? For eg. in India(where interest rates are very high compared to Aus), it is general tendency to hike rent by around 7.5% per annum.

1) How much would a home on rent cost in Hobart approximately considering we are looking for either 1 BHK or 2 BHK with 1 or 2 bathrooms. We would like to be in the main city and not in the suburbs unless the suburbs are very close to the main city(say like 2-3 kms). We are looking for a row house/bungalow rather than a residential building with a decent sized lawn along with it to play sports like badminton and grow a few veggies.

 

Finding anything with a "decent sized lawn" close to to the city is going to be difficult. Anything like that would probably have a decent sized house - at least 3 bedrooms - and you will pay accordingly.

Search the real estate sites starting with "Hobart" and include "surrounding suburbs". I think you'd be paying at least $350 and upward (per week).

Houses or units closer to the central business district are more expensive than the equivalent accommodation further out.

I don't know what 1 BHK means...it's not an abbreviation used here.

I know there are a few websites like Real Estate.com.au/LJhooker etc. Which of these websites is the most reliable one? Do they charge any commission over and above the rent they quote? Also, are the rates negotiable or are they fixed?

Real estate sites like realestate.com.au and domain.com.au and allhomes.com.au show properties from a selection of real estate agents. L.J. Hooker is just one private real estate company...one of many.

The above real estate sites between them should cover all the properties available. There's no problem of reliability with them: you just contact the agent listed for the particular property you are interested in.

No commission is charged over and above the rent. The rates are fixed. Sometimes if there is delay in letting a property, the rent might be decreased by the owner/agent. I have never known anyone to successfully negotiate a lower rental...but I can't say that it's never happened.

3) What are the general terms of deposit in Hobart? For eg. in India they usually take around 4-6 months rent as deposit which is refundable at the termination of the lease. Also, what is the standard tenure? For eg. in India they do not allow a leave and license agreement of home >11 months in some cases but obviously the same can be renewed if both the lessor and lessee want it to. And is there a standard appreciation rate per year? For eg. in India(where interest rates are very high compared to Aus), it is general tendency to hike rent by around 7.5% per annum.

All properties require a bond - which is usually equivalent to 4 weeks (approximately) rent. That is returned at the end of the lease after an inspection. Some of it may be withheld if there is damage which needs to be repaired.

6 or 12 months lease is standard here. No standard appreciation rate each year.

Dear Skani,

Thanks a lot as usual for your assitance!

1BHK means 1 Bed room + Hall + Kitchen. 2BHK means 2 Bed rooms + Hall + Kitchen. 1BK means 1 Room and kitchen(no hall). These are abbreviations commonly used in India(at least in Mumbai).

Forget about the lawn for the moment. How much do you think would a 1BHK with 1 bathroom cost per week approximately? Is AUD$200 weekly a decent estimate for the same?

 

1BHK means 1 Bed room + Hall + Kitchen. 2BHK means 2 Bed rooms + Hall + Kitchen. 1BK means 1 Room and kitchen(no hall). .......How much do you think would a 1BHK with 1 bathroom cost per week approximately? Is AUD$200 weekly a decent estimate for the same?

Does "hall" mean hallway - as it does here? - or a living room?

Looking on realestate.com.au, $200 weekly is only going to get a "bedsit" - ie. one combined living/bedroom with kitchen and bathroom facilities or student type accommodation sharing kitchen and bathroom.

It seems to me you'll be paying $220 week to get a 1 BR + 1 living room independent (not share) housing - and that will be in a block of units -

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-tas-sandy+bay-416237289

or in an older type house which has been divided into units.

Yes hall basically means a Living room. I cannot find the area of the property in sq.ft/sq.m. Don't the agents specify the area?

Also I wanted to check if the accommodation on rent is usually unfurnished/semi furnished or furnished? Ideally we would like basic furniture like electricial circuits, chairs, bed, ,study/computer table, cooking gas/stove, good ventilation etc. We do not want things like airconditioner/heater/microwave etc. What is the trend over there?

Holiday accommodation is furnished, and expensive.

Regular rental properties to live in long-term are usually unfurnished. You fill them with your belongings and furniture.

Electrical circuits aren't furniture. If a house has no electrical circuits, it's not a house for human habitation!

Also what about a landline phone and a wired internet?

Area is not specified.

Properties are usually unfurnished - but electrical circuits and a cooking stove are standard.

A phone landline and ADSL facility is normally available...but you would need to check with each property.

Will your husband's company pay for FIFO from Tas? The ones I've been involved with have been restrictive in the areas they'll fly from.

1BHK means 1 Bed room + Hall + Kitchen. 2BHK means 2 Bed rooms + Hall + Kitchen. 1BK means 1 Room and kitchen(no hall). These are abbreviations commonly used in India(at least in Mumbai).

 

Forget about the lawn for the moment. How much do you think would a 1BHK with 1 bathroom cost per week approximately? Is AUD$200 weekly a decent estimate for the same?

Thanks for the explanation of what BHK means, but it is not an abbreviation used anywhere in Australia and therefore it would be sensible for you to get used to NOT using it. In Australia it is taken for granted that a dwelling will have a kitchen, so there is no need to mention it. What do you mean by Hall?

Hall means a Living Room.

Also what about a landline phone and a wired internet?

You arrange that yourself usually. Phone/cable/internet may be installed already up to the house, and then you select your service provider of choice to make the connection inside the house.

Hall means a Living Room.

OK. You will get much better responses from people if you learn to use Australian terminology for a home. All Australian homes have a Living Room and Kitchen (though sometimes they are combined into one large room). The kitchen always has cupboards and a sink with running water. Most will have a cooker included. All Australian homes have electrical circuits.

So when looking for homes, we will usually say we are looking for a 2-bedroom home, 3-bedroom home etc - everything else we take for granted. If you want some extra rooms like a study, or a family room or rumpus room (these are basically additional living rooms) then you would mention that.

Most rental accommodation is unfurnished and you need to supply your own furniture. We noticed that in Hobart, you can get furnished flats but they are usually not available for long term rental.

Now the main question: How easy is to find a home on rent? Do you think it is practical to find a home after arriving in Hobart(first few days we stay in a hostel) and looking out for properties? Or do you think it is too risky and best to rent a home before arriving in Hobart itself(I'm one who wouldn't want to rent a home before even having a physical look at the property)?

Also, who bears the electricity/water cost? I assume there is a electrical/water connection given by the owner but the tenant pays the bill?

I don't know what the rental situation is like in Hobart but I think you would be best to look for a place to rent once you are here. The electricity would be put in your name and you will be responsible for the cost. Water will be connected and the water rates will be paid by the owner of the property.

As far as I know all real estate agents require you to inspect a property personally before you sign a contract to rent it. Also, it is the wise thing to do. Photographs can tell you only so much and there may be issues and problems you don't realise until you have seen the actual property.It will probably take more than a few days to find a rental, though. Most people arrange temporary accommodation for a few weeks.