davlap

Hi @ramot Buderim appeals to me . Did you actually move there ? What is healthcare like, any bulk billing GPs? Are the hills accessible by walking tracks nearby, or do you need to drive? There are a lot of nice affordable houses, but I am surprised how many are for sale all the time. Any idea why there is such an active market? There were 17 sales this week, far more than surrounding SC areas .

The thing that makes me mad, again, as with the GFC, is accountability. People stack up credit. Banks give it because it makes them more money. People got themselves into debt. the bank's shoddy practices and need for profit growth allowed this. Banks are being forced to account for some of this, along with refunding obscene charges and compensating for bad advice and other rip-off methods. But, what about the people themselves who stacked up the credit? They should have known what they were doing, what the charges would be. They get a nice credit holiday. Near zero interest rates. So what do they do? Take on more credit, buy houses they can't afford. What happens - house prices go up. People like me, never in debt, saved and bought what I can afford. What do I get. Savings that lose money, go backwards because inflation beats the interest rate. What do I do. Look for investments. Solid bank shares that pay a divided. Oh look, I'm an investor, I want the bank to make more profit. Maybe I buy an investment property, those prices are rising nicely. Unfortunately, what I do is sit on cash, because I hate all that. Watching exchange rates, share prices. Unfortunately, now looking at retirement, I will struggle unless I get my money to pay its way. I also thought Oz was in a housing bubble, far more likely to crash. However, I am also looking at going back to UK to retire. Have you looked at property prices there? A three bed semi where we used to live now costs 350GBP. Their prices were rising just before covid as well. In the good old days, I would be laughing. Super high interest rates at 10/15%. House price crashes. It would stop the credit junkies in their tracks. People who couldn't afford it would have to wait until they could. Offload the assets that are crippling them, the ones they should never have got in the first place. Hopefully the rental crash might force investors to sell up. What will happen though, is low interest rates will stay for years. I can't see that has worked before, but they persist with it. People who do have anything and are not in debt will be paying for this for years. Services will be cut, pensions and the rules will be tightened. A bleak outlook for somebody in my position.

I know you said that. However, your message seems to be - if you look your age and not 10 years younger - you don't have a chance. I got the duff end of the stick at both ends. I didn't look old enough to go into a pub until I was 30, similar to yourself. At 50 my hair turned white (not grey) and I got deep wrinkles. I was nearly 59 when I got my last job and I certainly did not look 10 years younger

I am in a different industry (IT). However, not a specialty field, application support. Never wanted management, so a team member. In my mid 50s, and living in Melbourne I struggled for work. Even had comments that 'I did not fit the demographic of the team' ie too old ! I was using @Marisawright techniques. No mention of age, older jobs, dates giving away my age. 6 months between jobs on occasion. Often on 6 months full time contract covering for maternity leave etc. Anyway, wanted to move to QLD, had enough of cold and wet, so at end of last job took a flight to Brisbane. Called agencies / job advertisers direct for anything I was interested in. Went in for agency interviews, called them back to follow up etc. Got offered one job, second place for another. Not looked back since. In full time work for the past few years and 'head hunted' for jobs ie agencies called up for specific roles. As some of you may know, I quit just after Christmas to retire, bored with 9-5 routine. Worst thing I did. Couldn't see the virus coming of course, but old team have been WFH for the past weeks. I am bored at home and really don't know what to do. Keeping an eye out for work, but obviously that is less likely to happen now. So a lot of talk goes on about Sydney / Melbourne having a bigger market, more jobs. I felt that in Brisbane agencies tried to form relationships. A smaller market, but they know their stuff and put me up for more appropriate roles. They get in touch before jobs are made fully public. The more personal it gets and people know who you are and what you can do, the more likely you get a job - and one that suits. I don't necessarily agree with "That said, the solution is easy - don't tell anyone how old you are. ". You still turn up for an interview. This might be a complete waste of your time if they really don't want someone older. My profile photos are recent, not a younger me. Once there you may be able to convince people of your worth. But for some people, you failed as soon as you walked through the door.

This is our Garden orb (officially verified by BobJ of course) I posted on the other forum. Totally different shape to what we expected from orb spiders Right outside our front door, came with with a delightful head full of web one day.

Cheers @Bobj Thought so. No problems with him (actually believe its a her), except she is building webs right outside front door at head height ! Already walked into it for a head full of stickiness!

One for Bobj maybe, but we think it's a garden orb right outside the front door, 3 or 4 cm

Hi ramot Some good solid advice there. I am pretty realistic about what I can buy. I look at real estate for current houses with a price. Closer to the coast houses are of course not up to the specifications I have listed, mostly boring old brick veneer 3+1 and 600m2, tired fitting and interiors. I can get what I am after in Buderim and there is one on the market I like for $670k, 1000m2 ,5k from the beach. If we went up to Hervey Bay, there are a lot of large plots, some modern, bespoke, 2000m2 and a couple of k walk from beach and town centre. Health is important, not so much now, but certainly a consideration. I have a hard time paying for a GP visit and always look for bulk billing. Other problem is that the OH is happy where we are and will carry on working. If we were on a bigger plot with a bit more privacy from neighbours I could be more settled. We are only about 1.5k from the foreshore, easy for walking / jogging/ cycling. I would like a proper sandy beach where I can swim. This makes it harder because we have so many boxes to tick Covid is likely to block any real activity for a while, especially regarding how the housing market will move. Good houses in good locations will always attract a premium. To be honest, I am really struggling to know what to do and my brain is over thinking it all. I thought quitting work to work it all out would help, but on reflection should have worked out a plan first

Retirement thoughts have my mind whizzing with all the options and choices. I was looking at house prices in the UK. Shocked to see our old house had doubled in value in 12 years since being here. Almost priced us out of the UK market now (for a 'decent' house). Didn't buy in Oz when we came, so missed out on any growth here as well. When you look at the type of house in the UK and in Oz for what we could afford, houses here seem a better bet for what we are looking for ie open aspect, lots of light, bigger plots.

Thanks Chortlepuss In real estate searches, I have started using postcodes rather than specific suburbs. 4551 includes Currumundi. However, Wurtulla is in 4575 which I didn't have and extends up to Mooloolaba. So I have added that. I was hoping there might be a few hidden gems of less well known suburbs with better value. With Covid, who knows what will happen to property prices, or even when the market will start moving again. Cheers

I worked in Sydney for a year. Worked at AMP on circular quay. Stayed in Potts Point. Unbelievable to think you were a couple of k from the CBD. I walked to work through the Botanic Gardens. I went for walks along the bay. Took a ferry to Taronga and walked around the headland. Came across bays and beaches with hardly anybody around. Or bus to Bondi and walk to Bronte and up along the heads. Something always going on, or easy to get some peace and quiet. Took a train $10 return to Katoomba and three sisters. I loved it there, wanted to move for a couple of years. Wife hated it !

perfect Autumn walk on Shorncliffe foreshore

Strawberries are a partial positive. Lots of green foliage on one plant cluster. Had three fruits, 2 of them about a size of a pea ! Tried to separate the other plant cluster, but killed all but one of the transplants.

Google is your friend - purple french/runner beans you can eat. But check it is the right plant of course, only did a quick search, but if the beans grow they will be fairly obvious https://www.succeedheirlooms.com.au/heirloom-vegetable-seed/heirloom-bean-seeds/bean-royal-burgundy-seeds.html

Thanks Pom Queen Wasn't going to bother, wanted CC details even for 7 day trial, but swiped through and it allows three free Ids (not sure if per day / use etc). Identified both plants from the photos. Well impressed, only took a couple of seconds Will look around for free apps

Hi Marisawright, sounds like you have same success as us. Some things grow, but not to a size for eating. We don't really see any bugs, see a few caterpillars (lots of butterflies around at the moment). But something eats the plants, especially lettuce and cabbages. BobJ wrote: if you live in the “salad bowl belt”, you should be ok with almost any veggies. - I wish !! My Mum could grow anything and everything, all I grow is impatience ! I was so pleased that our game playing bedroom dweller man child got interested. But after a few weeks he got fed up with poor results and has given up. There is a bat colony nearby. Neighbour has a mango tree and it had literally hundreds this year. We picked a few kilos of overhangs and fresh off the floor. They were really tasty. Bats descended of course and nibbled or ate a lot of them.

Cheers BobJ Wife said she thought it was a nightshade, will pull the bugger out ! Glad that is a passionfruit. Neighbour has one coming over our fence. Tried to cultivate a couple of times, no joy. Like I mentioned, I throw old pots on the patch, so looks like I go a success from that . The one coming over the fence bore a bout 20 fruits (yellow variety) this year (none last year). Got about half a dozen full size and made a compot from flesh. Rest of them were too small. This one is by the other side and would be great to train it over the fence.

Trying to start a veggie patch. Things start to grow and then die, just when you think they are going to flourish. Had a few chilli tree harvests, and basil, which have been good and edible. Lettuce, tomatoes and carrots have produced very small pickings. But not much else. Live in Brisbane area, so climate not extreme. The only things to grow well recently are shown in photos. I think they are weeds. Nothing planted that I know of, but if things die I tend to spread the pot soil on part on the patch in case there are dormant roots/seeds. Resurrected a couple of things this way. The shiny leaf plant looks similar to plants we did get free from council plants.

All good points North To South and pretty much thinking along those lines.Budget doesn't cover Sunshine Beach unfortunately I search the postcodes further south including Peregian Beach. General consensus for Noosa, Sunny coats. No surprises, but it does mean a lot more competition and higher prices.

Hi gwalker We like going up to Redcliffe, bit busier and a contrast to a sleepier Sandgate (which is why we like it as well). As we were both working, with one car, seemed a bit far to commute from Redcliffe, even with the train. So while we did keep an eye out, nothing really grabbed us. I have a few searches I do on real estate. Bribie, Redcliffe peninsula are both on there. Bribie seems a bit 'remote' to me. That long drive off the freeway to get there. Woorin is nice, but maybe not really near anything. I want the quiet at home, but also want to be able to go somewhere lively when the mood takes us. I try to walk everywhere, so want shops, etc relatively close. I think we are 'sunny coast' people. Don't want it too brash and noisy, but enough to do and beautiful beaches and nearby state parks and walks. Unfortunately, I guess I want everything! We were looking for a house for almost a year and bought this one which we really liked. I do remember looking over the neighbours and thinking how close they were, its a small plot. But we were just fed up. Let a few we liked go, so decided to get this one. Ticks half our boxes and we do like it. If we were on a big plot where I could see views, or at least open sky out the windows, I may have been happy, but just feel a bit claustrophobic. House are close to each other and same height, so no view out the sides of a long, narrow house. My worry is that making a move would require something which may be unrealistic. Also viewing houses 1 1/2 hours away is no fun. OH is reluctant to move so soon, making it harder still. This is why an apartment / beach house might be the answer.

Thanks Cal. There are a number of places that come up in Buderim in my price range off estates and on bigger plots, often nestled in and around bushland. I was surprised how many houses are up for sale there between $6-700k that I like. Bit quiet at the moment for obvious reasons. We went to Noosa this year for a break and stayed in Sunrise Beach. It was high season, but not too busy. Took walks along the beach and over the headland, wonderful. Too pricey to live though. Apartments are just a thought. Too noisy for me mostly, but you get the views and the convenience and maybe a bit of income. I think it would help me to decide where to be. We stayed in an apartment block in Hervey Bay overlooking the marina. A 2 bedder sold recently in the same complex, same views for about $250k. Unlike some, this was one allowing residency, which was a surprise at that price.

Recently quit my job with a view to retire. After being in Aus for 12 years, bought our first house near Sandgate. Love walks on the foreshore and other places nearby. However, really want to be close to a sandy beach for walks and swims etc. Really like our house, but too urban and close to neighbors. Prefer bigger plot with view preferably and walk to everything. Neighbours are OK, but prefer privacy and quiet. I've really developed a noise phobia and hate TVs, music etc playing even if on low. Not particularly sociable, not really got any friends. Just prefer our own company, but friendly enough for a chat and would get involved locally if there was anything of interest.. Anyway, been looking around Hervey Bay, real value up there and close to the beach. Wife keen to carry on working (cardiac care / rehab). Probably opportunities for her up there, but she is not keen to be too far away. I really like Buderim. Good quality of houses, most on large plots and often wonderful views, backing on to bushland. Not so close to beaches, but there are places 5k away. Place I like is Noosa. Bush and beach. Maybe a bit busy and touristy. Probably have to buy in Twentin. Again can get a big plot in some areas if further out. Interested in what people think. Prefer to to pay around $6-700k, 1000 sq meters, minimum neighbours, private, eg trees around property, not open. Don't really want an identikit brick veneer low set. Adult son lives with us, so three beds. Hervey Bay would be the furthest north. I would have looked at NSW north of Sydney, but wife not interested. Another option is to get an apartment. Wife stays where we are, I live near the beach when I fancy and maybe air bnb to help with bills (when and if that particular activity survives)

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Went out and bought a knee scooter, similar to the one pictured above. On first use, much more comfy and easier to get around indoors. Also got a shower chair. Hopefully will think of a few additional ways to make it an easier few weeks

thanks Bob I can see how far money can go and some really nice houses are out there. All going into the big melting pot for consideration. Looks like rather than retirement slowing things down, there are some major decisions to be made.

Hi Pom Queen thanks, some useful tips there. I hate drinking coffee out of anything other than a cup/mug. Unfortunately OH thinks my pain and suffering comes second to everything being tidied away to its rightful place., otherwise I would set up little stations with the things I need. I do need a trolley of some kind, but as in previous posts, not sure of best option. We live on first floor, part wooden/carpet/tiles. with a step to the bathroom (very annoying) Sorry to hear your independence is diminishing further. The inability to perform basic tasks is driving me nuts as it is.