Where to retire in Queensland

[davlap]

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)

[calNgary]

Out of all the places you mention Noosa/ Noosa Heads/ Tewnatin would probably be top of my list. Great for beaches, great for camping and if you pick your area carefully not too commercialised to live there.

We have friends at Buderim and they love it and have easy access to Mooloolaba beaches etc but i couldn't do the estate type living anymore and larger plots seem to be quite expensive as do apartments in Mooloolaba itself (we too looked at keeping the house and having a beachfront apartment). We also looked at Alexandra headlands but it wasnt for us.

Cal x

 

[davlap]

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.

 

[gwalker]

I'd forget NSW especially north of Sydney. 

I like the Sunshine coast. That would be my pick .We just live over the bridge from you in Redcliffe. This ticks all our boxes. We have a large private garden which is so peaceful.

Hervey bay.. yeah it's ok. But I couldn't live there. Far to quiet and apart from Fraser Island there's nothing to do there.

Have you thought about Bribie . Houses will be more reasonable there. Plus it'll be peaceful.

 

[davlap]

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.

 

[North to South]

My suggestions would be Noosa/Sunshine Beach but it very much depends on your budget.  I also like Tewantin and Peregian Beach as they have most things close to hand. although I think out of the two I'd choose Tewantin for it's proximity to Noosa River which is a lovely place to wander on a warm evening with plenty of coffee shops and restaurants to choose from.

Although I'm a few years away yet, this is the area that I would like to retire as there are a great selection of properties across all budgets and whilst Noosa is very popular and over busy at times, you can always find somewhere to escape and just relax.  Places slightly inland like Doonan are also nice and offer great properties on large plots and it's only 14 mins from Noosa.

 

[davlap]

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.

[Chortlepuss]

Have you thought about Currumundi Lake/ Wurtulla? Very handy for Sunshine Coast hospital. My favourite place in Queensland and pretty quiet

[davlap]

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

[davlap]

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. 

Edited April 12, 2020 by davlap

[ramot]

I’ve been retired for 17 years in the Sunshine Coast area you are considering. 

I think the land size at the price  you are looking for will be pretty hard to find, you might have to think more hinterland? Have you looked at Palmwoods or Woombye? only a thought as I admit to knowing nothing about the house prices there.

I don’t know your age, but one word of advice is think very carefully about what you buy at age 60 and still relatively fit if you don’t intend moving again. Your health can sometimes sadly change very quickly, or creep up on you as you age. Many we know have had to move because they either can’t cope with their property any more, or just don’t want to. Moving at any age is a pain, harder in your late 70’s early 80’s. 

Property still seems to be selling surprisingly well. A house near us has just sold in 2 weeks, but higher than the price range you have mentioned.

I realise everyone’s travel is restricted at the moment, but it’s very difficult to assess an area from the internet. Most of the Sunshine Coast is fine but there aren’t many cheap areas with land, and if there are there is usually a reason.

Good luck with your search.

 

[davlap]

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