best place to live in brisbane

partnership

Son is moving down to Brisbane from Darwin to look for work. What part of Brisbane is best to live in and for work. He has a car.

AngryHippie

It depends.

What kind of car?

partnership

A nissan of some sort. So can live outside city.

AngryHippie

What does he work at ?
What sort of visa is he on?
Is he travelling alone ?
What time of year does he come down ?
What age is he ?

Reason for the questions:

Type of work will dictate where he will get work, if he is in finance or hospitality, generally the inner suburbs would suit better, as a lot of time would be spent commuting otherwise.
If its a trade, then the western, southern or far northern suburbs may suit better as they are the more industrial zone.
If its construction, then it doesn't really matter, there will be a fair amount of moving around and commuting anyway.

If he is on a WHV, he may not have enough time left in-country to go signing on for a 6 month lease, which is the normal minimum in QLD, particularly in the inner suburbs. If on 457, it would be best to have the employment sorted before moving, as there is a time-scale to find a new employer. If on PR, then no real concerns visa-wise.

If traveling alone, keep in mind that small units are hard to get in the outer suburbs, where its generally 2-3 bed + houses available.
If traveling with a group, keep in mind that the opposite situation applies to the inner suburbs, where there aren't many rentals with more than 2-3 bedrooms. (There are some, but not many)

Time of year may seem like an odd question, but it is significant because of the Uni semesters. There generally tends to be plenty of places available in Jun/July and Nov/Dec, whereas it dries up a bit in Jan/Feb Aug/Sept. In between those times, its relatively consistent. There isn't a massive shortage.

Age will be a big factor. Anyone over 28/29 won't be overly keen to go mucking around in the Valley or on benders in the West End, and could probably live quite comfortably in Rosalie or Bulimba as suburbs, they have less nightlife (pubs) and are more suited to dining and Dinky demograph. New Farm and West End are close to the entertainment precincts, rents are a bit higher, and they are infested with hipsters, hospitality workers and house shares. Generally an easy enough place to live and close enough to the city to not need the car every day, finding somewhere to park it would be more of an issue. Anyone in early 20's will probably want to live within stumbling distance of the Valley or the West-End, as they are the main night-life hubs of the city.

Go to realestate.com.au for an idea of rental prices and availabiltiy, be prepared to spend a few weeks inspecting places, don't sign a lease unless you are sure about the place, and the agent can look you in the eye and seems switched on (there are a lot of useless douchebags masquerading as property managers in BNE, they'll drag their asses about the simplest request)

For a reasonable balance of price, proximity to the city, and facilities, one place I have lived is Vue apartments on North Quay, I couldn't have enough good things to say about both the property, and it's managers, they are tip-top, but availabilities are few and far between.

If he's having drama's get him to post up here for some pointers.

partnership

Thanks Angryhippie some really useful information.

He is 22, he is on one year visa but wants to do second year has some of the regional work done.
Workwise has been working doing forklift driving, has just got hgv licence as well, has done construction work there, retail and bar work here.
He is thinking of doing some courses over there with a view to becoming a paramedic - just exploring this at present and the college is on the gold coast. Obviously he may be constrained by cost or having to change visa on this.
His first year isn't up until Oct so can sign to a six month lease.
He isn't a mad socialiser.
When I spoke to him last he is looking more at the gold coast because of the college rather than the city but needs to make sure that wherever he goes there is work obviously.
I will pass on the advise and get him to post if he has questions and thanks again.

AngryHippie

I'd push to get the regional work complete before moving to the GC. It'll be hard to get back out of there:D

To study in Oz as a foreign national on a student visa, you have to pay 100% course fees, and are limited to 20hrs paid work. Visa options are fairly limiting in that respect. Make sure he does his research

partnership

Thanks angryhppie have passed on that advice to him. I think he has about 42 days done - he is now looking for work that will qualify. He will be travelling from Darwin to Brisbane soon so if anyone know of anything or can recommend places that would be good.

With regard to the course it is mainly online so I think that does not need a student visa but he is checking it out.

partnership

ok he is nearly finished his regional now and planning to move in the next 3 weeks. Currently looking at apartments etc and for jobs. So any advice re either welcome.

Noo

Red hill might be good. Its close the city (walkable on not so hot days), and close to public transport routes if he's working elsewhere. Theres a lot of college rentals in the area so theres plenty of houseshares at cheap prices.

Edit: sorry didn't realise youre looking for more gold coast area.

partnership

He is open to anywhere as long as he gets work. Looking for apartment on own not house share though.

AngryHippie

That will be a very expensive way to live unfortunately.
The Oz housing market doesn't cater that well for 1 bedders, and the few that there are are pricey. Does he know anybody in Brisbane or the GC at all ?

partnership

No he doesn't. He had bad experience of sharing so prefers to be on own. He knows it is dearer but is quite good with his money not a big goer outer.

AngryHippie

There will be some places that may suit in the main drag of the Gold Coast. I'd stay further south around Broadbeach/Burleigh. The Cavill Avenue/Surfers Paradise end of town is pretty seedy and all about the party scene. To be honest, he'd probably get more from living in Brisbane, and unless the Uni thing is locked in, that is what I would lean towards.
The employment opportunities are generally better, while cost of living is fairly similar unless you get into the outer suburbs.

Has he costed out the whole Uni/TAFE Process yet ?
It's costing me over 2.5k per semester (all upfront, no HEX/HELP debt accrual), but if the course is through TAFE, they are generally a bit less, but won't be able to get any Funding or HEX/HELP at all.

I'd advise that he spends a week travelling around from Brisbane down to Coolangatta, staying in hostels and just getting a feel for the different areas. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

partnership

Thanks Angryhippie you have given me some really useful informationa bout the God Coast. Which parts of Brisbane would be better for work opportunitites? With regard tot he course he wants to do it is an online one so internet will be very important as well - are there any areas where it is not great for the internet? He has costed the course and can pay over a period of time rather than up front.

Noo

Best area for work opportunities?

Thats impossible to answer. He can either get a job first and then get somewhere nearby or get a place and then only apply for jobs nearby. But he has a car so hes not limited to those options. Brisbane is not a big city, its very easy to get from one side to the other. If your son has a car he really can live anywhere.

Imagine being in dublin and asking whats the best area for work...its fairly small and obviously the city is his best bet, but depending on the type of work or company he could be out in some industrial areas in the suburbs. When I first got here I lived 5km from my job, then I moved and it was 8km, now my work has moved and its 13km. I now live on the northside and work on the southside and its piece of cake with a car.

My point is unless he has a job to begin with its impossible to know where he'll end up working.

Keep in mind an apartment on his own in the city could cost him $500+ a week, unfurnished.
A 9-5 job mon-fri on minimum wage will get him about $750 a week.

Graham_B18C

If he's looking at a place on his own, he'll pay through the nose for a 1 bed apt. I work with lots of people that live in house shares in St. Lucia, Paddington and Auchinflower for about 150-170 per week. All of those areas are close enough to the city and are quite nice. Easy access to the Pacific motorway to get to the coast too but not ideal if he's working in the GC as it's about 50 mins drive each way