It’s no secret that housing and rent prices in Perth are way cheaper than cities such as Melbourne Sydney, so it’s not hard to see why Perth is so attractive for new migrants to Australia.
You might be wondering about where you’ll live when you move to Perth, whether you’ll like it, and ultimately whether you’ll rent for a while or buy as soon as you can.
If you do decide to buy, it’s important to make sure that you know exactly what you’re looking for during your property search.
Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind when you want to find your new home in Perth after migrating.
1. Decide Whether to Rent or Buy
The first thing you need to do is decide whether it makes more sense to rent or buy.
Generally, it’s a good idea to rent to start with, at least for a few months, or even a couple of years. This will give you a good idea of whether you like a suburb before you commit to buying.
However, once you’ve found the perfect area for you and your family, it makes sense to buy if you can afford it.
If you need to save for a deposit, don’t forget there are some government incentives to buy or build, such as the First Home Owner Grant. If you qualify, you can get help towards a deposit for your perfect home.
Each state has its own incentives so the amount you can get differs from state to state. It also depends on your circumstances. Find out more about the First Home Owners Grant and stamp duty rules in Western Australia here.
2. Know Your Suburbs
The first step to finding your new home in Perth is picking the right area. Perth is a city built along the coast (and a bit inland!). This makes it a long, thin city stretching from Two Rocks in the north down to Mandurah in the south.
When you’re house hunting, you’ll need to think about which locations give you the amenities that you and your family need.
Central Perth is ideal for couples and singles, with mostly apartments available.
Lots of families choose to settle either in the northern suburbs or southern suburbs. These areas are often referred to as north of the river (NOR) and south of the river (SOR). There are generally plenty of schooling options, shops, medical centres, parks and playgrounds, and other everyday amenities in each suburb.
If you want to be more rural and have some space between you and your neighbours, avoid the new build suburbs and head for the Perth Hills, Swan Valley, and Chittering areas.
3. Think About Your Budget
What you can afford will play a big role in where you end up living, both if you rent or buy.
It’s easy to see where you can afford. Look at websites like RealEstate and Domain. They both list houses for sale and for rent so you can search different areas to see what kind of house you get for your money.
Don’t overstretch yourself. A lot of people come over here and think they need to keep up with the Jones’. Forget about it! Migration is about starting a new life for you and your family – those are the only people you need to worry about. And frankly, if people are going to judge you based on where you can afford to live, then they really aren’t worth associating with anyway!
The general rule is don’t spend more than a third of your income on your rent or mortgage payment.
4. Look for the Right Type of Home
The kind of home you should choose is one that suits your needs as a family.
If you’re single, don’t jump into buying a 4 bedroom house in the suburbs. Likewise, if you’re a young family, you probably don’t want to end up in a tiny apartment in the city.
You know what your family needs, so look for areas that offer homes in the style that will suit your family. Some areas are older so have older properties but bigger plot sizes (called blocks here).
Other areas have smaller blocks but the houses are much more modern and open plan.
If you want the best of both worlds, you need to be prepared to pay for it!
5. Buy Or Build?
If you do decide the time is right to buy a home, you’ll be faced with another decision. Will you buy an existing property or will you build a new home?
There are pros and cons to both, so weigh them up and see what will be best for you.
If you want to live closer to the city and on a bigger block, and aren’t too bothered by the condition and style of the home, buying an existing home may be the best option for you.
If you would prefer a modern home with a layout that suits your family, building might be a better choice. You’ll need to find an area you love, with blocks available to buy. Next, you’ll need to find a home builder who can build your dream home.
There are heaps of new home builders in Perth, and Vision One Homes are home builders who love to bring your home vision to life. They build single and double storey homes around Perth and are happy to work with your ideas to make sure you build a home that you and your family will love for years to come.
How long did you take to buy a home in Perth? We bought a house after just over 2 years in Australia, after living in 3 different suburbs. Let me know what your home buying or building experience was like in the comments.
*This post is sponsored by Vision One Homes but all words and opinions are my own.
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