QLD PPOR suggestions for North Brisbane

Hi.

Does anyone have any suburb/area suggestions for a PPOR on the Northside of Brisbane?

What we're after:
- close access to the train line with no longer than 30 min train commute
- newish estate / neat suburb
- single story preferably brick
- 800m2 minimum
- not flood affected and elevated
- ~1mill budget

Any other specifics I can answer. Thanks in advance.

 

With $1M budget you can get a really nice home within 10km from the CBD. I used to live around Toowong and really liked it and its surrounding suburbs. Although it is so close to the city, it is not that crowded. It is quite leafy and safe. Some properties have city views. It is worth driving around that area to find out whether you like it.

 

Thanks Mark. We live fairly close to Toowong now. We were more trying to find a location on the Northside.

 

Spring Hill
Albion
Clayfield
Windsor
Wooloowin

These are my recommendation on the Northside with a train station walking distance.

 

Pretty specific criteria, thought of engaging a buyers agent?

 

The good properties of those PPOR are usually Auctioned off.
Best of luck with PPOR hunting.

 

All the criteria combined could make it a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, depending on some factors: How close to train access? What about size and condition of the house. Are you up for renovations, or do you want it move in ready? Are schools a factor? Why 800m block minimum - is it for subdivision potential - if so, a lot of other relevant factors may be important such as heritage overlays?

close access to the train line with no longer than 30 min train commute
What do you mean by 'close access'? Walking distance (generally 900metres or less), or short drive?

There are only 3 main train lines that would be considered northside, so that really does limit options.

• Given some of your criteria, I would probably rule out anything from Northgate onwards on Sandgate and Petrie lines. Lots of low lying suburbs that have older, smaller, shabbier looking housing. Sandgate itself is quite nice once you get there, but just a tad over the 30 minute travel time. Elevated spots in Sandgate likely to be dominated by older timber high set housing. If not needing walking distance to train, Wavell Heights could be worth a look - you seem some older brick low set houses occassionally.
  
• Everything along the Ferny Grove line could be worth a look. Wilston is a beautiful suburb and Alderley as well, but the 800m2 plus elevated is going to make it very difficult even with $1 million under your belt, particularly if you want something renovated. Ferny grove is where you start to see a little more brick housing, but quite a lot high set. But there also seem to be a little more low set compared to closer in suburbs on this line. Keperra Kings Park Estate is a little further away from train station, but more modern brick housing, and handy shopping centre. Note that I think Keperra has a lot going for it long term, but public housing is slightly higher concentration that some of the other suburbs on this line.

When combined with need to be close to train, particularly if walking distance, the next criteria makes this much more difficult. Most of the suburbs along the train line 30 minutes or less, particularly pockets walking distance, are older suburbs - a lot of timber high set housing, so finding brick could be tricky, particularly combined with 800m2 minimum.

newish estate / neat suburb
Newish estates within cooee of a train station these days tend towards smaller blocks, so the 800m minimum plus other requirements make this particularly difficult. Probably better to focus on looking for 'neat suburb'. As mentioned, consider looking at Keperra Kings Park Estate area (South of Samford Rd, West of Settlement Rd - close to Great Western Shopping Centre). Be aware that there is a proposal for a large development at the Quarry.

single story preferably brick
Many of the really nice suburbs with good train access that meet the rest of your criteria - this is going to be very tricky. Much of the era 1930s to 1970s is dominated by highset housing. 1970s brick options often have a lower level, but below legal height. There is the occasional little low set gem - but what size? If happy with a 3brm, there are some old 1930 rare charmers in nice suburbs that will very occasionally pop up. Maybe Wavell Heights might have more chances of low set older brick. Ferny Grove probably higher chance of more modern low set brick.

800m2 minimum
This is going to be tricky: nice suburbs close to train line on Northside are going to be very tricky for this price. If not wanting subdivision, and wanting more yard space, keep in mind that sometimes the position of the house on the block can be a big influence on this. I have seen 500-600 sqm blocks with better back yards than many 800sqm blocks because of the positioning of the house, or the topography of the land.

not flood affected and elevated
Many suburbs that are elevated in general, will be undulating in nature, so there may be pockets within the suburb that may be not so elevated, or might have flooding issues in general. For example, Windsor has some very elevated spots, but also some that are extremely flood prone. Always check flood maps, which are free online with Brisbane council.

~1mill budget
how feasible this is depends on some of the other factors, including size and condition of house, walking distance or driving distance to train etc. Given the various factors, you may need to throw the net wide over a variety of suburbs that meet the criteria, to find the house and the block that meet the other criteria in your budget.