NSW Punchbowl vs Greenacre?

Which is the better suburb? Which is the better buy right now? For immediate living and future investment

I'm looking to move from wollongong and don't know Sydney too well. I've been looking at properties with 3+ bed and 2 car and $900k budget

 

Who's riding shotgun?

 

Train station. Though Greenacre has a very well regarded school, I think I'd go for transport first. But... if you can find a block in either suburb you can duplex, and buy at a good price, it will be fine.

 

Thanks Gockie!

How about crime? Which is more family friendly?
When you mean I can duplex do you mean knock down and build new?

At the moment it looks like a newish duplex/townhouse is within budget not sure if I can find a livable house in that budget (I'm looking for something that doesn't require much work to be done)

Any other suburb recommendations? How about South Strathfield? Lidcombe?

 

Check this out Crime Maps | BOCSAR

 

Fixed it

 

Punchbowl has a train station
Greenacre does not have a train station.

Greenacre is nicer in my opinion than Punchbowl.
Greenacre towards Strathfield (Hume Highway side) is nicer.

 

Interesting! Click on the homicide section on the left and learn that Greenacre is in an area with high rates of homicides. Punchbowl has less. Similar with blackmail and extortion.

 

Punchbowl has Trent

 

He goes to Lidcombe "stashe" to kick around some soda bottles though.

 

Ok. Reading more, OP, I reckon get on the ground and have a general look at the areas first.
My gut feel is you haven't been to these areas before?

 

Violent crime capitals, Bankstown LAC is the busiest AFAIK in NSW.

Probably petty crime capital as well.

 

Actually I have driven by these areas but hard to tell from first glance.

It is! I searched Greenacre shootings and now not very sure about this suburb at all.

Do you have any other suburb recommendations?

Not really sure where to look. Just thought these suburbs were semi central and <20kms to CBD so would be good investment.

Wish I was looking in Melbourne it would be much easier!

 

Rent for 6 months to work out the lay of the land.

 

For investment, they are fine, to live there, well......let's just say most normal people will move out if they have the choice.

If you sat down with me & I told you what we went through when in that area for 6 months, there is no way you would go there, it is berserk with crime, drugs, guns, theft.

Although these areas are not cheap, the people there are, a large % have no regard for others or their property, I think Scotts suggestion of renting in a few areas first would be better.

PS what you read about in the papers etc is only a fraction of what goes on there,

 

+1 for renting 6 months first.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. If I was to rent I still want to choose a good area as I would likely only shop/walk around and park in that immediate area.

My work will likely be around Macquarie Park or North Shore and the wife works past Parramatta.

 

BTW some trivia for you...

Rex "The Moose" Mossop used to call Punchbowl ...... "Biffo bowl"

I always wondered how Greenacre got it's name..... Brown acres IMO

 

In that case Greenacre/Punchbowl doesnt sound like the ideal location for you both to be living in. Transport options will not be straightforward. (Though, possibly in 2024 transport will be fine, assuming that metro rail link goes in, but the demographic still might not be a happy fit).

How about living in Parramatta? Affordable yet convenient. Parramatta has direct buses to Macquarie, trains to North shore. (Long ride but at least you just have to sit on it). And it will be easy for your wife.

Otherwise Redfern? It works for travel in all directions. You'd be looking at a unit though.

 

Forgot to mention my brother works in Caringbah and occasionally Wollongong (just to throw another thing I have to consider!)