NSW Where to retire?

Discussion in 'Where to Buy' started by geoffw, 30th Apr, 2020.

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  1. Jacque

    Jacque Jacque Parker Premium Member

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    Hey @geoffw sea change hey?! Sounds nice :)
    Depending on how far up you want to go I'd be checking out both the CC and the Coffs areas. We bought an apt a few years ago on the CC (near Long Jetty) and we love getting away from Sydney up there. Easy walk to beach, lakes, shops, cafes, medical centre. Max $600K budget you can get some cute cottages even almost on the lake side if you look hard enough.
    eg: https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-the+entrance-133088914
    Could do with some updating but sold $560K and is within cooee of the lakes....
    Happy hunting!
     
    Jacque, 1st May, 2020
    #41
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  2. Momentum

    Momentum Well-Known Member

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    I reckon you should retire to the Gold Coast, Medellin or somewhere in Oaxaca
     
    Momentum, 1st May, 2020
    #42
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  3. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Any of those would be good, if I was allowed to travel there.
     
    geoffw, 1st May, 2020
    #43
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  4. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Thank you everybody for your input.

    I've taken place suggestions and attempted to refine them further- expanding places in the Central Coast particularly.

    The list is sorted in postcode order.

    I've used realestate.com.au to get the median prices for houses.

    I've used an arbitrary cutoff for the median price of $550,000.

    For those under $550,000 I've checked out the closest Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and Bunnings. These are almost ubiquitous - this doesn't cut out many places. Just Gloucester basically.

    I'm left with these places:
    • Batemans Bay
    • Berkely Vale
    • Boolaroo
    • Budgewoi
    • Coffs Harbour
    • East Maitland
    • Glendale
    • Gorokan
    • Gosford
    • Lake Haven
    • Lake Munmorah
    • Mannering Park
    • Mayfield West
    • Morriset
    • Nowra
    • Port Macquarie
    • Taree
    • Toronto
    Any thoughts on these, any blinding errors, or any omissions from the full list would be welcome. (I know for instance that there are areas of Newcastle which could perhaps have fitted my criteria)

    Thanks!

    2020-05-05 (2).png
     
    geoffw, 5th May, 2020
    #44
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  5. wilso8948

    wilso8948 Well-Known Member

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    Are you more of a bushland, lake kind of person or beaches?
     
    wilso8948, 6th May, 2020
    #45
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  6. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    A good question, thanks.

    I like beaches and bushland, but not passionately. It would be nice being a bit close to the beach, say a 20 minute drive, but I'm not fond of higher prices and holiday crowds frequently associated with beaches. I live next to bushland, and I enjoy the outlook, though I don't often go walking there.
     
    geoffw, 6th May, 2020
    #46
  7. wilso8948

    wilso8948 Well-Known Member

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    Our ex PPOR turned IP is in Toronto on the Western side of Lake Mac. The CBD is nice with cafes and waterfront foreshore. Western side is mostly bushland with Lake pockets. Good access to M1. Has its rough areas.

    Morriset is a bit rough but has trainline to Syd (as does most of Western Lake Mac) and plans to make a decent hub in the future. It can be a 30 min drive to the nearest beach as you need to loop around the lake.

    Eastern side has beaches but is busy and probably out of your price range.

    I've visited parts of central coast but never spent significant time there. Too "Bitsy" for me.

    Mayfield is a gentrifying suburb of Newcastle. Good access to CBD with infrastructure growing. Demographics can be polarizing. Probably the Newtown of Newcastle I guess.

    Glendale has decent shops. Lots of FHB picking up cosmetic renos and nearby land estates.

    East Maitland much the same but further out. Big shopping center and new Hospital

    Taree/Coffs/Port - different discussion to Newcastle and surrounds. All lovely places with great beaches and waterways and well serviced. Less job prospects, harder to access by plane etc. Coffs is a big place. Port Mac and Taree smaller. Port Mac more beaches, Taree more river.
     
    wilso8948, 6th May, 2020
    #47
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  8. Islay

    Islay Well-Known Member

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    Look around some of those areas too. Eg Glendale have a look at Edgeworth. East Maitland look at surrounding more rural settlements eg Largs, Morpeth amongst others. Mayfield there are lots of options including Waratah.

    Your list is very diverse, you are on an interesting journey. Best wishes to you
     
    Islay, 6th May, 2020
    #48
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  9. Lizzie

    Lizzie Well-Known Member

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    Avoid boolaroo like the plague, still had massive leaf smelter issues.

    Consider rathmines, booragul, dora creek areas

    Also wouldn't go Glendale ... have you looked at old bar? Near major hub of taree with large hospital and domestic airport, but a lovely self contained, friendly community. It was our second choice after Stockton
     
    Last edited: 8th May, 2020
    Lizzie, 8th May, 2020
    #49
  10. spoon

    spoon Well-Known Member

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    Has it run past your mind retiring in Perth? Just curious...:cool:
     
    spoon, 8th May, 2020
    #50
  11. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    With one daughter in Newcastle, and the other in Melbourne, probably not.

    And honestly, if we were going to live a long way from them, I'd rather live somewhere where two mad travellers would be really wanting to come and visit. Latin America would be good.
     
    geoffw, 8th May, 2020
    #51
  12. Lizzie

    Lizzie Well-Known Member

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    *** lead smelter .. stupid phone
     
    Lizzie, 8th May, 2020
    #52
  13. spoon

    spoon Well-Known Member

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    As I grow older, it’s important to have loved ones close by. Which daughter looks after you better? Move to that city. Simple, if I were you. Sometimes it’s better to visit a nice town than retiring there. What about Melbourne? I think it’s nice there. :D
     
    spoon, 8th May, 2020
    #53
  14. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    I don't think either daughter will stay in one place long term. The only reason that one is still in Melbourne is because of coronavirus - her study program and Bendigo could be studied online without moving out of her place.

    It's more important that we can be easily reached, probably within two hours of a capital.
     
    geoffw, 8th May, 2020
    #54
  15. The Grinch

    The Grinch Well-Known Member

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    Personally I've always liked north of sydney a lot more than the south of sydney climate wise but this is always personal preference.

    I like coffs harbour, very peaceful and relaxed although it is a further distance from the capitals than say Newcastle central coast amd nowra.

    Not sure if it has been said but maybe try renting in an area first before you commit and realize you aren't happy where you are.

    Interested to see where you do end up going and how you settle in.

    Please keep us updated :)
     
    The Grinch, 8th May, 2020
    #55
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  16. Nemo30

    Nemo30 Well-Known Member

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    My mum moved from Canberra to Coffs Harbour to retire and loved it. The climate was much milder, although they did get a lot of rain and flooding.

    There's about 70k people there (many of whom are retired) so has all the services/shops you need. The hospital is large. Restaurants and cafes are plentiful and beaches are great.

    Downside is it's really out of the way. There is a decent airport but flights are expensive. It's a 5 hour drive from either Bris or Sydney. It wasn't easy to visit often... And we didn't.
     
    Nemo30, 10th May, 2020
    #56
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  17. wilso8948

    wilso8948 Well-Known Member

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    This is a great summary of Coffs. Accessibility is a nightmare and $$. Which may be perfect in Retirement for some!
     
    wilso8948, 11th May, 2020
    #57
  18. ttn

    ttn Well-Known Member

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    ttn, 18th May, 2020
    #58
  19. wilso8948

    wilso8948 Well-Known Member

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    wilso8948, 18th May, 2020
    #59
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  20. ttn

    ttn Well-Known Member

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    could be someone else's treasure :D
     
    ttn, 18th May, 2020
    #60
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