Going on a rekkie to Perth
It’s been pretty hectic this week (hence the lack of updates). Why? Well, were flying out to Perth this weekend on a rekkie.
I’ve always fancied Perth since I went out there on business last year.
We were in Sydney at the time on Holiday and I used the opportunity to take the “short” four and a half hours flight from Sydney to Perth.
I think Sydney is a beautiful city, but for me it’s not the sort of place where I’d like to bring up our son. House prices are also extremely high within a 30-minute commutable radius from Sydney as well so if we did move there it would take an age to get into work every morning.
When I was over in Perth, I met an Aussie chap out there who had also spent some time living in Sydney before moving to Perth (via Melbourne). He made a comparison which I think sums up the lifestyle in Perth pretty well.
He made reference to the United States, a brilliant country in itself and described Sydney as the ‘New York’ of Australia whilst the lifestyle in Perth is more on the lines of that, which you’ll find in California.
Everywhere in Perth seems a lot more laid back. Sydney, in my eyes is just a little too hectic for my liking and as I’ll probably end up working in the City, I think Perth would be a nicer and more laid back place to be.
So as a base for our stay, we’ve rented a house right next to the beach in a little place called Sorrento.
Sorrento is a coastal suburb roughly 17 km north of Perth. It’s seen as a relatively upmarket suburb, which is helped by its proximity to the Hillary’s boat harbour.
We’re really looking forward to going back to Australia although the thought of a 20 hour flight with a three year old in tow is something that we’ll be keeping in the back of our minds until its time to fly. Saying that, we survived a similar flight with a two year old in tow when we flew to Sydney via Singapore last year so I’m sure we’ll be ok.
We’ll be using the trip to visit the areas that we have already earmarked as ‘potentials’ through our investigations on the web. Having a look around the Schools will also be key as will making sure the whole family likes the look and feel of Perth as much as I do.
We’ve also identified a number of potential rentals on the net that we’d like to look at to. This way, if we like the look of the properties and the areas in the flesh we’ll be able to reserve the properties when then become available from the UK.
I also have a couple of meetings set up with recruitment companies when I’m out there. I guess the plan is to ‘get on the books’ but it’ll also give me an opportunity to assess the Australia marketplace for the lines of work I’ll be interested in.
Perth is probably one of the worst places in Australia for the lines of work I’d be looking for. I’m currently a senior IT manager working in a large UK organisation. As Perth is so far our in the sticks, most of the head office or similar managerial roles will be based in the company HQ’s. In the main these tend to be based in places such as Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Many large organisations may have satellite offices in Western Australia, however permanent jobs in senior management are far and few between.
Having said that, I’d like to think that my expectations are pretty realistic.
If I need to take a big pay cut then I’ll take a big pay cut. We will have the money from the sale of the house to survive on as a worst case scenario but obviously, the sooner one of us can get some cash coming in the better and we can use the equity in our current home as a deposit on a new property over there when we decide to buy.
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Hey everyone, Sorry I stumbled onto this site and was woundering if anyone could answer my question ans finding it hard to get an answer anywhere.
I got a years visa in September 2007 and came back to the UK December 2007 becuase my friend s my had cancer and I wanted to be there for her, it was to late the time I got back but she was please to see me. But know I want to go back for finish my work visa off but haven’t got the money.
Is there anyway I can freeze my visa until I get the money to go back.
PLease could you help!
Tracet Summers
Ah Perth. I’m a migrant of 20 years, and I have never experienced such a huge increase in home purchase and rental costs. Take Clarkson, 30 K from the city, on the TransPerth Commuter rail line. A modest 3-bed 2-bath, purchased in 2005 for $210 K is now priced around $320 K – $380 K. Rent for about $350 per week. I don’t know how young people will fare in setting up. Rentals are as scarce as hen’s teeth too.
Airconditioning is a MUST. After 4 to 5 days of 33 deg heat the brickwork begins to radiate the heat inside the home, so that it never really cools, and so to get any sleep you must have airconditioning.
[...] the house itself offered us more in other areas. We also remembered that when we spent a month in Perth during our Rekkie last February. The house we stayed in in Sorrento, only had a ceiling fan to help dissipate the heat and we [...]
Chuck, I’ve just picked up on your entry and your absolutely right. Perth has now past Sydney as the most expensive city in Australia to live (based on average house prices). What a good time for me to choose to come here
Thanks for the input
Mark
[...] We’d never been so far north before, when we were here in February I think we drove up about as far as Ocean Reef which is about 10 minutes south of Mindarie. We really liked the place although for us it was a little too far from the city and the little lads school to be a convenience. It was also a little too quiet for us. Mindarie appears to be a popular spot for those lucky enough to have a second ‘holiday’ home and has a large population of retirees also living there. Its a really nice place but not quite home material. [...]
I think you need to update this entry and tell people that Perth is set to be MORE EXPENSIVE than Sydney. I do agree its more laid back but it is now going to be one of the most expensive cities to live in THE WORLD. Its reputation as a cheap city still lingers but that will soon fade. People are starting to move OUT of Perth and do what you did moving TO Perth and that is selling in an expensive market and moving to a cheaper one.
Someday soon, the truth will be out and that the boom has destroyed a fair real estate market. Might as well tell people about it in your blog.
You will be happy to know that I came across your blog looking for Lara Bingle pics.
Cheers,
Chuck
[...] We would have done had we emigrated when we validated our Visa’s in February, however as our Visa’s were now classed as ‘used’ we no longer qualified for the double baggage allowance. [...]
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