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5 ways to know if a suburb is right for you

Published on December 4th, 2020
  Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
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You’ve been back and forth about joining your friends who live in the suburbs. But you still find it difficult to make a decision. The following five hints may get you a good start and help you make up your mind.

Pay attention to school zones

If you are a newly-wedded family, and you plan on having children, or you already have children, this aspect should be on the top of your list. School areas can aid you to determine between different suburb areas, and establish where you and your family should head. When exploring unfamiliar areas, check the school detachment the particular zone falls under. If, say, your children are attending elementary school at the moment, remember to take into consideration the alternatives you have in terms of secondary schools. This is important because it will save you from stress and worries. Plus, did you know that properties located in the proximity of good schools present a good price range?

Planned developments

Secondly, if you have reached an area where the things don’t appear as developed as you’d like them to be, don’t rush into eliminating that option from your list! Many suburbs have planned developments for the upcoming future. Hence, make sure you inquire about this aspect as well, because things may be entirely different after a couple of years, and you might regret your rushed decision afterward. Do plenty of research in this regard, and get acquainted with growth plans by visiting the government and local council websites. If there are plans for the construction of parks, supermarkets and urban centres, then this might be the right place for you.

Local facilities

Another reliable way to determine whether a suburb is the right one for you is by checking out the local amenities. Are there recreational spaces in the proximity? What about parks and shops? Do you have immediate, quick access to the main train and bus stations? Is your suburb a short drive to the nearest shopping centre? If the answer to these questions is positive, then you’ve come to the right spot.

Being a community

Many people convey a suburb’s atmosphere and feel as primordial in making a decision. Local events play a major part in constructing that sense of camaraderie, and certainly counts as a factor that you should consider. While it may be difficult to establish at once the spirit of a community, acquiring some information might be of great help. For instance, don’t hesitate to ask the local council of upcoming events and always search for information concerning crime rates.

A comfortable setting

And last, but not least, when you want to move to the suburbs, it means that you want to relish peace, calm and ultimate comfort – and it’s only fair. Hence, if you’ve made your decision, take the time to discover the area. Bring the entire family along, and organise a day out by exploring the features of the area. If it feels right, then you know what to do.

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