Anyone in Perth?

[Needmorecaffeine]

We are considering a move to Perth and wondered if anyone out there could share their experiences of what it is like to live there. We have lived in Australia before and have visited Perth but realise the realities of everyday life are often different. We would be coming over with 2 primary aged children. Thanks

Hi
Sorry I don't currently live in Perth but I was born there so I visit regularly with my primary age children and my sisters/friends there also have primary age children.
Perth is a fantastic place to raise children - the weather is great most of the year round and there is so much outside activities to do. My English brother-n'law moved there when his kids were 11 and 4 and in his opinion his children have a much better lifestyle than what they would have had in England.
The only thing I would say to you is you need to be very aware of where you move to in Perth. Its very spread out up the coast and lots of English people settle quite far up north on the beach. Its very lovely up there but its also a bit isolated. My brother'n'law did this because he had an English friend who had moved there - but upon reflection if he had his time again he would have chosen a place closer to the city but his kids are settled now so he won't move.

Perth is wonderful! Been here over 20years and no regrets at all. Especially terrific for young families and the lifestyle is wonderful.

Check the job situation carefully before you come. We’ve had great success but don’t just assume you’ll land something amazing.
Rent a house for at least a year so that you can check areas etc Architecture is very different so the type of house you try first may not be what you ultimately want to buy. Property is very cheap here at the moment, a buyers market.
Anything else you’d like to know?

We have been here nearly 7 years. We arrived with a toddler and a 4 year old. The kids have an amazing lifestyle, lots of outside time. It still seems amazing to me even after all this time that they head off for a swim in their friends pool but its completely normal to them.
Check the schools before you pick an area. If you chose to go public there are some amazing schools but you need to be in the right catchment for them. There is alot of other options but just because you pay doesn't necessarily mean you will get a better education.
My eldest is going to the local High School next year, it is doing better then the 2 local private schools which are also good schools. My parents come over every year and think we have a great lifestyle and are even considering coming permanently

mirgant. How cheap do you mean? What type of % drops in prices over the last 3years say? I’ve heard Perth property has been vv expensive previously.

It’s on our list for a potential move but the company is already trying to screw us and make us go as locals. Need to consider the cost of housing if it comes to be our only option.

Your best bet is to go on REIWA website. Then you can see areas, prices etc. You might qualify for first homeowners grant too. Mortgage rates are low at the moment too.

Thanks I’ll take a look

Thanks for all your replies. The outdoor lifestyle is what is really drawing us back to Australia so it sounds like Perth would fit the bill. Just have to be brave enough to make the move (again!)

Ittakes2, can I ask how far north you mean when you say quite far up? Joondalup? We have been looking a lot at Duncraig as the schools look good and it isn't too far to the city or the beach.

Joondalup really isn’t that far. It’s also a busy city in its own right. Great rail links too. But why go north at all? Brilliant places going south

We are close to Duncraig, it is a great suburb and the schools are really good. My kids will go to high school there. My husband commutes into the cbd everyday and it takes about an hour. Lots of beaches and parks, the houses are on bigger blocks then you have further north.

What areas down south would you recommend Migrant2? Mainly looking north as have heard lots of good things about Duncraig (as confirmed by sunbunny) :)

That would depend on budget. Have you found the “my school” website yet? Allows you to check how the school performs in the NAPLAN national tests.

Budget is probably around $650K - $700k. Yes I've spent a lot of time on the myschool website already :) I hadn't seen the REIWA one before so thanks for mentioning that - it has some useful maps to look at affordability of areas.