Queensland. Near-ish the coast, to live in retirement. Where?

[Miljah]

We are considering retiring to Queensland. We're already 'legal'.

We have around £250,000-£300,000 (AU$ 440,000-530,000) to spend.

We want a house, 2-3 bedrooms, a pool, a bit 'out of town' so no neighbour noise, but, being retirees, ability to 'get into town' to shop and see GPs/ hospital.

The coast isn't critical, though we'd like to be within 20-30 minutes drive.

We are wary of FNQ as it is, of course, hot as Hades in high summer, and the distances don't shrink!

We 'know' Brisbane, Sunshine Coast (Buderim), Gympie (DH's family), but as of 15 years ago.

DH said 'Bundaberg is considered to have an ideal climate'... true?

Where would you look at?

TIA.

Should have added, we're 56/58, have to stick at this nonsense til youngest finishes uni, so 4 years from now!

Anyone?

Friends of mine have a house for sale in Deception Bay. It’s not too far from Brisbane, on the coast and prices are within your range.

SIL has lived in and around Noosa for years now, which I really liked when I visited a while back. But think it's quite pricey?

If FNQ even a tiny possibility the Cassowary coast is fabulous. Lots of little friendly towns and all within a couple of hours of either cairns or Townsville. I’ve lived in babinda (an hour south of cairns) and despite having a very wet wet season (highest rainfall in Australia) it’s beautiful the rest of the year. It’s my planned retirement spot!

Also closest beach is 16km away and loads in the area. Gorgeous swimming holes at Babinda Boulders and Josephine Falls which you can use all year around unlike the beaches in stinger season.
You’ll also get a great house for that budget.

Thanks, good for thought! Anyone else?

Question: does Australia have the equivalent of Rightmove?

Does it have to be Aus? NZ east coast north island would give you most of what you’re after- great ish year round weather, some stunning towns etc

Realestate.com.au and domain.com.au

Winging We'd love to consider NZ (Australians have reciprocity with NZ) but the house prices are mad, as half of China is parking its money there!

Ta, goldplace

Ahh it is nuts atm, I love east coast weather as it’s necer cold cold but does get beaut in summer...

Any other thoughts? (Bump..😉)

I live in Brisbane (have done so for nearly two years).

I don't have much experience of 'rural' Queensland however know the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast reasonably well.

What are you looking for? What are your must haves and what are you deal breakers.

FNQ is quite different. .. and Huge! Have you visited here before?

I woudn't (and it's me personally so people have different wants, needs and desires) living FNQ. Visit yes, gorgeous beaches and can be laid back. But for retirement I would want to be on outskirts of Brisbane.

I personally would look at Manly, Wellington Point, Redlands Bays, Cleveland, Raby Bay (will prob be way out of budget), Victoria Point plus other suburbs here and there.

Before you commit to buying, and they do have great retirement villages here I must admit, but visit, research and research some more. It's a biggie that you want to get right.

Yes, outskirts of Brissie would be good- not sure if we could afford what we want there, though!

We'd like: 3 bedrooms/1 ES; deck, pool, bit of land, town water.

DH wouldn't realistically consider FNQ, to be honest.

Have you entered all the suburbs into the buy section of realestate.com.au you can use the filters to find your wants and needs and then drill down by price. I think you've got lots of research ahead.

Thanks!

Sunshine Coast.. anywhere from Kawana to tin can bay?
Close enough to a major hospital.. sorry to be boring but retirement means getting older.. health issues etc.
the new super hospital is amazing.
Lovely beaches, or the hinterland... so choose beach or bush. Less hectic pace of life than the Gold Coast, but close enough to Brisbane to have nights out etc.

Another vote for Sunshine Coast. I wouldn’t do Bundaberg, gets very hot and a long time to get anywhere that’s not Bundy.

We just wish we didn't have to sell our Buderim Forest house 20 years ago, to buy in the UK!!

Oh gosh I bet!

I’m going back to Australia for 3 weeks in July and have just booked a week at Peregian. I cannot wait.

So jealous of your legal status. We almost moved to Australia about 10 years ago. DH could have worked. I chickened out as my parents were getting older and unwell and my sisters were having babies and I felt we would miss out on too much.

I regret it now. Now DH is too old for a work visa and the costs of a retirement visa is just crazy. And we couldn’t take DS. He could study there potentially but no guarantee that he would then be able to stay.

My best friend is in Sydney and I went to Noosa with her a couple of years ago. Loved it there.

Good luck with your search!

I'm the opposite where I live in Brisbane and can't wait to get back to Scotland! The heat, humidity, extremely high dangerous UV plus other reasons of course are the reason why we're moving on.

Australian house prices on the east coast are starting to wobble so hang on for a while and you might pick up a bargain.