Research on suburbs have been ongoing for the LONGEST while, and has not really been concluded yet. But here is what ive found out.
Domain.com.au - Indispensable. What would I do without you!!!
Items i love on Domain.com.au
1. Suburb Profile
Love the information on the demographics of the population
2. News and Finance - Finance calculators - What will my minimum loan repayments be
Beware, AU interest rates currently stand around 6% and might hit 8% by end of 2010 or 2011. This calculator is so important if you are considering to rent or buy. High interest rates totally changes things.
3. And of course the easy to use Buy and Rent features.
Sydney Suburbs I've identified..
I guess our priorities in picking suburbs would be price and safety. Proximity to Asian communities would also be a consideration although much has been said about coming to Australia and integrating with the local Caucasian population. While I have to agree that point has some merit, if we stay in a white community, where would we get Asian produce! So, proximity to Asian communities is definitely important, seeing that we'd need the spices and herbs and Asian dried goods fairly regularly.
Rents per week we're looking not to exceed AUD470, so that will cost us almost AUD2k a month. Coming here on a single income, with 2 sets of dependents to consider back in Singapore, sadly the rent will have to be minimized =(
Here are the suburbs still in consideration -
Northern Suburbs - front runner. Love Epping, seems like a good combination of urban living and lots of green as well. Eastwood just 1 station down seems to be a Chinese hub, and Top Ryde the new shopping center is nearby. Ryde/Eastwood/Epping would really be our first choice, but rents here are fairly high, at least AUD470 for a 2 bed 2 bath place.
St. George - in consideration. This would include suburbs we are considering like Rockdale/Hurstville/Penhurst/Beverly Hills. Really good connectivity by train, minutes to the eastern beaches (such as Bondi) and loads loads of commercial facilities, restaurants etc. Cons - Hurstville in particular seems to really lack parks, and the area seems a bit less safe than the Northern Suburbs.
Homebush - Less of a consideration. Homebush West is near the Flemington market. That in itself is wonderful (as i would assume, not being currently in Sydney). Imagine having a huge market that you could walk to on days that it opens. The market largely runs in the early mornings, so fighting to get there by train on a weekday is really not ideal. Which will mean marketing will eat into half a day in our weekend, a boring exercise and a full freezer if its done just once a week. Yucks. Homebush west has lovely new 3 bedroom units at rents of AUD470 weekly! An amazing price given its proximity to the huge parks in the Sydney Olympic Park, decent connectivity by train, and proximity to Flemington markets. Cons... You'd never guess - its also walking distance to Sydney's largest cemetery, Rookwood Cemetery. Over 1 million dead are interred there. FAINT. Now you know.... A spin on Necropolis drive anyone?
Carlingford - in serious consideration. May be the only area that meets the rent and safety criteria in the end. 3 bed room units available there for about AUD470 a week, and 2 bed 2 bath at just AUD 400. Leafy, green, loads of parks, a small shopping center that has both a Woolies and a Coles and a Target to boot. And seems the area also produces great schools. See School Ranking (Primary Schools, NSW) here. Cons... although its fairly near the city just 15km from Sydney city, it takes 1 hour (excluding walking time) on public transport!!! and, trains arrive only at half hour intervals (more on that shocking statistic about Sydney in another unwritten post).
Argh. Decisions, decisions. But more importantly, where will we stay with we first get into Sydney??
Monday, July 12, 2010
Prior to relocation - research on cars
We have decided to buy a used car, with budget of not more than 12k for starters. Part of the budget will be funded by the sale of our current car in Singapore, where we will hopefully get SGD5k, and i suppose we will have to cough up the remaining SGD5k or so, or take out a small small loan.
The plan is to buy a wagon type car. Ideally, we'd want something that we can use to transport bulky furniture (well not that bulky!), the stuff we buy from Ikea, or from garage sales and such. This will save us money on movers, which are supposedly extremely expensive in Australia! (No more cheap labour from Msia across the causeway!).
Seems the premier car site is www.drive.com.au, which, as with ALL Australian websites so far, has been absolutely a breeze and totally intuitive to use. Filters for used cars (once u make some initial selections) go right down to pricing, transmission, mileage etc!. For wagon types, there seemed to be only 2 options that fit our budget - Holden Cruze and Daihatsu Terios. Hubby has long eyed the Terios, essentially a Toyota Rush rebranded by Daihatsu. Unfortunately, Daihatsu stopped selling cars in Australia, and will be assimilated into Toyota. Parts will be a problem.
Holden Cruze (2002- 2006 versions) initially looked a good buy, lots of spare parts, affordable, easy on the eyes, lots of space with the back seats folded away. But on further research, seems like the gearbox gives major major problems and costs major major moolah to repair. So scratched yet again!
We have finally decided that it will likely be a Honda Jazz that we will settle on when we get there. Although smaller than what we initially desired, the apparently spaciousness of the Jazz for carrying cargo, and the rave reviews, and also the reasonable pricetag and good resale value will probably be the ideal way to go. One more item scratched off the list of things to consider... Next up.. Mobile subscriptions!
The plan is to buy a wagon type car. Ideally, we'd want something that we can use to transport bulky furniture (well not that bulky!), the stuff we buy from Ikea, or from garage sales and such. This will save us money on movers, which are supposedly extremely expensive in Australia! (No more cheap labour from Msia across the causeway!).
Seems the premier car site is www.drive.com.au, which, as with ALL Australian websites so far, has been absolutely a breeze and totally intuitive to use. Filters for used cars (once u make some initial selections) go right down to pricing, transmission, mileage etc!. For wagon types, there seemed to be only 2 options that fit our budget - Holden Cruze and Daihatsu Terios. Hubby has long eyed the Terios, essentially a Toyota Rush rebranded by Daihatsu. Unfortunately, Daihatsu stopped selling cars in Australia, and will be assimilated into Toyota. Parts will be a problem.
Holden Cruze (2002- 2006 versions) initially looked a good buy, lots of spare parts, affordable, easy on the eyes, lots of space with the back seats folded away. But on further research, seems like the gearbox gives major major problems and costs major major moolah to repair. So scratched yet again!
We have finally decided that it will likely be a Honda Jazz that we will settle on when we get there. Although smaller than what we initially desired, the apparently spaciousness of the Jazz for carrying cargo, and the rave reviews, and also the reasonable pricetag and good resale value will probably be the ideal way to go. One more item scratched off the list of things to consider... Next up.. Mobile subscriptions!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Australian migration Points Test, and a lot, a LOT! of reading!
Finally settled and agreeing to really start seriously looking into migrating to Australia, one of the 1st things I did was to read, reread and reread again the many, detailed and bureaucratic pages of instructions. Basically, being able to navigate and comprehend the written instructions on the migration process, with NO help from a migration agent, would test my English language skills to an extent, even the IELTS could not match.
We had determined that we would apply via the Professionals and other Skilled Migrants category, from outside of Australia, on a Skilled - Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175). I read each and every page on the Subclass 175 visa, from How this Visa Works, to Eligibility, to Obligations, to Applying for this Visa, and followed every single link provided on each page to its final destination. Tabling the details of what was needed, into 3 columns, of Eligibility Requirements, Weblink related to the Eligibility Requirement, and Weblink details, I created a document of steps from start to finish totaling 9 pages long. Looking back on the process, it doesnt seem that hard, but the initial process of digesting the pages and pages of steps to perform and consider; wow it was quite a mouthful.
Successful application of an Australian Visa Subclass 175 is determined by a system of points, and supporting documents for the various points you claim to have. Our points test is shown below
Under each Eligibility requirement, there would be a link to follow, and a description allowing you to determine how many points you get under each section. The total points need to add up to 120, and as you can see, ours doesn't. When we started the application back in July 2009, the Australian Immigration had an additional criteria of MODL (Migration Occupations in Demand List), which was removed in Feb 2010 See link http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-gsmchanges.pdf. This gave us an additional 15 points for an occupation in demand (20 points if your occupation is in the MODL + you have a job offer), and brought our total to 130.
We had determined that we would apply via the Professionals and other Skilled Migrants category, from outside of Australia, on a Skilled - Independent (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 175). I read each and every page on the Subclass 175 visa, from How this Visa Works, to Eligibility, to Obligations, to Applying for this Visa, and followed every single link provided on each page to its final destination. Tabling the details of what was needed, into 3 columns, of Eligibility Requirements, Weblink related to the Eligibility Requirement, and Weblink details, I created a document of steps from start to finish totaling 9 pages long. Looking back on the process, it doesnt seem that hard, but the initial process of digesting the pages and pages of steps to perform and consider; wow it was quite a mouthful.
Successful application of an Australian Visa Subclass 175 is determined by a system of points, and supporting documents for the various points you claim to have. Our points test is shown below
Under each Eligibility requirement, there would be a link to follow, and a description allowing you to determine how many points you get under each section. The total points need to add up to 120, and as you can see, ours doesn't. When we started the application back in July 2009, the Australian Immigration had an additional criteria of MODL (Migration Occupations in Demand List), which was removed in Feb 2010 See link http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/pdf/faq-gsmchanges.pdf. This gave us an additional 15 points for an occupation in demand (20 points if your occupation is in the MODL + you have a job offer), and brought our total to 130.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Our Australia migration decision
Recalling how it began.....
So, we're sitting in the car driving home from work one evening, and the husband suddenly says hey you know 2 of my friends received Australian Permanent Resident Visas and left for Aussie some time ago. Another one just got his, and just left the company to head for Australia. He got his visa in 7 months. I think we should apply.
Me : Really? Are you sure we can get it?? (i mean if it were so easy, i'd expect half of Singapore's IT population to have applied and gone).
Hubby : Yes, I've counted my points the migration website, and I think I qualify to get into Australia. But we need to go before next May. (He turns 35 in May, and then they minus 5 points)
So we discussed it, it took quite a bit of him persuading me for me to finally believe that yes, we do have a chance at successfully clearing the points test and really getting into Australia.
So, we're sitting in the car driving home from work one evening, and the husband suddenly says hey you know 2 of my friends received Australian Permanent Resident Visas and left for Aussie some time ago. Another one just got his, and just left the company to head for Australia. He got his visa in 7 months. I think we should apply.
Me : Really? Are you sure we can get it?? (i mean if it were so easy, i'd expect half of Singapore's IT population to have applied and gone).
Hubby : Yes, I've counted my points the migration website, and I think I qualify to get into Australia. But we need to go before next May. (He turns 35 in May, and then they minus 5 points)
So we discussed it, it took quite a bit of him persuading me for me to finally believe that yes, we do have a chance at successfully clearing the points test and really getting into Australia.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Getting Australian visa evidencing in our passports
We got our Australian visas evidenced on our passports yesterday.
I would be more upbeat about it, cos this finally we get an actual tangible item from the Australian government that we're now their permanent residents, but frankly, after holding the Australian PR for a total of 2 months now, the reality of it has set in, and it has stopped feeling so unreal.
Yes we are going, this is for sure, just WHEN!?!?!?!?!?!
Also, it could have been because this was our 2nd try getting in the Australian High Commission in Singapore to get our Australian visa evidenced.
The Australian High Comm.
The Commission has got very short working hours. Or maybe they just have very few people working for them. Basically they open counter services from 9am to 12noon, and then their phone lines to the public from 2pm to 4pm. So if you try calling at say 10am, you get a message which says "We are closed blah blah blah please call back from 2pm to 4pm in the afternoon." Guess they don't multitask too well.
Our first try to get our visa's evidenced took place on 3rd May, a Monday and an off day in lieu of the Sat May day holiday for hubby and I. We knew that the opening hours were till 12noon only, but somehow, only left the house at 11.30am that day. Needless to say, after including parking (off-site) and the 5 min walk to the Commission, we dint make it. We were pretty disappointed.
The Australian High Commission is fortified like that of a military base. To get in, you need to surrender a photo ID, and any cameras or phones with cameras, or any sort of photographic or video recording equipment. Vehicles are not allowed to park/wait/drop off passengers right in front of the gates, but rather need to let passengers off about 10 meters away. An old grandmother trying to get in, would prolly need to spend at least 5 mins navigating her way up the hill and between barriers.
We left at 10.45am on a Friday morning. Despite the last failed attempted, lesson wasnt learned and we only managed to get parking at the Gleneagles hospital opposite the Commission at 11.25. We hastened to the high comm and surrendered a total of 3 mobile phones and 4 ids. (Grandparents tagged along too). The baby dint need an ID. In return we received bright yellow lanyards with "VISITOR" emblazoned boldly in front. Of course the baby wanted to wear the lanyard, which he dint get cos he dint have any ID, and we were stopped by the sharp eyed guard, and told that the baby is NOT to wear the lanyard, only the adult. Ooops.
Getting the passport evidenced with the Australian visa was pretty easy. There were probably less than 20 people in total waiting at the immigration area for various High Comm services. We passed our passports along with the grant letter to the chinese lady at the counter, who surprised me with her strong Aussie accent. The passports and letter were accepted with a blithe "thank you, please take a seat" and no further instructions.
10 minutes later, she waved at us to come over and passed back to us the passports with the visa sticker.
This is what it looks like below. Its basically a sticker that has your name, type and date of Australian visa grant and initial entry into Australia requirements date.
Woohoo.. another step on the road to Australia!
I would be more upbeat about it, cos this finally we get an actual tangible item from the Australian government that we're now their permanent residents, but frankly, after holding the Australian PR for a total of 2 months now, the reality of it has set in, and it has stopped feeling so unreal.
Yes we are going, this is for sure, just WHEN!?!?!?!?!?!
Also, it could have been because this was our 2nd try getting in the Australian High Commission in Singapore to get our Australian visa evidenced.
The Australian High Comm.
The Commission has got very short working hours. Or maybe they just have very few people working for them. Basically they open counter services from 9am to 12noon, and then their phone lines to the public from 2pm to 4pm. So if you try calling at say 10am, you get a message which says "We are closed blah blah blah please call back from 2pm to 4pm in the afternoon." Guess they don't multitask too well.
Our first try to get our visa's evidenced took place on 3rd May, a Monday and an off day in lieu of the Sat May day holiday for hubby and I. We knew that the opening hours were till 12noon only, but somehow, only left the house at 11.30am that day. Needless to say, after including parking (off-site) and the 5 min walk to the Commission, we dint make it. We were pretty disappointed.
The Australian High Commission is fortified like that of a military base. To get in, you need to surrender a photo ID, and any cameras or phones with cameras, or any sort of photographic or video recording equipment. Vehicles are not allowed to park/wait/drop off passengers right in front of the gates, but rather need to let passengers off about 10 meters away. An old grandmother trying to get in, would prolly need to spend at least 5 mins navigating her way up the hill and between barriers.
We left at 10.45am on a Friday morning. Despite the last failed attempted, lesson wasnt learned and we only managed to get parking at the Gleneagles hospital opposite the Commission at 11.25. We hastened to the high comm and surrendered a total of 3 mobile phones and 4 ids. (Grandparents tagged along too). The baby dint need an ID. In return we received bright yellow lanyards with "VISITOR" emblazoned boldly in front. Of course the baby wanted to wear the lanyard, which he dint get cos he dint have any ID, and we were stopped by the sharp eyed guard, and told that the baby is NOT to wear the lanyard, only the adult. Ooops.
Getting the passport evidenced with the Australian visa was pretty easy. There were probably less than 20 people in total waiting at the immigration area for various High Comm services. We passed our passports along with the grant letter to the chinese lady at the counter, who surprised me with her strong Aussie accent. The passports and letter were accepted with a blithe "thank you, please take a seat" and no further instructions.
10 minutes later, she waved at us to come over and passed back to us the passports with the visa sticker.
This is what it looks like below. Its basically a sticker that has your name, type and date of Australian visa grant and initial entry into Australia requirements date.
Woohoo.. another step on the road to Australia!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
moving to australia
Hi there,
We’re a little family of 3, dad, mum and a little boy, who have the intention to try out a new life in Australia. We’ve chosen Sydney as our landing point, and this blog is meant to be a portal on which we capture our ups, downs, thoughts, pointers, and to-dos in the process of moving, and possibly migrating permanently to Australia.
We are halfway through our journey, currently at the point where we’ve already received our PR visas, and are currently looking for a job. Once we get that, we will go! go! go!
=) Here’s wishing ourselves good luck and good travel.
We’re a little family of 3, dad, mum and a little boy, who have the intention to try out a new life in Australia. We’ve chosen Sydney as our landing point, and this blog is meant to be a portal on which we capture our ups, downs, thoughts, pointers, and to-dos in the process of moving, and possibly migrating permanently to Australia.
We are halfway through our journey, currently at the point where we’ve already received our PR visas, and are currently looking for a job. Once we get that, we will go! go! go!
=) Here’s wishing ourselves good luck and good travel.
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