City or Suburbs: Which is Right for You?

croydon south

Home is where the heart is, but what if you are torn between the bright lights of the city and the wide open spaces of the suburbs? Selecting the right area for you and your family can be a challenge as there are crucial elements you need to consider before making your move.

What are your priorities? Accessibility to quality schools? A large backyard? An off lead area to walk your dog? A park complete with playground for the kids to run around in? These and other wish-list items such as mountain views or being within walking distance of a busy restaurant strip are an important consideration and can dictate where youโ€™ll be happiest.

Before you begin house hunting,ย take time to write a list of the things that are important to you and then choose the type of area that fits your lifestyle.

Here are a few points to consider when deciding between the city or the suburbs:

City

If you love the nightlife, dining at top-notch restaurants, browsing designer shops and having public transport right on your doorstep, then the city may be the place for you.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I go out several times a week for a meal or coffee?
  • Do I prefer to ride a bike or catch public transport over driving a car?
  • Will all of my belongings fit in an apartment, unit or townhouse?
  • Do I work and/or spend most of my free time in the CBD?
  • Do I value having my work, home and lifestyle amenities all within close proximity?

If you answered yes to most of those questions, then city living is for you.

Suburbs

Suitable to all buyer demographics; be it first home buyers, upsizers, downsizers or investors, the suburbs can also offer superb lifestyle convenience.

Providing great accessibility to schools, childcare and medical services, large shopping centres, public transport, sporting and recreational facilities, the suburbs have many benefits; especially for families.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I have kids and/or pets that need space to play?
  • Do I prefer large supermarkets and outlets with plenty of parking over boutique stores?
  • Does my family have several vehicles and need the space to park them?
  • Do I like entertaining on a large scale?
  • Are decent local schools more important to me than nightclubs/nightlife?

If you answered yes to most of the above questions, then the suburbs are the place for you.

Of course, budget constraints may also play a part in whether the city or the suburbs is where you end up. The key to finding your โ€˜happy placeโ€™ is knowing your priorities and sometimes making sacrifices to get there. A family can easily live a city lifestyle, as long as they are happy to compromise on space. Young professionals can live in the outer suburbs, as long as they donโ€™t mind the commute to work every day.

Home is what you make of it; so when it comes to city versus suburbs, the lifestyle you seek will determine your ideal destination.

Image credit: Suzanne Trew

Share:

More Posts

5 Essential Things to Do Before Listing Your House for Sale

5 Essential Things to Do Before Listing Your House for Sale Selling your home can be an exciting yet challenging experience. Whether you’re moving up, downsizing, or just looking for a change, there are a few critical steps to take before listing your property to ensure it stands out in the competitive real estate market. At Noel Jones Real Estate,

Ensuring ATO Compliance For Property Investors

Ensuring ATO Compliance For Property Investors Each tax season, the Australian Tax Office directs its attention to specific areas where taxpayers tend to make mistakes, whether inadvertently or intentionally. Rental properties have been under the spotlight this financial year-end with the ATO recently announcing that, after a series of audits, they found errors in 90% of rental property related returns,

Market Update | February 2025 Edition

A new year is upon us, and with that comes an array of forecasts relating to Melbourneโ€™s property market, and key factors influencing it in 2025 and beyond. With core inflation falling to its lowest level since December 2021, and a February interest rate cut looking more likely, many economists and property experts agree that Melbourneโ€™s property market is poised

Meet Our January CSP Grant Winner

Meet Our January CSP Grant Winner Congratulations to our January CSP Grant Recipient – NYP Dragons Water Polo Club. NYP Dragons Water Polo Club is a key part of the water polo community in Melbourne, competing in both weekly leagues and invitational tournaments across Victoria. Based at Aqualink Nunawading Pool, they are committed to the continued development and growth of

Send Us A Message

Good Job!

Thanks for taking the time to let me know about your needs.

I look forward to helping you find your new home.โ€‹

Buyer Requirements

Thank you!

Iโ€™ll be in touch soon with information on the suburb youโ€™re buying in.

Find Out More