Suburbs in Melbourne

[Deadpool]

I'm living in the East in Doncaster East. $330 p/w 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bath, 1 Garage. 500K in the areas around me (Donvale, Templestowe, Doncaster, etc) won't get you any more than basically a small 1-2 Bedroom Place with 1 Bath and such. A house on 1/4 of an Acre with 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths sold down the road from us 2 weeks ago for $978,000.

$500 p/w will get you a decent place. Probably 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Double Garage in the surrounding areas. Takes me about 3 minutes to get to the Eastern Freeway and then 10 minutes or so on an okay run to get into the city.

The West would probably be more affordable.

[The_Hawk]

Mooroolbark and surrounds seems to have a decent range at a decent price.

[Ramee]

Mooroolbark and surrounds seems to have a decent range at a decent price.

If you are willing to go bit far like 50 to 60 km from City Pakenham area is a good choice. I think from there to city travel may take about 50 mins. Four bed rooms (even five), double garage and a decent size land for 500K is completely doable.

[Ryan_R]

West: flat, dry, bit boring, cheaper, gridlock over west gate bridge during peak*
North: generally a bit more crime
East: built up, well established, more expensive, Eastern freeway ends at a set of traffic lights*
South-east: not too bad, variety premiere/affordable suburbs. Monash freeway commute is often not too bad besides a couple of patches. I'd say from Pakenham it would be more like 1hr 20 depending on what time you leave (or take the train for about the same time)
South (peninsula): Nice/expensive/built-up, new freeways - no idea on travel time.

Commuting to CBD options:
Train (zone 1+2) ticket - ~$11-12 daily
Car - Can cost over $30 daily (early bird parking between $12-25 daily, toll roads up to $13 daily, plus fuel.
Bike/motorcycle/scooter - free on street parking, small fuel bill, often quickest commute.

*Major road construction plans to alleviate congestion over next 5+ years.

[Silver dub]

We are pretty far down on the Peninsula in Tootgarook and my wife works in Carrum downs.

Just to give you in indication it takes her 35 minutes to get to work of a morning and that is just over half way to the city for us. Keep in mind from Carrum downs on you will start to get more traffic but East Link helps the Commute a bit, so probably an hour 15 maybe 20 for us during the week but like i said we are a fair way down on the peninsula but nice and quiet down here compared to the inner city.

[Ryan_R]

...and after Eastlink you'd probably get on the Monash to head into the city... so from there it's probably about 40mins to Kingsway.
Slow points on Monash inbound are usually near the Ernst Wanke Rd onramp (uphill), Eastlink interchange (uphill), just before Forster Rd exit (uphill), and Warrigal Rd (temporary loss of 4th lane). Makes you wonder what improvements we'd get if they banned trucks from the right lane like they promised after the Citylink roadworks were finished.

[Pilot]

Mate, I'm in point cook and via the west gate it us about 45 mins at 6:15am leaving home... That's on a decent day... Build price out here is around 500k/ 500k buy (in one of the nicest estates in the area) Sanctuary lakes which is right next door pretty much is around the 1 to 2 mill mark

[Snail Style]

Anyone who says the west should be avoided has clearly never lived/been in the area for a long time and watches too much A Current Affair, Today Tonight, Underbelly, Crime Stoppers ect.

I'm currently looking at buying a house in Melbourne and wouldn't look anywhere but the West, to buy. If I were to rent, which I am now then it would simply be whatever is most convenient to my work/life.

Wouldn't buy anywhere in north, east or cbd. Stayed with a girlfriend out Greensborough way once and the trip into the CBD for work was a killer. Through my journeys as a 19 year old I also found myself making the trip home from the east after nights out, the amount of money they have spent on toll ways there and the commute is still rubbish.

[tassie devil]

we have just moved to clayton and find it alright here,but buying you wont find much in your price range

[Peter Jones]

Boronia works for me. Prices and times are about right for your requirements. Very blue collar area on the edge of a light industrial area.

Lots of properties with big garages and driveways. Good access to workshops and engineering supplies.

Not a lot of cultural activities, don't expect any local theater but on the other hand no one cares if you're using an angle grinder at midnight.