How to research a suburb before you move
The right property in the wrong suburb is still the wrong move. Here's how to get a feel for a place before you sign.
You can inspect a property in fifteen minutes, but you'll live in the suburb every day. A bit of research up front helps you avoid surprises.
Visit at different times
Go on a weekday morning, on a weekend and after dark. Traffic, parking, noise and how busy the streets are can change completely between visits.
Test your commute
Do the trip to work or study at the time you'd actually travel. A route that's 20 minutes on a map can be twice that in peak hour.
Check what's nearby
- Supermarkets, pharmacies and GPs
- Schools and childcare, and their catchment areas
- Parks, gyms and places to eat
- Public transport stops and how often services run
Look at the market
Compare advertised rents for similar properties in the suburb and nearby ones. If a suburb has lots of listings that stay up for weeks, you may have more room to negotiate.
Talk to locals
A quick chat with a neighbour or a local shop owner can tell you more about a street than any website.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Tenancy and lending rules differ between states and change over time — check with your state's tenancy authority or a licensed professional for your situation.