Property Hunter Magazine Issue 63- February 2015 | Page 53
Convenience. Shops close at 5pm. Oh dear, are we
able to buy anything at all since everything closes at
5pm? No offense but I think this labeling is a little unfair
because every evening, I was still able to buy stuffs at
the supermarkets there. Yeah, its true that MANY are
closed by 5pm but there are still many specific stores of
the supermarket chains which are open till 9pm and for
one nearby CBD, it’s open 24 hours. Just to name a few
of the chains, they include Woolworth’s and IGA. Both
offer attractive prices for some of their products and
some of their dairy products are cheaper than Malaysia,
after conversion. As for the eateries, there are still many
which remain open even up till 9pm including those in
the neighbourhood of Belmont. Even the casino is easily
accessible.
Property prices and the potential gains. Please
note that foreign buyers are not allowed to buy
secondary properties from the market in Australia and
of course that includes Perth. However, we can buy
new properties or newly redeveloped ones. In terms of
the prices versus the quality in terms of location, size,
convenience and environment, Perth is really pretty
good even when compared to Malaysia. Not many of
us can buy a home just within walking distance to a
nice park with a garden or even water features for just
AUD$400,000 or lower. In terms of capital appreciation,
Perth remains a growing city and buying new properties
would not be that easy because many of the more
popular suburbs are already pretty mature and new
units are not easy to come by. This is why when we buy
a good one, the chance of it appreciating is definitely
good. There is the potential for AUD$ to appreciate
again since today it’s lower than its historical highs.
Thus, there’s potential for further gains due to currency
exchange. I have not changed back my AUD$ to RM
because it has depreciated more than RM from the day I
bought them. Sigh…
Services are expensive though. Yes, this one is not a
myth. Your plumber will be charging you a number
that would make you feel ‘dizzy’. So would your dentist
and so would the electrician you called to your home.
Australians love to DIY for a good reason. There are lots
of huge DIY stores too and I think if you DIY, the overall
cost savings would be huge. Thus, if you are thinking of
staying for a longer term than usual, be prepared for
this or you can prepare your funds too, to pay them.
On second thought, if you intend to learn some new
skills, why not think of this as an advantage too? Haha.
No thick smoke, no burning of rubbishes, clear water
right beside the housing area. Perth is surrounded
by water. Lots of water. I went to Mosman Park for a
stroll and when I was taking pictures, I noticed that
the water was clear. In fact very clear. This was right
beside a restaurant and I told my wife and we were
very impressed. I did not see a single vehicle spewing
thick black smoke. There were also no rubbishes on the
streets. Perhaps I have only passed the good areas? I
have no idea but when we look at this aspect, Perth is
way ahead of many of the cities I have visited thus far.
There are lots of other factors. Just go and experience
it yourself. Perhaps Sydney and Melbourne would
have all these that I have mentioned above. Perhaps
they are more exciting. However, both of these are
also further than Malaysia. Both of these cities have
also been ‘hotter’ for many years where properties are
concerned. If you do think that some of the reasons
stated above are valid, it’s time to take a look at Perth.
Properties are not just about where everyone is buying
or where everyone said we should buy. It should also be
where we have been and we felt good about it. If one
whole family of different ages, background and even
occupations can all agree that Perth is worth another
visit soon, I think there’s something right about it. Happy
visiting or considering.
While the author makes reasonable
efforts to present information which he
believes to be reliable, the author makes
no representation that the information
or opinions contained in this article is
accurate and complete. Readers are
advised to seek specific professional
advice before acting on the views.
www.PropertyHunter.com.my
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