Moving to Wellington!

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Insanekiwi

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#189444 30-Dec-2015 10:56

Hello fellow Geekzone members,

I have been away in Toronto for the last 6 months and now have a job offer to return to New Zealand. As my job will be in Wellington - we will be heading there in mid June 2016. Obviously we are very excited as we visited the city about 3 times (all in winter) and loved it. Small compact city and neat.

I have lived in Auckland for 20 odd years, and don't know anyone in Wellington at all so it will take us sometime to settle in. My work place is in the CBD, and really don't want to travel more than 30 mins during peak traffic. We have a new born due in Feb so we will need to find a suburb to live that is family friendly, safe, and close to my work.

Which suburb do you recommend? We have looked at (maps / Trademe) Karori, Houghton, Island Bay, and around east of the airport. Need a good primary school area. Thinking of either buying a house or buying a section and build a house. We will rent for the first 6-9 months or so.

I would very much appreciate your advice - as good advice is hard to find these days!

Happy holidays!! :) We are very excited to come back to NZ.

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#1458961 30-Dec-2015 11:43

Most of the areas around the Wellington CBD are pretty good, it all depends on your budget, what sorts of outdoors actives you like to do how long you plan to stay in Wellington.

The beach lovers prefer Southern / Eastern suburbs Island Bay, Houghton Bay, Haitaitai, Kilbirnie, Miramar, Strathmore, Seatoun

If you're a mountain biker then Karori, Nagio, Khandallah, Johnsonville.

I think most of the central wellington area is gentrified enough that you will struggle to find a bad area apart from some parts of Newtown.

Your budget will ultimately decide where you live. But if you are used to Auckland prices then Wellington will seem cheap, a reasonable grade 3 bedroom house sits around $700k.

My preference is to be west facing to get the afternoon sun as that means your house stays warm and dry.

Insanekiwi

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#1458985 30-Dec-2015 12:11

Thanks BarTender!

I appreciate your feedback. We probably do like beach more than the mountain - and like you said really want to find a dry home with as much sun as possible. Although Auckland housing prices are crazy; some houses in the areas you mention are not that affordable either.

We looking at 800k - maximum stretch 850k. So building a house did not seem unreasonable - hopefully find a land by September, and get building going as soon as possible in move in before June 2017. Obviously if we find something we like then we will move in straight away.

We plan to be there for I guess at least 5-10 years or more. We may fall in love and stay for good!

Geektastic

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#1459011 30-Dec-2015 13:03

At least we know how you got your username...! ;-)

Geektastic

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#1459012 30-Dec-2015 13:05

If you don't mind commuting by train, consider the Wairarapa and Upper Hutt for better bang for your buck in terms of housing and general space around you, clean air etc.

Also Kapiti Coast if you like beaches etc.

mattwnz

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#1459023 30-Dec-2015 13:21

Insanekiwi: Thanks BarTender!

I appreciate your feedback. We probably do like beach more than the mountain - and like you said really want to find a dry home with as much sun as possible. Although Auckland housing prices are crazy; some houses in the areas you mention are not that affordable either.

We looking at 800k - maximum stretch 850k. So building a house did not seem unreasonable - hopefully find a land by September, and get building going as soon as possible in move in before June 2017. Obviously if we find something we like then we will move in straight away.

We plan to be there for I guess at least 5-10 years or more. We may fall in love and stay for good!

Very difficult to find any land in Wellington apart from cliff sites or perhaps Karori, which takes a long time to get into the cbd during rush hour. I would consider the Hutt, as there is a train into the cbd, and better bang for you buck. For 800k you can basically choose from most houses. Eastbourne area is also a nice beach area, if you are wanting a really good area, but a bit cut off.

overkill

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#1459024 30-Dec-2015 13:21

Geektastic: If you don't mind commuting by train, consider the Wairarapa and Upper Hutt for better bang for your buck in terms of housing and general space around you, clean air etc.

Also Kapiti Coast if you like beaches etc.

Once Transmission Gully is finished, it will only take half an hour to get from Pram to the City. It's a great location for sure and the money you are looking at spending will get you a very nice home or a well designed package here in Kapiti.

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blakamin

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#1459025 30-Dec-2015 13:23

+1 for Kapiti. The weather is always better too! :D

Insanekiwi

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#1459059 30-Dec-2015 15:04

Thanks guys - haha Geektastic - why my name?! :)

The area I am looking at is little restricted as I have to be close from work. Karori seems nice but when you say peak traffic time - how long typically would take me to travel from that area to Wellington Hospital? I will have to be at work around 7:30-8:00am so reasonably early.

I think Kapiti is also lovely, but once again as I would prefer to either walk or use private car as my working hour is quite variable. I will finish work when things are sorted and not 0900-1700 job.

Okay - any areas I should avoid? What is Khandallah and Johsonville like? Is commute very long from these areas too?

Thanks guys!!

Lias

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#1459331 30-Dec-2015 23:39

+1 for Kapiti..

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#1459337 31-Dec-2015 00:16

Tawa. Depending on which end you live in, 10-15 minutes to Wellington station on the train. Also a bus service and handy to the motorway.

Good preschools, schools and a college. Two supermarkets (Countdown and New World) as well as a self contained shopping area. Also a library and public swimming pool.

Very low crime rate, especially compared to the Hutt Valley, and very reasonably priced houses. Can't go wrong :-)

mattwnz

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#1459344 31-Dec-2015 00:36

Insanekiwi: Thanks guys - haha Geektastic - why my name?! :)

The area I am looking at is little restricted as I have to be close from work. Karori seems nice but when you say peak traffic time - how long typically would take me to travel from that area to Wellington Hospital? I will have to be at work around 7:30-8:00am so reasonably early.

I think Kapiti is also lovely, but once again as I would prefer to either walk or use private car as my working hour is quite variable. I will finish work when things are sorted and not 0900-1700 job.

Okay - any areas I should avoid? What is Khandallah and Johsonville like? Is commute very long from these areas too?

Thanks guys!!

You will probably get a far better idea after having lived in the city for some time, so it is a wise idea renting first. When I traveled into Wellington for uni, a friend who lived in Karori had to leave home before me who lived in the hutt, due to how long it took to get into town during peak time. Karori however is far closer than the Hutt. The same applies for areas like Seatoun which can take ages to get to the CBD during peak time. Wadestown is a good area, and would probably be my preference, but it is quite pricey.

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BlinkyBill

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#1459390 31-Dec-2015 08:06

I live in Karori.

There is one road in and out, and a good population that uses it. But it's only a problem 8:00-9:00am and 5:00-6:00pm. If you need to be in Newtown at the hospital, then by car it's 20 minutes outside those times, easily. At 7:30 takes me 8 minutes to get to the CBD, where I have a carpark, or 6 minutes by bike.

Parking at or near the hospital is a nightmare though, hopefully you have staff parking. If you live north of the city, out in the Hutt, or Johnsonville north, then it'll take you 20 minutes outside peak times just to cross the city to Newtown, plus however long it would take to get to the train station on the northern edge of the CBD, driving or public transport. So minimum 30 minutes from Johnsonville or Petone, and more for further out.

If it was me, I would rent in Newtown, Hataitai, Mt VIC/Cook, Berhampore etc. Bike to work. See how it all works out and get the lay of the land for six months.

Building IS going on in Wellington, but the subdivision type building is all north of Wellington city itself. Only one-offs and small lots going up otherwise. House prices are increasing as Auckland buyers capitalise their houses and re-invest here.

Wellington is awesome.

dwl

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#1459392 31-Dec-2015 08:21

You mention CBD but also Wellington Hospital. If going as far as the hospital the best commuting options may change - train is great for near railway station but significant extra hop to Newtown. I don't agree that Transmission Gully will make big difference from Kapiti Coast going into Wellington - travelling by car from Johnsonville and anywhere north will probably still have delays inbound (the Smart motorway still seems to be only 3 lanes inbound). Going home (if north) should be better.

The eastern or southern suburbs may make more sense if you don't want to spend much time commuting but might be harder to find land to build. Check out places like Island Bay, Hataitai and Kilbirnie if work is at the hospital. Weather can be bit cooler compared to northern options. Good luck with the research.

floydbloke

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#1459394 31-Dec-2015 08:32

We've lived in Whitby for the last 19 years and still love it out here. it has a friendly, village-community feel about it and it feels safe. Great value for money when buying a house. 5 minute drive to Paremata station so you're in town in less than 30 minutes. Driving into Wellington takes about 25 minutes off-peak.

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idle

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#1459395 31-Dec-2015 08:35

If your work is in Wellington Hospital, be aware that the hospital is not in CBD. Shortest commute would be from Island Bay or Houghton Bay, which would avoid CBD. Good luck!

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