Lenny: The extra distance is 15mins each way...sometimes just getting to where I am can consume me with crying whinging kids in the car..at the same time I think, whats an extra 15 minutes (each way) compared to an extra 100K? arghhh..School wise I'm not worried as I know theirs great schools in both areas.
Tanstar I love Heathmont..its my ideal burb only prob is not many ppl seem to sell up! I think your suggestion of testing the drive out after work is a great one...I'd only have to do the commuting 3 x a week but DH has to bear it 5 days...
Thanks for all the info on Croydon North too...just a question...is their any parts of Croydon North we should be avoiding? I know every suburb has its good and bad sides I just want to make sure we steer clear of any dodgy parts. Also, from Croydon North how long does it take you to get to Eastlink?
You've prob factored this in, but just thought I'd ask - is it definitely an extra 15 mins? What I mean is, the Donvale house might be further from the childcare centre/school than the Croydon North one so that could make a bit of a difference. A friend of mine (who also works in Richmond) moved from Thornbury to Kilsyth and she reckons because her childcare/school drop offs are much quicker, her actual commuting time is about the same.
I agree with a PP that an extra 15 mins on the train is no biggie (provided you get a seat) but it does seem a hassle when you're in the car especially with whingy kids and if you're stuck in traffic. Would you consider driving to the station and getting the train?
Personally, I would choose somewhere as close to the train station as you can, then you have the option.
I know what you mean Fionas but we actually travel to my inlaws (who live in Thomastown ) 3 X a week as they look after the boys when I work...so the commuting is more from Croydon North than Donvale in my case. Hubby and I actually car poole together to the inlaws to drop the boys off as we work in the same area so no chance of us using public transport with the kids! It is a really tough decision and I think had we always lived that far out we wouldn't be battering an eyelid about it now. As far as space regarding the house...both homes will be spacious to us coming from our small unit! For those that have 2 kids, do you have a 3 or 4 bedroom home? If you have 3 bedrooms do you wish you had that extra room as a playroom or study etc? How important is that extra room?
Okeydokey. I don't know how old your kids are but if they are close to school age, I would still factor in that one day they'll (presumably) be going to a local school so the dropoff won't be so much of an issue.
I have 2 kids and we're in a 4 bedroom house. We wanted a bigger house because DP is a shiftworker and it makes sense for him to sleep separately some of the time. We have a really big open plan kitchen/dining/living area which I've come to loathe because we're always in the same space. If the kids are watching TV, it means I can't listen to the radio. It also means that it's harder to keep tidy/clean as DP and the kids are in there. So, if I was to choose again, I'd like two living areas or a kitchen that's separate but connected to the living area. Yes, we could turn one of the bedrooms into an extra living area but it's not quite the same.
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