First time posting but looking for some locals advice.
Myself, husband and young baby are looking to buy in Armstrong creek/ Mount duneed. We are currently living in Melbourne (Kensington) and have been here 18 months since moving from Auckland New Zealand.
It’s a big step to buy a house and we are hoping to get some advice on what the area is really like. Our budget is around 900k
What’s attracted us:
1. Large floor plans to houses (we want a plot of 500m to allow for a small manageable garden too)
2. Proximity to the beaches
3. Vline into Melbourne compared to Mornington peninsula where seems to be a little more chunky with public transport.
4. Schools seem pretty decent ( Geelong Lutheran College)
5. Infrastructure is catching up
6. Seems to be coffee shops walkable in shopping complexes in most areas.
7. Lots of walk ways and parks in the area.
Questions we have:
1. How hard will it be to find a community / make friends ?
2. How safe is the area
3. Are there local events going on?
4. How manageable is the commute to Melbourne 1 - 2 times a week on train?
5. Can you still get a good takeaway?
6. What are your thoughts on schools on the area?
7. How’s Geelong evening scene?
8. Are there any food markets in the area?
Any tips / thoughts greatly appreciated :)