First home buyers - best Melbourne suburbs for 3-4 bed under $850k? (North or East)
First home buyers looking for a 3-4 bedroom house/townhouse under $850k in Melbourne -- north or east preferred. Where would you buy?
A bit of context:
- Budget: up to $850k (firm)
- Looking for a 3-4 bedroom house or townhouse
- Open to north or eastern suburbs
- We're a young couple, no kids yet but planning a family
- Need reasonable access to the CBD (under an hour)
- Ideally somewhere with good schools, parks, and a decent community vibe
We've been looking at suburbs like Ringwood, Boronia, and parts of the north but honestly feeling overwhelmed by the options.
Questions:
Which suburbs are actually achievable at $850k for 3-4 bedrooms right now?
Are there any hidden gems we should be looking at?
Anything we should avoid and why?
How's the public transport in your area?
Any advice from people who've recently bought or live in these areas would be massively appreciated!