To build or not...that is the question.

If you’ve read this blog regularly you’ll already know how expensive Perth is. To get over the exorbitant property hurdle, many people believe you should build. That way you get brand new digs (untouched by anyone other than your builder) with all the mod cons and consequently low maintenance costs for the foreseeable future.  I like this idea. We’ve lived in old houses and whilst we LOVE character properties, Perth is a thriving young city where modern living is part and parcel of the WA lifestyle.

I feel it important to mention that people here are also extremely house proud. The beds are always made, the food tucked away in perfectly proportioned cupboards, the towels hanging neatly on the towel rail. Now I’m no domestic goddess but the old houses just don’t cut it where storage is concerned. I need a new place with built in cupboards, hidden wardrobes, toy shelves…a place where we can shove everything inside and keep up appearances without anybody realising the mayhem that exists behind closed doors.  

With that in mind we headed off to Ellenbrook, a new community on the outskirts of Perth with the largest display home village in WA. Here lies The Oasis - a Ventura home with 4 bedrooms, a snug (cinema room), open plan living area, 3 bathrooms and an Internet room. The room sizes were perfect, the decor beautiful and the finishes spot on. A dream home, the perfect pad, a retreat that you long to get back too, a hub of entertainment, warm, friendly, happy…

Now the only hurdle I face is finding the land in an area of our choice and persuading D that it’s the right move. Decent blocks are relatively hard to come by these days and it also costs a lot of coinage. Whilst this amazing home will cost around $240,000, the land to plonk it on will be anything up to $400,000 (unless we want to live in Ellenbrook), taking our bill up a few notches and creating that familiar wince of the eye when that big payment comes out each month.

So here we have a dilemma. To build or not, to rent or buy, 3 bedrooms or 4? Until the prices come down I guess we'll continue as we are and hope we find our dream pad sooner or later.