It doesn't matter where you're looking at homes for sale, there are always certain features you'll need to examine closely to make sure the property is the right one for you.
Inner city properties often come with a higher price tag than those in more suburban regions, which makes it even more important for you to be sure you have made the right decision.
Regardless of whether you're in search of somewhere to lay roots and start a family or a base to commute to your job in the CBD, here are some of the factors you'll need to think about.
Transport links
One of the main selling points of inner city locations is their excellent transport links. Whether you're visiting friends and family in the suburbs or need to travel overseas for work, knowing there's transport on your doorstep can be a real bonus.
However, with these great links comes the risk of noise. Make sure when you're looking at a location that you weigh up whether the trains, subway or even buses are likely to prove a distraction.
This is especially true if you're hoping to bring up a family in the city. High-rise apartments could be a good option if you want to be away from the ground-level noise.
Open spaces
In years gone by, parks and open spaces have widely been thought of as something you'll find in the suburbs, but this is no longer the case.
Real efforts have been made to make Australia's cities greener, which can prove a real advantage when you move there. Having park spaces right at your doorstep can be very satisfying, enabling you to take a stroll or enjoy a picnic with the family at any time.
Take a look at what's available in your local area and if it's a priority for you and your family, cut down your options based on their proximity to green spaces.
Access to services
Once you've made the move to the inner city, you should never find services too far away. Whether you need medical care or just some groceries, there will be plenty of options right on your doorstep.
Couple this wealth of goods and services with the excellent public transport options and you may even find that you can embrace life without owning a car!
Everything from hospitals to schools, cafes to restaurants can easily be located in the inner city, helping make your new lifestyle just that little bit easier.
Short commuting distances
If you work in the CBD then there's nothing better than knowing you don't have to travel far. No more sitting in traffic jams or crowed commuter trains, your office can be quite literally just around the corner.
Moving to the city for work isn't uncommon, so it's important that you do your research to make sure you find the right property. What public transport options are available? Is it possible to walk?
Some people work across several locations, in which case you'll need to make sure you can get to all of them without too much hassle.
Strong rental returns
If you're hoping to enter the inner city market as an investor then you'll be glad to hear that you can expect strong returns on rental properties.
July data from SQM Research shows rental asking prices across the nation's capitals have increased 0.7 per cent for houses and 0.6 per cent for units over the past year. These figures just a glimpse of what you can expect.
Finding tenants shouldn't be a problem at all - as you can see, the central city is the most exciting and attractive of places to live.
