!!!

[morsla]

My chances of living in Carlton next year are looking pretty slim. My bank balance would be even slimmer, if I did.

I love this part of Melbourne. I've spent five years here; pinned down a base of operations for my view of the world. Lived and loved and lost, grown up a lot along the way. I've been adopted by cats in all the neighbouring streets and laneways; claimed the parks and gardens as my own. It's a small house, but I treat the parts of the world that touch it as a surrogate backyard - somewhere to feel comfortable. Somewhere I can navigate with my eyes closed.

As some of you know, I'm moving out next year. I don't really feel like I fit in here anymore, and I'd like to live with aeliel. Thesis needs finishing before I can seriously start house hunting, but I picked up a rental properties listing on my way home, just to see what things were like. I still want to live in this part of the world, if I can manage it.

Things have changed an awful lot since I last went looking for houses. There are still plenty of 2-bedroom places in nearby suburbs, but they are starting at $280 p/w - many, many miles out of my price range, and half as much again on top of what I've been paying here. I'm really not sure what to do, now.

Comments

[morsla.livejournal.com]

It's a shame, though - we pay $275 for a two storey, three bedroom place at the moment. Paying more money for a smaller, older place seems bizarre.

[sugar-plum-fair.livejournal.com]

hehe, you're inredibly lucky to not be paying more than what you are. What you're paying isn't just a steal, it's enviable! Almost enough to kill for...

[morsla.livejournal.com]

End result of a month of searching, and holding onto the lease for five years. Prices jump a lot more dramatically while houses are empty - if you've stayed put, they only go up by a little each year.