14 seriously good value properties in Geraldton at the moment

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If you want to get into the property market either as a home owner or an investor, there are some screaming bargains to be had in Geraldton at the moment. You can find "handy man dreams" for around $100,000 and there's plenty of family sized homes to browse. 

Here's a few we found that seem worth investigating. 

Click on any of the photos for more info. 

Might be worth calling a mortgage broker to see what you can borrow. You can reach The Mortgage Gallery on 9964 4770 or click here.

1. Affordable in Cape Burney

$280,000-$310,000

20 Mersey Drive, Cape Burney

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Tenanted at $320 per week. 

Click here for more info.

2. 4 beds under 400 in Wandina

$375,000

5 Intombi Rise, Wandina

4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms
"The seller is motivated to sell at the asking price and will consider offers."

Click here for more info.

3. Cheap in Beachlands

$189,000

14 Whitfield Street, Beachlands

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Current rental return $250 per week.

Click here for more info.

4. Just out of town bargain

$199,000

7 Tuart Avenue, Nabawa

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
42km's out of town. Extra quiet. 

Click here for more info. 

5. 4 bedrooms central under 400

$379,000

35 Ainsworth St, Geraldton

4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms
"The perfect outdoor entertaining deck"

Click here for more info.

6. Under 300 in Wandina

$299,000

2A Conch Rise, Wandina

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Air conditioning

Click here for more info.

7. Good price for Beresford

$339,000

43 Mark Street Beresford

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Short walk to the beach

Click here for more info.

8. Super close to the beach

$360,000

12A/323-325 Willcock Drive, Tarcoola Beach

3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms
Really nice home really close to the water

Click here for more info.

9. As cheap as they come

$99,000

8 Felicia Street, Rangeway

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom

Click here for more info.

10. 25 acres in Greenough

$479,000

34379 Brand Highway Greenough

3 bedroom 1 bathroom
Trees, shed, space to move

Click here for more info.

11. Deepdale for mid 400's

$430,000 - $460,000

9 Roding Court, Deepdale

4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms
2.47 acres

Click here for more info.

12. Large block in Strathalbyn

$439,500

5 Begonia Court, Strathalbyn

4 bedrooms 1 bathroom
6 x 6 shed

Click here for more info.

13. Tarcoola Beach bargain

$285,000

22 Seacrest Street, Tarcoola Beach

3 bedrooms 1 bathroom
Great suburb

Click here for more info. 

14. Near new 5 x 2

$490,000

19 Glenview Street, Mount Tarcoola

5 bedrooms 2 bathrooms
Air con, solar, security

Click here for more info.

5 things Geraldton job seekers should do

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Look, the economy around Australia isn't cranking like it was. China isn't paying us $200 a tonne for our dirt any more. So there's less money flowing downstream through everyone's wallets and there are less jobs on the table.  

But there's plenty of folks who could do a few simple things to help themselves when it comes to finding a job. 

1. Fix up your God damn Facebook profile. 

Honestly, every employer will do a search on Facey to stalk you before hiring you. If they're confronted with profile pics showing how cool you think being drunk is, questions about where to get the best weed in town, and bitching that shows you have no decorum, I can guarantee your resume will go straight in the bin. 

Hot tip: Check out the "View As" option to see what others see. 

2. Take a job. Any job. 

When I interview people, I always value someone who is doing SOMETHING over someone who's been sitting on the dole for 2 years waiting for the perfect job to come along.

In 2008 I couldn't find a job in my chosen profession in Geraldton. I couldn't leave town. So I took whatever job I could get, which happened to be at a servo. I scrubbed toilets and cleaned diesel residue for the next 9 months. I didn't LOVE it, but eventually I found other work. 

I am saddened when I meet people who won't take a job they think is beneath them, but are fine going on the dole.

3. Do some study. Get a qualification. 

The economy is becoming more and more automated. Unskilled labour is going to increasingly be done by autonomous machines, and will continue to move overseas. Invest some time in learning a skill that employers will find useful. We have a small but growing university right here in town, and a very bustling tafe, Durack Institute of Technology. Get in touch with them and see what they have on offer. If a Sudanese refugee who doesn't speak English as well as you can put the hard yards in and become a chemist (link), you can hit the books too.  

4. Network with the right people. 

I meet a lot of employers who know they could use some extra staff, but hate the process of hiring someone so much that they just keep putting it off. But when they meet someone they know and like, who they know is looking for work, they're more than happy to offer them a job. So start meeting the right people. That might mean joining a public speaking group, or getting involved with a local charity, joining Pollinators, getting along to a Rotary meeting, or going to the Council meetings, or whatever. Use your imagination. But the go-getters and business owners of this city aren't going to knock on your door and ask to hang out with you watching Netflix. Get out and meet them. 

5. Apply for everything. 

Subscribe to the Everything Geraldton Jobs email (link). Keep an eye on Seek. Hand out your resume. Post in the Employment Wanted section on EG (link). Apply for any job you can legally do. And don't wait until a job is advertised; As per tip 4, plenty of business owners never even get that far. 

Bonus tip: Be positive. 

Nothing hurts like rejection. It attacks your psyche, it makes you question your self worth, it makes it hard to get out of bed and try again. But do whatever you have to do to get your head right, otherwise your own thoughts will kill your chances of finding work. Find whatever works for you...  pray, meditate, talk to encouraging friends, listen to a motivational speaker. These things may not get you a job directly, but they may make the difference between an employer thinking they like your energy, vs them thinking they want nothing to do with you. 

6 signs you know it's time to leave Geraldton and move to Perth

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1. You get to work too quickly, and you really want to know what it's like to be stuck in traffic for an hour each way every single day. 

2. You find the Geraldton beaches aren't crowded enough, and you long to know what it's like to struggle to find somewhere to set up your towel on the beach. 

3. You wish you could pay $25 to park your car in town, but the most you're able to pay in Geraldton is $7.70 for a full day.

4. Buying a house near the beach is too affordable, and you wish you could go into millions of $ of debt to get such a great lifestyle. 

5. You hate how easy it is to go camping, fishing and exploring the great outdoors. If you lived in Perth you'd be way more justified in telling yourself it's too much effort to get away. 

Pic: Brendon Plug

6. You see your friends and family way too often, because in Geraldton they're always only 5 minutes away. You want to be lonely as you grow older, and in a big city it would be much easier to be forgotten about. 

Pic: @deb_0_rah

10 things anyone who's lived in Geraldton knows

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This year marks the tenth year I have lived in Geraldton.  I guess that officially makes me a local now, right? 

I absolutely love this city.  I loved it ten years ago, and I still do.  I moved from Perth in 2006 to be with my (now) husband with no plans, knowing nobody and nothing about Geraldton at all.  It’s definitely changed a lot since I’ve been here, but the best things about Geraldton have stayed the same, really.  The beaches, the people, the relaxed atmosphere.  Now that I am, hopefully, officially a Geraldton local, here are some things that people of Geraldton know for sure about our fair city.

 

1. You haven’t experienced wind until you’ve had to pick your clothes up from around the backyard. 

Sometimes, when you hang the washing out, you have to chase the hills hoist around in circles.  You come back outside in ten minutes and it’s dry.  Possibly all over the ground, or over the back fence, but it’s dry.  You can’t wear your hair down for an outside wedding.   People everywhere else call it severe winds.  To us, it’s a sea breeze.

2. We have the best customer service.

When I moved to Geraldton I was delighted to discover how friendly people in customer service are.  They are always helpful and always smiling.  Sure, I imagine we all have bad experiences once in a while, but it happens nowhere near as much as it did when I lived in Perth.

3. 'Six Degrees of Geraldton' is a thing. 

You go places and you know everyone.  People you know talk to you about other people they know, who you kind of know, because they are your mum’s best friend’s daughter’s Year One teacher.

4. Everyone is this town bands together during times of personal crisis. 

Thanks to ‘Six Degrees of Geraldton,’ when someone is going through something, we are all going through it.  People are so quick to raise money and help out a family or a person in a tough time.  We are a generous city, and we look after each other.

5. It’s a great place to raise children. 

This one is new to me.  My twins are 19 months old and there is nowhere my husband and I would rather raise them than in Geraldton.  There are parks, great beaches and playgroups.  Our beautiful foreshore makes for a great family Sunday day out.  

6. We all remember what we were doing the day the cinema got EFTPOS.

It was a joyous occasion for all.

#Drummonds from the air Shared by @jthomas84_

A photo posted by Everything Geraldton (@everythinggeraldton) on

7. Geraldton has the best beaches in Western Australia. 

It’s our state’s best kept secret.  Watch out for the sharks though.

The jewel of #geraldton #crayfish #rocklobster #seafood about to be #pickled #omnomnom #tasty #monster

A photo posted by Caity Teneille (@caityteneille) on

8. Our Christmas lunches usually involve crayfish. 

Thanks once again to ‘Six Degrees of Geraldton,’ we all know someone who knows someone who has a few spare crays they can throw our way.

9. Winter in Geraldton is practically Summer everywhere else. 

Some of the best weather I’ve experienced has been smack bang in the middle of July.  I’m talking 29 degree days, with no wind.  Beautiful.

10. We love our city. 

Don’t say anything bad about it either, we live here because we love it.  I’m so proud to call this place my home and excited that my sons will grow up here.  Thank you, Geraldton for the memories over the last ten years, the friendly faces, and the wind, for being the reason why I never had to buy a clothes dryer.  

 

Here’s to the next ten years in this beautiful place.