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This is a very wealthy area. Most women don't work and have the child rearing responsibilities. The women are competitive and there is a strong pressure to keep up. This is most evident by the work vehicles that litter the streets doing renovations/pool installations on every second house on the street. If you buy in this area, you will feel the pressure to conform due to the judgements.

Balgowlah North Public School is the local school. It has an amazing marketing strategy. They regularly contact the Manly Daily to report 'good news stories', censor the newsletters to ensure only positive public images are portrayed, and talk the talk at open days/information nights.

The school has five kindy classes this year. This is huge. The locals are now complaining that there 'country -style' school has been lost. This year they had to add two more demountable classrooms to cater for the increase in students. The now ex-principal has announced that this will continue for the next few years. The school is not particularly supportive of working mothers (well not the full-time mothers who don't have a 'business' from home).

The neighbourhood is very asthetically pleasing and the area is essentially families. The oldies have pretty much gone now.

Travel into the city is painful. Have to deal with traffic congestion at Seaforth junction and then all the way up spit road to military road. Even the tidal flows recently generated can't cope with the traffic.

The real estate is significantly over-priced. There is always a healthy attendance at auctions (most bidding). The land sizes don't compare to some proprties in neighbouring Seaforth. The estate agents also send correspondence to homes advising they have hundreds of people on the wait list for properties. This significantly escalates the prices.

Grew up in the 'forest' area and had fond memories of my childhood. Bought here after trying Mosman and the Eastern suburbs. The land sizes are great, and still affordable.

The demographics are interesting. There is still a presence of older people, but every month there are new houses selling and the young families are moving in. The homes then undergo some updating and the neighbourhood shines a little bit more. This demographic is similar to what took place in North Balgowlah within the last 10 years (and we all know how expensive it is to live there now and how sort after homes are).

There is a huge choice with primary schools. Mimosa seems to have a good reputation, but it is getting very large now and the locals are starting to comment on the school losing a little of its community feel. Their enrolments have increased by 50 kids every year for the last few, so it is very large. Wakehurst public has lovely grounds and the principal seems to have a great connection to the families. John Colet is close as well if you are interested in a private school. There is a catholic school nearby, but it's small, so the catholic school in forestville may suit some better. There is also a Christian school close by that appears well received by the community.

The neighbourhood is super friendly. I've got privacy but also have friendly neighbours happy to have a chat over the fence. People out for a walk will always acknowledge you.

The park concept is a little lacking in some areas, but this is not really a problem as everyone has a pretty sizable yard to play in (and if not, then their neighbours do).

Traffic in the direction of chatswood/city is manageable if you leave before 7.45. After that there is congestion getting onto warringah road from forestway. The buses are reliable but not frequent in the evenings.

The area is really green, leafy and well maintained. People demonstrate a sense of pride in their home/garden. The area is becoming more aesthetically pleasing as the new families move in.