Advice re: Dual Occupancy/Subdivide etc

Hi Guys,

New to forum and have just stumbled across it while researching my options.

Basically Im living with my parents at the moment who are quite old. We have a big house in South West Sydney with only 3 people living in it (Parents + 1).

I will be getting married soon so I dont think its fair on the girly she has to live with my parents. (even though the house is huge enuff to accomodate us and still allowing private areas..) However since my parents are quite fragile I dont want them to be too far away.

The solution we have come up with is sell the existing large house and move closer to the city and try either find;

1) Descent size block where we can subdivide and built 2 houses or duplexes

2) Buy an already built set of duplexes.

Now the areas we are looking at are Lower Northshore (Ryde) and Inner West (Lidcombe or closer etc.

I want to know what the difference is with trying to find land and then subdividing it – which seems very hard to do with council requirements. At any given council we would need a block size of 900 m2 + (Very expensive and hard to find)

Or we can find a block size of 700 m2 and either build set of dulpexes or detached dwellings. I think you can strata this size at any council (correct me if im wrong). and this is where the question lies.

If we strata them does it still mean 2 different owners can own their house. (ie. my parents one and me another). What happens if once wants to sell? Why would I prefer to subdivide them over strata etc?

And probably should get some professional advice, ie. solicitor (anyone know someone who specialises in this field in sydney)

Thanks in Advance.