Hi Rokster,
As Firefox says I am in the industry but I do commercial real estate not residential........If you wanted to live pretty close to the Uni, and thats about 15 mins drive from Mooloolaba / Maroochydore I would have a look at suburbs like Buderim, Tanawha, Forest Glen if you want a bit of acreage, Most of the rural residential stuff up and down the highway now is pretty good so you could go as far noth as say Cooroy and south to around Palmview / Mooloolah.
If you want to get close to the beach most of the suburbs are pretty good but stay away from living on the Nicklin Way, thats the main connector road between Caloundra and Mooloolaba and is very busy.
Theres no real bad suburbs on the coast anymore, most went through some urban renewal in the boom of 2003 with young families purchasing in areas like Pacific Paradise and Bli Bli, which were previously considered to be a bit ordinary. There are still some fringe areas that you wouldnt want to live in but you can avoid those pretty easily.
Have you short listed any areas that you would like to live in?
If you want to have a chat my details are
paul.butler@raywhite.com
0418780333
I don't check my emails to often on the weekend though so best to phone, or just keep this thread going.
Cheers
Paul.