I stayed with Ellen (goes by Steph) for two weeks while visiting Sydney and working remote on US Pacific Time hours. I found the neighborhood to be very quiet, private, and accommodating for my early morning schedule. Steph was also very accommodating on a personal level whenever I needed extra supplies or recommendations on things to do in Sydney and how to get there. The area known as Birchgrove / Balmain is a nice suburb full of cafes and restaurants that are affordably priced as compared to the CBD. You can take a short bus ride from here (or even a ferry) to the CBD daily which I had done and enjoyed quite a bit. I highly recommend this spot if you too are considering working while traveling!