You’ve been saving for this moment. You’ve got over 50 tabs open on real estate websites, binged hours of Selling Sunset and practiced saying ‘my portfolio’ in the mirror.
Let’s be honest. The last time we crunched the numbers was 2021 and it’s safe to say, a lot of things have changed since then. So has the list of the top locations to invest in Australia. And while Mum’s convinced her suburb is the best investment move you can make; you’re going to need some hard data (Sorry, Mum.)
Fortunately, Australia’s leading provider of property data and analytics, CoreLogic, has released the most recent list of Australia’s top 25 best places to invest. We’re going to dive into the data and run you through the VIP (Very Investment-worthy Places) list.
CoreLogic’s…Logic.
The first quarter of CoreLogic’s Home Value Index shows that home values are starting to trend higher. Around 35 per cent of the suburbs analysed in the March quarter saw an uplift in value.
Many of the top-performing suburbs are what folks in real estate cheekily call a ‘bridesmaid suburb’. This is a suburb that is considered an alternative to the most popular suburb in an area. Previously, the pandemic prompted many people to ditch the city and flee to the country for a lifestyle change (Hey Google, play Billy Joel’s song ‘Movin’ Out’). This raised the home values in regional hot spots and now we are seeing demand pop up in these areas, as well as their nearby suburbs (their bridesmaids).
Looking at CoreLogic’s data set, exceptional value for money is also a common theme. Some of the high-growth suburbs in the list are small beachside locations and towns that attract a lot of tourism due to their natural beauty.
The pattern we’re seeing here is that the best place to invest money right now might be a little bit off the beaten track. Or, somewhere you’ve never even heard of before. So, let’s change that and take a look at a few of them!
The top 5 best investment property locations.
And the winner is… *cue drumroll*
1. Robe, South Australia.
With a three month change in value of a whopping 8.3 per cent, the suburb of Robe is evidently as enticing as its cosy name implies. A charming seaside village town in the south-east of Adelaide, Robe is ideal for family living or holidays. The laid-back vibe and gorgeous scenery make it a popular destination for visitors from across the country and overseas. If you’re into your fish and chips, Robe could be the perfect fit for you or a couple of tenants looking for a sea change.
2. Dinner Plain, Victoria.
Let ME paint you a picture. It’s snowing outside but you’re snug as a bug in your mountainside home drinking hot choccy. Not bad, right? That’s the lifestyle you can expect in Dinner Plain. Located next to Mount Hotham, this quaint snow village is a popular tourist destination for skiing, snowboarding and probably building a few snowmen and snowwomen. CoreLogic explains the average median value of the top-performing regional suburbs in this data set is $442,468. Dinner Plain’s median value is $1,052,121! With a tiny population of just 128 people (according to the 2021 Census), Dinner Plain is truly The Little Suburb That Could.
3. Trangie, New South Wales.
Just an hour west of Dubbo, Trangie is an example of one of those ‘bridesmaid’ suburbs we talked about earlier. Known for its corner-block pubs, vast cotton fields and fat cattle sales, this is a rural town with a rich agricultural history. Way back in 1915, the Trangie Experiment Farm was at the forefront of technological change. Over 100 years later, research at the (renamed) Trangie Agricultural Research Centre continues to transform how we farm in Australia.
4. Werris Creek, New South Wales.
Yes, it may be Aussie rhyming slang for ‘taking a leak’, but the property value of Werris Creek is no joke. This bridesmaid town is a 35-minute drive away from its bride (Tamworth); however, houses in Werris Creek are at least $100,000 cheaper than they are in the most affordable areas of Tamworth. Why catch the bouquet when you could catch a great investment? A fun fact about Werris Creek is that it is a very proud and historic railway town. For this reason, many of the street signs are shaped like railway signals. Next stop, Werris Creek! Who’s with ME?
5. Kalbarri, Western Australia.
Boasting one of the most spectacular national parks in WA, the town of Kalbarri is surrounded by protected swimming bays, scenic walking trails and an amazing variety of wildflowers that can be seen in and around town. Plus, the Kalbarri Skywalk has total bragging rights as many tourists claim it is ‘better than the Grand Canyon’. Kalbarri is also the proposed site for a massive 5,000-megawatt renewable hydrogen export operation that will break ground in just under 10 years’ time. If the plan goes ahead, Kalbarri will be home to a pioneering technological development in renewable energy.
For the full list of winners, here is CoreLogic’s top 25 list of best places to invest in Australia:
1. Robe, SA
2. Dinner Plain, VIC
3. Trangie, NSW
4. Werris Creek, NSW
5. Kalbarri, WA
6. East Killara, NSW
7. Cervantes, WA
8. Port Douglas, QLD
9. Middle Cove, NSW
10. Warrawee, NSW
11. South Turramurra, NSW
12. Riverglades, SA
13. Gordon, NSW
14. Streaky Bay, SA
15. Armstrong Beach, QLD
16. Normanville, SA
17. Maffra, VIC
18. Tailem Bend, SA
19. Kurrimine Beach, QLD
20. Tathra, NSW
21. Hay Point, QLD
22. Waroona, WA
23. Blackwater, QLD
24. Euroa, VIC
25. Sunset Beach, WA
Now, armed with these insights, you’ll have information to impress at your next dinner party – plus a shortlist of future investment locations that Mum might just approve of. You can view CoreLogic’s full report here.
Invest with ME.
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This article is prepared based on general information. It does not take into account individual financial objectives or needs and is not financial product advice.