Where are the property hotspots for buying investment real estate in Australia?

First, before I get started and reveal my strategy and picks, I need to add a little disclaimer. The property hot spots I mention are my own personal opinion based on my own local knowledge. Selections may be subject to change, as the real estate market tends to go in cycles. However, read what I have to say and then make your own decision based on your own research. I am sure that you will find my conclusions interesting and useful.

Also, before you begin, I think it is very important that you decide exactly why you are considering buying a property. If you are buying to live in the property yourself, then you are buying for personal reasons and not as an investment. While earning a capital gain may be a priority, it won’t necessarily be your only motivating factor. You need to be happy where you live and you need to buy a property that meets your needs or the needs of your family.

If you are buying an investment property, you should consider the potential for capital gain and/or return on your money. You will need to take the “emotion” out of the decision-making process. You should carefully research each area and type of property before you commit to buying. You need to research the market and find out what local people want in a property.

• Do they want car parking, proximity to work, schools, transportation, shopping?
• Are buyers or renters looking for older-style properties or prefer contemporary designs?
• Do they want space in the garden or low maintenance?
• How many bedrooms are people looking for?

You will have to decide if you are just going to renovate the property, stay in it for a future capital gain, sell it, or rent it out. Each of these factors can have a different influence on the type of property you buy. There is much more to consider, but let’s now look at where to buy a property.

Selection of Australian property hotspots:

Personally, I’m inclined to prefer properties near a growing city or town center, near new infrastructure, or one with incredible views. My reasoning is that there will always be a city center there, and as it grows in size, there will always be plenty of jobs and services nearby. As a city grows, depending on the transport and road network, properties close to the heart of the city should grow in demand and value. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but urban sprawl will generally result in more people having to travel further from home to work.

In the case of Australia, there are several cities, large and small, that are growing and spreading. Like I said before, people generally want to be close to jobs and conveniences, so suburbs close to the city center should always be popular. They are generally a good rental proposition depending on the individual property and what it has to offer. Good suburban properties can be found near major cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.

Using Brisbane (in Queensland) as an example; Suburbs like Paddington, Bardon and Ashgrove should always be a good investment, as they are pleasant hillside neighborhoods very close to the city. Many of the houses are owned by empty-nester seniors whose children have left the co-op and are thinking of downsizing or retiring on the Sunshine Coast. Many of the new buyers and renters looking for properties in these areas are professionals in their 30s and 40s. Of course every property is different so you should do your usual due diligence and get termite checks etc.

I mentioned earlier the possibility of buying a property with views. The thing about ocean or canal views is that the view will always be there, assuming no one can build in front of you. So again, depending on the property, this option might be worth exploring. Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and The Gold Coast are popular for people looking for a lifestyle change, but again, you need to be careful exactly where you shop.

My choice would be the Kawana Waters area on the tropical Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. Major infrastructure, including a new private hospital and a $2 billion public hospital, will soon be a reality. The Public Hospital alone is expected to have 15,000 daily visitors and around 3,500 permanent jobs. That doesn’t allow for the new downtown, or the many new business ventures associated with it, and the new transportation hub for the area. In fact; it has been reported that around $1.25 million will be spent every day, seven days a week for 5 years, to develop the Kawana area. You can imagine what that could do to rental demand, rental returns and potential property values ​​in neighboring suburbs such as: Kawana Island, Birtinya, Warana and Bokarina.

Birtinya is so close that residents will be able to walk to work in the new hospitals or in the city center. My pick though is Kawana Island, because it’s only a 3-4 minute drive away, but has a quiet, beautiful canal front lifestyle with around 10k of beautiful trails. It is a quality location with a mix of modern residential houses and luxury apartments. Kawana Island is already established, so there is little, if any, room for further expansion. This is an advantage because it means that prices should only go up as more and more people discover the lifestyle and convenient location.

At the end of the day, you have to do your own research and make your own decisions, but I have given you my personal opinion on a couple of options to invest in.