SA suburbs where buyers are spoiled for choice

Finding a place to buy can be hard, especially with listing volumes down across the board. Househunters, get ready – these are the suburbs where listings volumes are booming.

FINDING a place to buy can be hard, especially with listing volumes down across the board.

But if you’re looking to get into one of these popular suburbs – good news, you’ve got significantly more chance of doing it than last year.

According to PropTrack data, Dernancourt has seen a listings boom over the past 12 months, with the number of properties listed for sale increasing by a whopping 87 per cent over the past year.

The suburb – set in the leafy northeastern suburbs between Campbelltown and Highbury – is famed for its larger family homes on decent block sizes, has a median sale price of $681,000, and, being surrounded by green spaces and with quality schools, shops and public transport nearby, is right in first homebuyer/professional couple/young family territory.

The suburb narrowly beat out Hackham – which has a median price of $450,000 – where the number of listings had increased by 86 per cent.

In Gilles Plains, meanwhile, listings increased by 83 per cent, while Moana, Lobethal, South Brighton and Christies Beach all recorded more than 70 per cent growth in listings.

Harris Real Estate agent Angus Massie said there were several factors driving the rise in listings in Dernancourt.

“It was quite an elderly demographic through there, with a lot of the residents having built in the 60s through to the 80 sand these people have built and stayed there their whole life, and now they’re reaching that age where they have to downsize.

“Affordability in Dernancourt is fantastic, and it’s always been seen as a compromise for people trying to get into Highbury, Rostrevor and Paradise, but that’s changing and it’s now becoming a destination and a preference for many buyers.”

Andrew and Justine Edge with their children Elise and Riley enjoying Balmoral Reserve in Dernancourt. Photographer Emma Brasier

Mr Massie said he had also seen a lot of investment properties sold by those cashing in on a hot market, with some sellers pocketing an extra $200,000 above what they bought it for in the past two years.

“It’s mostly young couples, first homebuyers and investors buying,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve passed in a single property at auction over the past four years there and buyer demand is extremely high.”

Andrew and Justine Edge bought into Dernancourt in April, 2019, and Mr Edge said securing a home with easy access of Linear Park was a high priority.

“I grew up in Klemzig and we had rented in Payneham, and I have always ridden my bike to work along the Linear Park trail, so I really wanted to be close to that again,” he said.

“Plus, having young kids now, we’re down there now with the kids and the dog routinely and we’ve got playgrounds near us as well, so it’s such a great location.

“We’ve also got beautiful hill views and access to Tea Tree Plaza within 10 minutes, and Morialta and the eastern suburbs also within 10 minutes, so we’ve got a great range of amenities within easy reach,” he said.