SA’s ‘bridesmaid’ suburbs where buyers could save thousands

Get in fast. We’ve crunched the data and worked out the Adelaide suburbs where prices are lower than their surrounding areas.

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Househunters looking to buy in some of Adelaide’s most expensive suburbs could save thousands – in some cases more than $1 million – simply by turning to neighbouring areas.

Latest PropTrack data reveals the state’s top 10 ‘sister’ or ‘bridesmaid’ suburbs, which are neighbouring areas with the biggest difference between their median sale prices over the 12-month period to March.

Gilberton took out the top spot among areas within 10km of the city, with its $950,000 median almost $2 million cheaper than Medindie’s $2,937,500 median.

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The Gilberton property at 8 Gilbert St last sold in December 2021 for $1.315m. Picture: realestate.com.au

The Medindie mansion at 28A Briar Ave changed hands in March 2022 for $5.1m. Picture: realestate.com.au

It was followed by Royal Park, which recorded a 196 per cent difference between its median and Tennyson’s, and Morphettville, which was 176 per cent cheaper than Glenelg South.

Ray White SA/NT chief executive Matt Lindblom said there were a range of factors that determined whether househunters extended their search to neighbouring areas.

They included prices and their potential to grow in future, and accessibility to amenities like the beach, shops and schools.

Mr Lindblom said buying in neighbouring, more affordable suburbs could prove worthwhile for some buyers, while others had an emotional attachment to certain areas and were happy to pay more to secure a spot there.

“A lot of people buy in the cheaper areas as a stepping stone to get into the neighbouring, more expensive suburb in future,” he said.

“But there’s a status that comes with names of suburbs.

“At a point you think the price difference is so great you go to the next suburb though.”

Between 10km and 20km from the CBD, Dover Gardens ranked highest, with its $673,500 median almost $500,000 less than Seacliff’s $1.173 million median.

The Dover Gardens house at 12 Howard St fetched $830,000 in February. Picture: realestate.com.au

The Seacliff residence at 28 Acacia St sold for $1.35m in January. Picture: realestate.com.au

Magain Real Estate Brighton principal Travis Denham said Dover Gardens was becoming a more popular option for househunters keen to secure a place close to the beach without the hefty price tag.

“It provides an affordable entry point into a really highly sought-after area,” he said.

“It was a Housing Trust area but you drive down a lot of those streets now and many of the homes are unrecognisable.”

Mr Denham said newer, more modern homes were now much more common in the area.

“It’s a suburb in a period of transformation,” he said.

“There’s only so much land that close to the beach, Marion shopping centre, and Flinders Hospital and University.

“Buying there is smart investing, I think.”

Meanwhile, Fisherman Bay was the top sister suburb among areas 20km or more from the city, with its $57,500 median much cheaper than Port Broughton’s $385,500 median.