Where to buy real estate in South Australia in 2022 according to five experts
Looking to buy in 2022? Five property experts say where you should do it across SA at a range of pricepoints. This is your definitive guide to buying in SA this year.
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If your New Year’s resolution was to buy a home, here’s where you should be looking to do it.
The Advertiser asked five real experts for their tips on 2022 buying right across SA at a range of price points, and their responses shed light on the areas where you can still get good value buying.
For first homebuyers – those with a budget of up to $400,000 – Harcourts SA CEO Stu Costello recommended the northern suburb of Para Hills.
“There are a variety of properties and price points to purchase here,” he said.
“It’s close to the Mawson Lakes precinct and offers easy access to transport and highways.”
Down south, Port Noarlunga was Ouwens Casserly managing director Nathan Casserly’s tip for newbies.
“Choose from a new three-bedroom townhouse, to a solid ’70s-built home on a good size block,” he said.
“It’s Close to the beach, expressway and shopping centres.”
Magill was nominated across several budgets, with Booth & Booth’s Charles Booth identifying both it and Wattle Park and Marryatville as his choices for those looking to head east with between $400,000 and $1m to spend.
“In the first two you’ll find some great larger homes that are well located,” Mr Booth said.
“In Marryatville, look for smaller homes to get into that school catchment.”
The northern fringe suburb of Prospect was also a hit with the experts – Harris managing director Phil Harris said it was his pick for homes in the north for more than $1m.
“It’s a wonderful family suburb with beautifully renovated character homes.”
And as for Hills homes?
Mount Barker was a firm favourite, with Williams Real Estate’s Stephanie Williams also suggesting Balhannah and Littlehampton.
“Offering a fabulous range of home styles and land sizes, there’s something here to suit every buyer,” she said of Balhannah.
“Littlehampton offers fabulous access to the freeway and offers everything a buyer would need.”
Our panel of experts:
Stu Costello, Harcourts SA CEO
Stephanie Williams, Williams Real Estate partner
Nathan Casserly, Ouwens Casserly managing director
Charles Booth, Booth & Booth director
Phil Harris, Harris Real Estate managing director
First homebuyers (under $400,000)
NORTH
Parafield Gardens: There are a variety of properties and price points to purchase here. It’s close to the Mawson Lakes precinct and offers easy access to transport and highways. SC
Para Hills: Still offering great value with future growth potential, easy access to amenities and only 25 minutes to the CBD. SW
Modbury: Plenty of affordable options both small and large for a multitude of buyers. NC
Prospect: Look for units/apartments in small groups with a private yard or balcony. CB
Blakeview: Here you’ll find modern estates with good amenities. PH
SOUTH
Huntfield Heights: Here you’ll find houses on full-sized allotments, only a few minutes drive to beaches, the Onkaparinga River, shopping centres, and McLaren Vale. SC
Christies Beach: It offers sought-after coastal surrounds and is close to other popular coastal strips. SW
Port Noarlunga: Choose from a new three-bedroom townhouse to a solid ’70s-built home on a good size block. It’s close to the beach, expressway and shopping centres. NC
Torrens Park and surrounds: Find a unit, as these offer good proximity to the city and amenities. CB
Aldinga: With the launch of another super school this suburb is sure to continue to grow. PH
EAST
Hectorville: It has a variety of low-maintenance and affordable units and is only a few minutes to The Parade or CBD. SC
Tranmere: It’s right next door to Norwood and Magill, with a range of spacious home-units or townhouses. SW
Magill: Find a spacious, single-storey, renovated two-bedroom home unit in a small group. It’s close to Magill uni, shopping, cafes and is only 6km from the city. NC
Magill: A great suburb, look for units in smaller groups with private yard. CB
St Morris: Find a homette. There are still some very good buys in this area. PH
WEST
Bowden: It’s seen amazing transformation, with the apartment development in the area and is designed for cosmopolitan living. SC
Henley Beach South: There are plenty of entry-point units within walking distance of vibrant Henley Beach. SW
Glenelg North: Look for a quality, renovated two-bedroom unit. You’ll enjoy access to Glenelg Beach, the tram and amenities. NC
Mile End and Thebarton: A great city fringe locale offering an easy commute to the city, with good proximity to the RAH. CB
Renown Park: Look for a courtyard home – they offer great value for the location. PH
HILLS/REGIONAL
Tanunda: It’s a beautiful township with an exciting vibe on the weekended and a relaxed country feel during the week. SC
Nairne: A great hills location due to fabulous ongoing development in the main street. SW
Mt Barker: It’s a hub of excellent facilities, has good schools is easily accessible. NC
Mt Barker: You can still purchase homes on reasonable allotments here. CB
Mt Barker: This suburb continues to explode with great facilities continuing to be built. PH
Families ($400,000 to $1 million)
NORTH
Mawson Lakes: Designed for the family, homes vary in price and size catering for all budgets and tastes. SC
Nailsworth: A fabulous city-fringe locale with lots of character homes. It’s cosmopolitan living on the doorstep of Prospect Rd. SW
Gawler: It’s fast becoming a lifestyle destination with significant developments, infrastructure and investment in schools. NC
Prospect: With the Prospect Rd upgrade, this area has become a very attractive family location. CB
Rostrevor: It’s a fantastic location with a new Super School on the horizon. PH
SOUTH
Moana: Families can commute to the city during the week and then spend their weekends enjoying the stunning surf beach. SC
Eastwood/Parkside: These suburbs are full of small character homes and tree-lined streets across the road from the Parklands. SW
Clarence Park/Clarence Gardens: They offer a combination of character homes and new builds and close to shopping at Pasdena, Mitcham and Marion. NC
Parkside, Wayville, Goodwood: These suburbs offer good access to amenities in the city, on King William Rd and Goodwood Rd. CB
Clarence Gardens: It’s still slightly off the radar and offers exceptional value considering it borders Clarence Park and Colonel Light Gardens. PH
EAST
Rostrevor: Home to a variety of beautiful family homes at varying budgets and has Morialta Conservation Park on its doorstep. SC
Wattle Park: An amazing foothills setting with larger homes/blocks available and quality schooling options. SW
Glynde: Close to a load of amenities, including Marden Shopping Centre, River Torrens/Linear Park and just 8km to the city. NC
Wattle Park, Magill and Marryatville: In the first two you’ll find some great larger homes that are well located. In Marryatville, look for smaller homes. CB
Kent Town: I think it’s the best city fringe suburb in Adelaide. You can walk to both the city and The Parade. PH
WEST
Novar Gardens: It’s got quality homes and parks and all of Glenelg’s attractions just two minutes away. SC
Largs Bay: It’s close to vibrant Semaphore with lots of character homes, and the Jetty Road precinct just keeps getting better all the time. SW
Richmond: It’s a gem of a location close to the airport and beach and offers a mix of solid brick ’70s homes on good blocks and quality new builds. NC
Lockleys, Glengowrie, Glenelg East: Here you’ll find fantastic character homes on good land sizes. CB
Mile End: It’s one train stop from the city and one of the most sought-after locations in Adelaide. PH
HILLS/REGIONAL
Hahndorf: Amazing lifestyle with so much on offer; cafes, restaurants, wineries and only a 30-minute commute from Adelaide. SC
Hahndorf, Echunga and Meadows: South of the freeway is in high demand. The freeway upgrade will also continue to open up the area even more. SW
McLaren Vale: It offers a great choice of property styles in a pretty hills setting, with large blocks and excellent schools. NC
Mt Barker: It continues to see good population growth and is an ideal family location with affordable larger homes on larger allotments. CB
Bridgewater: Many have been priced out of Stirling, so now all eyes are on Bridgewater and the comparable value it offers. PH
Luxury (over $1 million)
NORTH
Prospect: It offers a buzzing cosmopolitan vibe combined with beautiful character homes on equally stunning tree-lined streets. SC
Medindie: Medindie has always been an iconic suburb with wide tree-lined streets and prominent character estates. SW
Prospect: It’s an exciting suburb with so much to enjoy along vibrant Prospect Rd. NC
North Adelaide: It’s a great location and there’s some great infill development of townhouses and apartments occurring. CB
Prospect: It’s a wonderful family suburb with beautifully renovated character homes. PH
SOUTH
Colonel Light Gardens: Home to character homes on tree-lined streets. SC
Unley Park and Hyde Park: They provide the very best luxury lifestyle living with excellent proximity to vibrant Unley and King William Roads. SW
Torrens Park: It offers value for money close to Scotch College and shopping at Mitcham. NC
Unley and Millswood: These are two of Adelaide’s most highly sought-after suburbs, and will continue to be. CB
Goodwood: It’s fast becoming the new Hyde Park and has so many beautifully renovated character homes. PH
EAST
Beaumont: Here you’ll find true luxury and elegance with multiple property styles to choose from. SC
Toorak Gardens: Experiencing huge growth, it offers larger blocks with beautiful character homes perfectly positioned in the inner eastern suburbs. SW
Unley: It’s home to fantastic character homes on good sized allotments in wide, tree-lined streets. NC
Rose Park and Toorak Gardens: It’s an exceptional location on the fringe of the Adelaide Parklands and the CBD. CB
Kensington Park: Here you’ll find beautiful family homes on good size allotments with great schooling. PH
WEST
Glenelg South: There are plenty of boutique cafes and shops combined with gorgeous beaches and incredible character homes. SC
Grange and Tennyson: They are very tightly held suburbs offering a rare and exclusive stretches of stunning beachfront living. SW
Henley Beach: It offers the ultimate lifestyle – a combination of property styles, excellent schools, a glorious beach and great eateries. NC
Glenelg North and South, Somerton Park, Tennyson: Here you’ll find luxury homes in an exceptional coastal location. CB
Lockleys: Neighbouring Henley Beach, the price growth here has been very strong. PH
HILLS/REGIONAL
Port Elliot: It’s a beautiful coastal spot with luxury living options to suit. SC
Balhannah: Offering a fabulous range of home styles and land sizes, there’s something here to suit every buyer. SW
Crafers: There’s amazing hills architecture wherever you look, and it’s an incredible place to live all year round. NC
Stirling and Aldgate: Here you’ll find beautiful homes on large landholdings, still easily accessible from the city. CB
Stirling: Whichever way you look at it, it really is the jewel in the crown of the Adelaide Hills. PH
Investments (any price)
NORTH
Blair Athol: Buy here to capitalise on the growth and development in Prospect. Securing a decent-sized landholding one suburb out just makes sense. SC
Prospect: There are lots of things happening along ever-popular and vibrant Prospect Rd, and it’s next door to exclusive North Adelaide. SW
Virginia: Home to large blocks with good rental returns while ‘land banking’, and there’s significant investment in infrastructure here. NC
North Adelaide: Look for infill development or character homes. These are tightly held, rent well and in an exceptional location. CB
Valley View: There are some large allotments making good long-term holds for future redevelopment. PH
SOUTH
O’Sullivan Beach: It’s great affordable buying and suitable for development – this beachside suburb offers a lot for the savvy investor. SC
Colonel Light Gardens: It’s a stunning leafy suburb adjoining Unley Park, comprising mainly character homes of all shapes and sizes. SW
Morphettville: Look for a new/near-new courtyard home, as these are easy to rent-out as they’re close to Glenelg and Marion and a short walk from the tram. NC
Parkside: Search for a character home with some land component. Being a city fringe location, these rent well. CB
St Marys: There’s so much development going on in the area and the suburb is being completely transformed. PH
EAST
Campbelltown: Right in the heart of the east with a variety of price points and lots of options, it’s definitely worth a look. SC
Norwood: Ever-green Norwood is always in extremely high demand. Norwood is standout performer and just gets more popular every year. SW
Glenunga: Located in the popular Glenunga International High School and Linden Park Primary zones, it’s a family favourite. NC
Norwood, Beulah Park, Dulwich: Look for character homes – these are highly sought after, tightly-held, and deliver good rental returns. CB
St Morris: It’s a great location without the full eastern suburbs price tag. But that’s changing, so get in quick. PH
WEST
Plympton: There’s lots of development in the area and a variety of properties and price points to choose from. SC
Hindmarsh/Mile End: It’s close to the CBD with a mixture of different block sizes and a range of character homes. SW
West Croydon: Embrace the character and culture of this fast-moving suburb just a 10-minute train ride from the city. NC
Mile End, Thebarton, Cowandilla: These are all popular city fringe locales and are always highly sought-after by renters. CB
Mile End: Adjoining the CBD parks, it’s unlikely for this suburb not to see substantial upside in the future based on location alone. PH
HILLS/REGIONAL
Mt Barker: The growth and development has been incredible in recent years. SC
Littlehampton: It offers fabulous access to the freeway and offers everything a buyer would need. SW
Aldinga: It has some excellent holiday rental or long-term options in an area prized for its community feel. NC
Mt Barker: It’s a popular leafy locale with good population growth. CB
Port Vincent: The SA coastal regional markets are exploding and Port Vincent offers an affordable coastal lifestyle. PH
Not on the radar ... but should be
Kingston Park: It’s often overlooked but with incredible views and equally incredible properties it’s easy to fall in love with. SC
Kent Town: Often overlooked, it’s an excellent city fringe location close The Parade and Rundle St. SW
Thebarton: It’s a five-minute drive to the city, has multiple transport options and new developments on the cards in the area. NC
Prospect: There has been strong investment in Prospect Rd precinct and continues to be. This will continue to underpin the property market in Prospect over the coming 12 months. CB
Frewville: Often overlooked in the Eastern suburbs, its location is outstanding, offering incredible shopping and proximity to the CBD. PH
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