Luxe Listings star Simon Cohen’s surprise five investment hotspots

Top buyer’s agent Simon Cohen visited Sydney’s most exclusive harbourfront properties in the hit TV show Luxe Listings, but he’s nominated some surprise hotspots for investment.

Once famous as a retirement mecca, Port Macquarie is now an investment hot spot, thanks to its relative affordability and surf and sand. Picture: Gemma Ferguson

Top buyer’s agent Simon Cohen visited Sydney’s most exclusive harbourfront properties in the hit TV show Luxe Listings, but he’s nominated some surprise hotspots for investment.

Launching his new business venture affordable property investment firm CH Secure, Cohen, the CEO of Cohen Handler, says the way for Aussie families to make money is by investing in cheap housing in up-and-coming towns across Australia.

He says the goal is to help every-day Australians build long-term wealth through buying a portfolio of inexpensive properties all over the nation.

“The saying goes that 90 per cent of millionaires achieved their wealth through real estate, and based on what I’ve seen since I helped found the buyer’s agent industry in 2009, that’s pretty close to the truth,” Cohen said.

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Simon Cohen has nominated a diverse range of investment hot spots as he launched a new venture.

The suburbs and towns up to 50km south of Perth, such as Rockingham, are good investment prospects. Picture: Iain Kennedy on Unsplash

CH Secure has identified locations and properties that most people in the major cities may not know about or not think of as somewhere to invest, and can help people purchase properties with massive potential for growth for as little as $400,000.

“The benefit of the ones we purchase is that they’re affordable — entry to the market is a lot lower,” Cohen said.

His co-founder in CH Secure, Joshua Meli, with both residential and commercial property buying experience, adds: “It could be a $70,000 deposit through to a $100,000 deposit, and after a couple of years most clients will use equity in the property to purchase another one.

“If it grow in value 10 per cent annually, a $500,000 property might have $50,000 in equity after 12 months.”

The pair say they have chosen regions that are prospering due to the diverse industries they host, from agriculture and aquaculture to construction and tourism.

Seacliff Beach, at the City of Salisbury in South Australia, is another hotspot. Picture: Syed Hadi Naqvi on Unsplash.

As a result, private businesses and governments are spending money on better public transport, upgraded roads, modernised shopping centres and significant housing projects.

And new restaurants and cafes follow.

They say that because of there relative affordability, particularly since the pandemic, such areas are becoming a magnet for first-time buyers and families moving from cities.

“Homes in the regions we purchase in are, priced between $400,000 to $500,000, offering a stark contrast to the $2m price tag in metropolitan areas,” says Cohen.

Here are his top five affordable investment local government areas:

South of Perth

9 Jester Parkway, Meadow Springs, was a good buy at $541,000.

In Western Australia, Cohen says the suburbs and towns up to 50km south of the Perth CBD are good investment prospects because of their strong population growth, affordable housing and seaside lifestyle.

Currently with a population of 135,000, the area is projected to have 239,000 inhabitants by 2046.

He says a four-bedroom home on a 642sqm block at 9 Jester Parkway, Meadow Springs that recently sold for $541,000 would be the type of opportunity that they’d suggest for a client. Opposite a park, it’s just a seven-minute drive from the just-opened Lakelands Station, which will provide passengers with a 50-minute commute to the Perth CBD. There are multiple public and private schools in the area and a shopping centre close by.

Salisbury

26 Kelly Terrace. Salisbury, was a smart purchase at $495,000.

The City of Salisbury is known as the home of defence and space in South Australia, with projects worth $4b in the pipeline. Just 21km north of Adelaide, a new train line will take you directly into the CBD.

It also offers low entry prices and signficant redevelopments are mooted. The current population is about 145,000, but this is expected to blow ouot to 156,000 by 2036.

Cohen suggests a three-bedroom home at 26 Kelly Terrace, Salisbury, that recently sold for $495,000, was a smart purchase.

It offers a potential rent of $500 a week and it’s located in the heart of town, a short walk from the shopping centre. It’s surrounded by parks and reserves, close to multiple public and private schools and the bus stop is also nearby.

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Townsville

27 Bridgewater Drive, Condon, offers four bedrooms in a highly sought after area for $470,000.

In north-east Queensland, Cohen nominates Townsville for its strong population growth, diverse economy and its low entry prices.

It’s 1360sqm north of Brisbane, but its population is tipped to grow by 50 per cent over the next decade or so from $192,000 to 282,000.

A four-bedroom house at 27 Bridgewater Drive, Condon, recently sold for $470,000. Condon is a highly sought-after suburb and the home is close to schools, shops, public transport and parks.

Wagga Wagga

10 Marconi St, Wagga Wagga cost just $445,000 and it’s well located.

The NSW Riverina town of Wagga Wagga is 460km south-west of Sydney and 244km from Canberra. It’s a solid opportunity for investors, Cohen believes, due to its strong population growth, diverse economy and low entry prices. The population is currently is 68,000, but that’s expected to blow out to 77,000 by 2036. A cute three-bedroom cottage at 10 Marconi St, Kooringal, was a good buy at $445,000 when it sold in April. It’s currently tenanted at $460 per week, the local public school is a stone’s throw away, as is Henwood park, Kooringal mall and Lake Albert.

Port Macquarie

20 Greenmeadows Drive, Port Macquarie, needs some love but was still a good opportunity at $640,000.

On the mid-north coast, 388km north of Sydney, this sleepy town was once known as more of a retirement hotspot than a good investment prospect, but Cohen says that’s changed.

The population is currently 50,000 and it’s set to grow nearly 20 per cent by 2031. The key is its relatively affordable housing, seaside lifestyle and diverse economy.

A three-bedroom home at 20 Greenmeadows Drive, Port Macquarie, that recently fetched $640,000, needs some “love, care and elbow grease” the realestate.com.au ad confesses.

But after a spruce-up, there’s potential rent of up to $540 per week.

It’s just a short drive from the beach.

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Originally published as Luxe Listings star Simon Cohen’s surprise five investment hotspots