Study reveals Australian suburbs with biggest listings increases

They are the surprise Australian suburbs where listings have boomed, giving buyers a once in a lifetime chance to cash in.

Melbourne CBD has seen a huge increase in property listings. Picture: iStock

A flood of property listings has emerged in various locations across Australia, taking pressure off prices and giving would-be buyers the chance to score a home in a good value deal.

While property supply remains an issue in many locations, the tides are turning in a number of markets. A PropTrack study has revealed a number of secret homebuyer havens giving Aussie families a chance to get a foot on the property ladder and begin building wealth.

PropTrack have crunched home sales data to exclusively show where the most properties are up for grabs, on average, to reveal the markets with the greatest chance of buying success for homeseekers.

NEW SOUTH WALES

From trendy inner-city hubs to regional centres and coastal enclaves, NSW had a range of markets with listings spikes.

This Molong home was listed for $470,000-$500,000.

Historic Molong in the state’s Central West topped the list, with the number of homes listed for sale in December more than double the town’s five-year average.

But that doesn’t mean the charming village isn’t loved.

The median house price in Molong is $630,000 – almost double that of five years ago, according to PropTrack.

For those interested in city living, Concord led the way for Sydney, with listings rising to 164 per cent above the five-year average.

PropTrack senior economist Paul Ryan said the data was representative of a wider emerging trend across NSW, with an increase in supply in many markets offering much better opportunities for buyers than in previous years.

“Housing affordability and high interest rates have been the prevailing force over the year and we are seeing how that’s impacted the market now,” he said.

“Some of these areas have had new development and increased supply. Prices have increased so much and that has given people equity, many have been waiting for enough stock on the market to upgrade to starting this cycle.”

MORE:See the full NSW list of secret buyer hotspots

New development, such as this duplex, has seen listings surge in Concord.

VICTORIA

Victorian homebuyers are getting their best start to a new year in decades, with the number of homes for sale in some areas more than three times higher their normal levels.

Investors looking to sell off rental apartments in Melbourne’s CBD over the past year has left the number of homes for sale in the heart of the city at 357 per cent higher than the five-year average.

Mr Ryan said that, in addition to natural disasters, the rise in listings reflected broader market conditions and government policies impacting property investors across the state.

“After years of tight supply, we’re now seeing the market open up, which is good news for those looking to purchase,” Mr Ryan said.

“Over the past year, Greater Melbourne has seen about 5000 more investor-owned properties sold than expected.”

Regional hotspots are also experiencing a massive surplus in choices for buyers, with the central Victorian town of Rochester, hit by flooding in 2022, now offering three times the average number of homes for sale.

Ray White Rochester principal Stuart Wilson said the opportunities in Rochester were endless.

“You can pick up a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home on a generous block for under $500,000,” Mr Wilson said.

“And rental yields are close to 10 per cent — it’s hard to beat.

Mr Ryan said 2025 could bring a resurgence of demand as interest rates fell, making now the ideal time to act. “Now is the time to act, we’re at a tipping point – if you wait for rates to drop, you could face more competition and rising prices, the conditions we’re seeing now are a sweet spot for buyers.”

MORE:See the full Victoria list of secret buyer hotspots

This Rochester home sold for $460,000.

QUEENSLAND

Queensland’s top 10 suburbs for choice are seeing more than double the number of houses and units on the market than the five-year average.

Inner-city West End has topped the list, as stock levels surge and force sellers to meet buyers at the negotiating table.

The PropTrack data revealed a near 200 per cent spike in West End listings in December.

Coolangatta was the only Gold Coast suburb on the list, with a 146 per cent increase in listings, while Caravonica in Cairns notched up a similar rise in homes for sale.

Place Estate Agents’ Dan Rutherford said pending redevelopment had prompted West End owners to list their homes, with the former industrial hub earmarked for Olympics infrastructure and a massive three-tower project.

The 50-level tower project, submitted to Brisbane City Council in December, was “the straw that broke the camel’s back” for residents who would lose their view corridors, Mr Rutherford said.

Mr Rutherford’s West End listings included two apartments in a 17-year-old complex.

“More broadly, a lot of people are now taking their money out of the market now. For units in particular, we saw explosive growth over the last three years, but people are realising that while prices are continuing to go up, it’s probably slowing down now.”

MORE:200pc listings surge: Where Qld buyers are spoiled for choice

West End is offering plenty of choice for lovers of city living.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

SA’s listing hotspots were topped by Angle Vale in Adelaide’s north, where properties on the market in December were up 59 per cent on the average number of December listings over the past five years.

Hindmarsh Island, on the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA’s south, had the biggest listings boost outside of Adelaide – up 58 per cent on its average.

These suburbs bucked the trend seen across the rest of the market, with PropTrack director of economic research Cameron Kusher saying listings across the state declined for the month.

“The strength of new listings in 2024 gave buyers far more choice than they’ve had in recent years,” he said.

“The increase in properties available for sale has meant buyers have had more options and afforded them more time to make a purchase decision, which has led to an increase in days on market in recent months.

Listings are up 58 per cent on the average for Hindmarsh Island.

“Price growth slowed throughout 2024 and with more choice for buyers we can expect price growth will continue to moderate this year.”

MORE: See the full SA list of secret buyer hotspots

Originally published as Study reveals Australian suburbs with biggest listings increases