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Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
The surprise Brisbane suburb ranked best for lifestyle buying
One lone Brisbane suburb is holding its own against the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, being named among the best markets for lifestyle and growth in Southeast Queensland. The MCG Four-Pillar Lifestyle Index ranked four Gold Coast and five Sunshine Coast suburbs in the SEQ top 10, with Deagon, the only Brisbane suburb to make the list, coming in at eighth. The research, commissioned by MCG Quantity Surveyors using SuburbTrends data, analysed Australian markets using four key lifestyle factors of beach access, natural environment, urban amenities and family-friendliness, overlayed with long-run price metrics. MORE: Billionaire neighbour spat ends in mega sell-out Named: Two Aus banks drop rates to 4pc range The ten 'all-rounder' regions marry strong lifestyle appeal with some of Australia's most resilient price growth. MCG Quantity Surveyors director Mike Mortlock said the purpose of the research was to uncover the suburbs across Australia with the lifestyle offerings plus long-term growth potential. 'The markets that have proved to have more consistent growth have lifestyle components baked in,' he said. Deagon, with a median listing price of $650,000, made the cut for offering affordable property one suburb back from Moreton Bay and a 30-minute commute from the CBD. Jacqui McKeering of McKeering Real Estate said Deagon had long been 'a bit of a secret' in the Brisbane property market. 'No one really goes looking for Deagon – they discover it,' she said. MORE: Display home makes new owner $182k a year No longer affordable': Brisbane property boom hits the skids 'When people come to the bayside suburbs, they relate to Brighton, because so many nice seaside towns around the world are named Brighton.' 'Then they find Deagon and they can see the real benefits with the railway line there, good school catchments and proximity to private schools in the area.' 'What buyers also love is that it can be closer to the Sandgate city centre and the water than some parts of Sandgate.' Ms McKeering said Deagon was popular with families and downsizers, though first homebuyers were being priced out of the market as property values rose. 'It is much more affordable than its wealthier neighbours, including Shorncliffe and Sandgate, but still walking distance to all the lifestyle attractions,' she said. 'A lot of young families like Deagon because they can get more bang for buck. MORE: Revealed: Where Townsville buyers are flocking Buy the Outback Wrangler's house – get a pet croc 'There are lot of newer homes compared to Shorncliffe and Sandgate and a lot of lowsets that suit the downsizers. 'As an investment suburb, it does tick a lot of boxes as well.' Ms McKeering said Deagon had good opportunity for future development and price growth. 'Being close to the bay and public transport, you can see it going ahead,' she said. Mudgeeraba-Bonogin took out top spot thanks to its balance of acreage and city access plus its proximity to amenities, Burleigh Beach and Tallebudgera Creek. The report deemed the area to be in a mid-range price bracket with homes listed for $1.295m on average. Kahlee Townsend of Ray White Robina said she couldn't agree more with her patch of Mudgeeraba – Bonogin being named number one. 'I believe it's very undervalued for what you get,' she said. 'It has that mix of acreage and residential, proximity to transports and school, and you're 15 minutes to the beach, hospitals and shopping centres.' MORE: Aussie Lotto winner to spend $1.4m on her cat Shock price reveal for insane Aussie property 'There is an old school community feel, with new age accessibility.' Ms Townsend said post-Covid, buyers were gravitating more towards hinterland living in search of more land and simpler lives. 'Because of the volume of people moving to the Gold Coat, it's quite busy, so the hinterland is giving that slower paced, calming environment that a lot of people are really searching for,' she said. 'To get into beachside suburbs now, you need to compromise yet prices are going through the roof. 'Buyers want land. 'The need for dual living is becoming more and more apparent, with affordability and availability tightening. 'Acreage can offer that dual living set up, whether for extra income, elderly parents or helping children get into the market.' MORE NEWS: World bikini champion selling luxury Aus home Revealed: Aus trend helping buyers beat record house prices In second place was 'premium' priced Currumbin Valley – Tallebudgera ($1.62m) on the Gold Coast, for similar reasons to Mudgeeraba – Bonogin. This was followed by nearby 'affordable' Labrador ($785,000) for its proximity to employment opportunities, Griffith University, parklands and the coast. Representing the Sunshine Coast, Caloundra West – Baringa ($734,000) came in fourth, then Aroona – Currimundi ($872,000), Maroochydore – Kuluin ($1.085m) and Caloundra – Kings Beach ($799,000). Rounding out the top 10 were Biggera Waters ($728,000) on the Gold Coast and Peregian Springs ($1.353m) on the Sunshine Coast. In the nationwide Lifestyle Index looking at SA3 markets, two Queensland regions made the top 10. Townsville came in at No. 6 and Southport was ranked No. 9. Mr Mortlock said the Four-Pillar Lifestyle Index differed from the recent string of buyer's agents' reports swirling the internet. He said many of these reports were shortsighted, uncovering 'spreadsheet darlings': locations that looked good on paper but were not always sustainable places to own property over decades. 'These reports normally look at short-term, available data,' he said. 'This often gives a range of short-term predictors but they don't always indicate what a good long-term play will be.' 'And, given the high costs of transacting in real estate, that's usually what a property purchase is, whether it's a home or an investment. It's a very long-term play.' Mr Mortlock said the MCG report considered a range of metrics that had long-term, positive influences on property values, but were factors unlikely to be changed by short-term forces. 'We looked at factors that are always in demand,' he said. 'They're attributes that help markets outperform over the long haul. We know buyers will pay a premium to have them.' Features sought out by home seekers year after year included easy access to beaches, amenities, jobs hubs and top schools. 'All the pillars we looked at were attributes that real estate agents have historically highlighted as the most pertinent points for homebuyers,' Mr Mortlock said. The MCG Four-Pillar Lifestyle Index – SEQ Rank SA2 (suburb area) Median listing price Lifestyle score 1 Mudgeeraba – Bonogin $1,295,000 19 2 Currumbin Valley – Tallebudgera $1,620,000 21 3 Labrador $785,000 17 4 Caloundra West – Baringa $734,000 18 5 Aroona – Currimundi $872,000 18 6 Maroochydore – Kuluin $1,085,000 19 7 Caloundra – Kings Beach $799,000 18 8 Deagon $650,000 17 9 Biggera Waters $728,000 18 10 Peregian Springs $1,353,000 19 SOURCE: MCG Quantity Surveyors MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS
The Australian
6 hours ago
- The Australian
How much super you need for a comfortable retirement revealed
The average 30-year-old Australian earning the median wage is on track for a comfortable retirement for the first time, forecasters have revealed. The milestone comes from analysis by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), and was down to mandatory 12 per cent superannuation payments becoming a reality. 'This is a major milestone in Australia's retirement system,' ASFA chief executive Mary Delahunty said. 'With the super guarantee increase to 12 per cent, we are seeing super fulfil its objective of providing a dignified retirement for ordinary Australians, with today's 30-year-olds reaping the rewards of decades of progress in our world-class super system.' From July 1, workers' superannuation guarantee rate increased from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent, meaning employers pay 12 per cent equivalent amount of your earnings into super. Unpaid super is a concern in many casualised industries. Proponents of the increase in super payments say the change addresses some effects of generational inequalities in Australia. Picture: NewsWire The bump to 12 per cent tips today's 30-year-olds into a comfortable retirement, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia modelling says. The increase means about an extra $20,000 come retirement time. The test-case 30-year-old needs to be on at least the median wage though, which is about $75,000. The average Australian wage is $102,741. 'With the 12 per cent super guarantee coming in, we can now say that the system foundations are cemented for young, working people to have a comfortable retirement,' Ms Delahunty said. 'It's a moment all Australians should be proud of.' A comfortable retirement means being able to pay for health insurance, a decent car, phone and internet, regular leisure activities, an annual domestic holiday and an international holiday every seven years. The analysis shows younger workers should be on track for a comfortable retirement. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard The amount needed to tick these boxes is $595,000 as a single homeowner and $690,000 combined for a homeowning couple. A retiring renter needs an extra 30 per cent. As well as being positive news for Australians only a decade or two into their working lives, the super guarantee increase to 12 per cent has also been heralded as a win for women. Modelling on the change, done by super fund HESTA, projects the increased payments will enhance the stark difference between younger women and women retiring now. Under HESTA's modelling, a woman starting her career in 2025 was now projected to have $712,000 of super when she retired; $411,000 more than the average female retiring this year. At the moment, the average Australian male aged in his early 60s has $395,000 in super, versus $313,360 for women. Blair Jackson Reporter Blair's journalism career has taken him from Perth, to New Zealand, Queensland and now Melbourne. Blair Jackson
The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
AI tells lies, but kindly apologises if found out
Go bold, Albanese Unfortunately for us Labor faithful, Prime Minister Albanese lacks the courage and boldness to lead a government of true reform. He once again ruled out tax reform (″ Albanese Shies Away from Major Tax Reform ″, 8/8). He's the manager doing things right, rather than the leader who chooses to do the right thing. Significant tax reform might put a few noses out of joint, but with a large majority and political momentum now is the time for some boldness. Governments are elected to lead and make life better, but right now this seems as if it is far from the minds of Australian Labor. Albanese might reflect on the courage of the previous Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, as an example of bold political leadership. Like him or not, Andrews was often courageous and doing the right thing defined his leadership. No one can deny the strength of his government which chose many real tangible actions to improve life for Victorians. They were certainly rewarded at the ballot box. Michael Cormick, Carnegie Defence is everything Italy has showed us the way. Everyone in the world can give Donald Trump a ″win″ on increased defence spending and none of that expenditure will be wasted on actual weapons. Yes, a suspension bridge is defence spending! (″ Italy will build bridge to Sicily ″, 8/8). So how does this work for Australia? Simple. All our expenditure on modernising our electrical grid is strategic – we are protecting ourselves against interdiction of fuel imports. All road and rain infrastructure is defence spending – we need to ensure that our forces can quickly and efficiently get to where they need to be. So is health – we need to have a strong fighting force. And of course, all education spending is defence spending. We need fully rounded people in our defence forces. Foreign aid and foreign embassies are defence spending – soft power is the most effective way to maintain peace. In no time, Australia will be spending 10 per cent of GDP on defence. We should then be able to ask Trump for a 1000 per cent decrease in tariffs. Ken Richards, Elwood What fits the crime After reading the article by Jeremy Pudney about the role James Vlassakis played in the Snowtown murders, I was moved with compassion about a young man manipulated by John Bunting and Robert Wagner (″ Why it's right to release the youngest Snowtown killer ″, 8/8). Vlassakis is depicted as a troubled teenager who fell under an evil spell. However, I feel for the victims' families who must live with the trauma of losing a loved one to murder. It is an impossible task to meet the needs of both parties, revenge on one hand and forgiveness on the other. The old adage is that the punishment must fit the crime. Life is short and eleven lives were lost, and Vlassakis has lost 26 years of his life. Yes, some will be outraged, but this decision certainly seeks understanding. Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East Call time on pub test Re Letters 8/8. Please let's drop the 'pub test' as a measure of anything. Only a minority of the population are to be found in a pub and most of them will be slightly to fully inebriated and looking for a rest from the worries of the day. If you enter with clipboard and questions you'll probably learn a lot more about expletives than your chosen topic. No-one actually polls a pub. It's on a par with all the other economic nostrums – plucked out of the air. It's guesswork based on the prejudice of the campaigner. John Laurie, Riddells Creek Thank you, Isabel I felt very sick and collapsed while trying to get off at South Yarra station last Friday. A young nurse on her way to work at Cabrini Hospital came over to ask if I was OK, and called the wonderful paramedics who took my blood pressure and took me to the Alfred Hospital. Its staff were kind and professional, and after about five hours involving constant monitoring of my blood pressure, an ECG and a CT of my head, I was cleared to go home. I tried to contact the nurse who helped me on the train to thank her, but I couldn't as I only knew her first name, Isabel. There is a lot in the press about the inadequacies of our health system, but we should be so proud of our frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics and so grateful for their care. Catherine Needham, Parkdale AFL comedy channel I'm a bit disappointed at Channel 7's lack of imagination in dumping the broadcast of the upcoming Blues v Bombers game for August 21. It could have billed it as a comedy in the tradition of 1960s British Carry On films, featuring slapstick fumbling, dropped marks, missed goals and kicks and Keystone Cops-like packs chasing the ball. What a missed opportunity. Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale Docklands mystery It's still a mystery after years of huge investments and planning that at lunchtime I see an empty Docklands. On the north facing boulevard to the library on a perfect, sunny Friday, restaurants are derelict and not one person is on the moored megayachts. Every time a new iconic tower is completed the street life seems to decline. Is this what was planned, and if not what changes are needed? Robert Irvine, Sunbury AND ANOTHER THING Work from home Our roads are in an abysmal state of disrepair, so it will be interesting when those employed to fix the innumerable pot-holes decide to work from home. Helen Moss, Croydon I look forward to train, tram and taxi drivers, ambulance crews, policemen and garbage collectors all working from home. Les Aisen, Elsternwick The sheer scale and volume of the pushback against Jacinta Allan's stance on protecting the current WFH arrangements clearly demonstrates that such protection is needed. Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly Furthermore It is beyond appalling that Kathleen Folbigg has been awarded a measly $2 million as compensation for being wrongly convicted of killing her children and imprisoned for two decades. Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights Re ″ Talking parrot brings down gang turns stool pigeon ″ 8/8. At last we know why there's a dearth of orange bellied parrots on the Bellarine. They've joined the police force. Margaret Skeen, Pt Lonsdale Geo-politics Australia appears to have an even-handed approach to the war in Ukraine, providing aid to Ukraine while simultaneously buying Russian oil from India, leaving our feet free to kick the Ukrainian people when they are down. Ken Machin, Grovedale Let's say nyet zero to Aussie cars running on crude oil from Russia. Paul Custance, Highett
