Revealed: Australia's 50 supercharged suburbs for price growth

Herald Sun

6 hours ago

A suburb once written off is now Australia's hottest housing market, and the property rebound is only getting started.
Frankston, in Melbourne's outer south, has topped a new list of Australia's 50 most 'supercharged' suburbs for price growth, with insiders warning buyers could soon be priced out if they hesitate.
Hotspotting's Winter 2025 Price Predictor Index highlights suburbs showing surging sales activity, a leading indicator of future price growth.
And it's not just Frankston making a move.
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Melbourne suburbs dominated the list with 18 entries, followed by strong results from the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Darwin and even Sydney's south.
Melbourne Property Advocates director Simon Murphy said Frankston's transformation was 'just going gangbusters.'
'They're putting up big apartments, office buildings, the hospital's been redone … zoning's been upgraded to three, six storeys in some areas,' Mr Murphy said.
'They're really trying to make Frankston the place to be'
Mr Murphy warned entry-level buyers were now struggling to get in.
'You really need a purchase price of $800,000 just to get a look into the market,' he said.
'Frankston North's always the first suburb to go up — and the first to go down — but this time, I think its price will soon catch Langwarrin.'
Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder said Frankston's rise reflected a wider turnaround in Melbourne's outer zones.
'Frankston has gone from underperformer to frontrunner,' Mr Ryder said.
'Melbourne began recovering in late 2024 and the uplift has only accelerated this year.'
Mr Murphy said demand was now flowing into Carrum Downs, Langwarrin and Werribee, which also made the list.
'Langwarrin's very family-focused. Carrum Downs has stigma but great value — four-bed homes on good land, double garages,' he said.
'Werribee's still under $600,000 and just 10 minutes further than Melton. It's still affordable.'
In Sydney, Michelle May Buyers Agent director Michelle May said market momentum had shifted south to the St George and Bankstown corridors, areas now backed by Metro upgrades and comparative affordability.
'The migration from the east has gone to the inner west, and now the inner west demographic is moving down to St George and the Sutherland Shire,' Ms May said.
'We've been inundated with inquiry since Q4 2024. There's a lot of money still out there.
'Clearance rates hit 70 per cent here last weekend for the first time in ages — prices are going up.'
But Ms May warned that supply remained tight — especially for downsizers — and three-bedroom apartments were in short supply.
'Downsizers are competing with young families for the same limited stock. They've got deeper pockets — and young families just can't compete,' she said.
The Sydney buyers agent said Bankstown and Bexley, both on Hotspotting's list, were benefiting from transport links and better perceived value.
'Cross the Cooks River and you get green space, lifestyle and a 15-20 per cent discount on the inner west,' she said.
On the Gold Coast, low stock levels and interstate demand are pushing prices north. Cohen Handler Associate Director Luke Serhan said listings were down up to 40 per cent year-on-year in some suburbs.
'Miami's still a bit undercooked compared to Mermaid Beach, but Elanora is taking off,' Mr Serhan said.
'Southport's been huge — it's central and getting a lot of movement.
'We're seeing so much buyer interest that anything that hits the market becomes competitive instantly.'
Mr Serhan said confidence surged the weekend after recent rate cuts.
'Buyers are still picky because they've been used to choice, but I think FOMO is coming back. They'll soon have to buy what's available.'
The Cohen Handler Associate Director said lifestyle remained the Gold Coast's trump card.
'People are choosing proximity to the beach over the metro lifestyle of Brisbane. We're even seeing Brissie locals relocating here,'
South Australia also made a strong showing, with 11 suburbs and towns on the list including Ingle Farm and Christies Beach.
Lands Real Estate's Matthew Lipari said Ingle Farm had seen sales rise steadily over 18 months.
'It's in high demand right now because of its price point and development over the past decade,' Mr Lipari said.
He said the demographic was changing quickly.
'Older vendors who've lived here 20, 30, 40 years are selling to younger buyers. But even some developers are being priced out — we've seen buyers miss out multiple times at opens and auctions.'
Mr Ryder said Adelaide remained one of Australia's most consistent growth cities.
'It's been rising longer than any other and continues to deliver,' he said.
The surprise twist in this quarter's index was Darwin, with 92 per cent of suburbs now ranked as rising and none in decline.
Hotspotting General Manager Tim Graham said the comeback was real.
'Six months ago we said Darwin was about to boom, and the numbers have proven it,' he said.
With national buyer activity rising and listings still tight, experts say the window for bargain buys is closing.
'People are realising the market isn't going to come to them,' Mr Murphy said.
'They're jumping back in, and they're bringing competition.'
Additional reporting by Jessica Brown
HOTSPOTTING'S TOP 50 SUBURBS FOR CAPITAL GROWTH
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