Suburbs that offer buyers the best opportunities are always highly sought after. These are some of the best from Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
Hampton/Hampton East, Victoria.
Located 14kms south east of the Melbourne CBD, Hampton and Hampton East are among some of the most sought after bayside areas. 
The suburbs are perfectly serviced by train transport and the Nepean Highway to get into the city, as well as a number of parks, an excellent choice of schools and plenty of shopping options. As a result the suburbs are keenly sought by families who want access to key amenities and the desired beach side lifestyle. Of course, property closer to the water is hotly contested.
The suburbs are populated by mainly decent sized housing stock and home to a generally older demographic that have either paid off, or are in the process of paying off, the family home. As a result, there are opportunities to secure quality family homes as people downsize.
Hampton East will likely offer buyers with some more opportunity in comparison to Hampton with a median house price of just under $1.2 million, while still being only a few kilometres to the beach.
There are also options for buyers looking for development opportunities to build their dream home. National Property Buyers secured one such property, recently purchasing a home on 645sqm in Smith Street, Hampton for $1.5 million that is ideal to develop a new house.
Activity in the area is strong and we anticipate this to continue with median values moving 16% in the last 12 months. A property purchased by National Property Buyers close to the Hampton East/Moorabbin border for $923,000 in October 2015 would likely be worth up to $1.1million based on recent comparable sales. That’s an increase of approximately 19% in 18 months.
For buyers looking for quality beachside living close to amenities these areas are ideal. But they are highly sought after as a result and expertise to secure property is a necessity.
by Antony Bucello
Margate, Queensland
Margate, located 26kms to the North East of the Brisbane CBD on the Redcliffe peninsula is a coastal strip that features one of the biggest attractions for buyers in Brisbane: the only metropolitan area with access to sand beaches, seven kilometres in fact. Thanks to rapid transformations occurring in the Morton Bay area, buyers will be looking to suburbs like Margate to enjoy the beachside lifestyle.
The area has become one of Queensland’s fastest growing economies thanks to a boost in infrastructure investment. These include the construction of the Redcliffe rail extension running into nearby Kippa Ring which will allow increased rail access into the CBD, while the widening of the Gateway Motorway will allow a better commute.
The combination of investment in infrastructure and population growth is also transforming the region’s visitor economy in anticipation for the area to become a tourism destination. This is evident at the moment with some high rise complexes popping up, which will likely increase in the coming years, along with the development of the foreshore precinct.
At present, housing stock is the best option for investors to look at. Margate is still an affordable pocket of the peninsula and as a result is a hot spot for investors who are looking for short term gain as well as stability and sustainable growth. Growing interest in the suburb is evident from the 19% growth in median house prices over the previous three years, up to $417,000.
by Stephen McGee
Semaphore, South Australia
The beach side suburb of Semaphore has seen plenty of activity over the start of the year with people seeking quality lifestyle options.
Semaphore has a quality beachside lifestyle that buyers relish, but is perfectly positioned just 16kms north west of the CBD for easy access to the city for work – most residents would be in the surf within an hour of knock off!
The biggest draw card for the area is Semaphore Road with trendy eateries and quirky shopping, and of course the access to the gorgeous beach front. The suburb also enjoys the service of the train line, arterial roads such as the Port River Expressway and Port Road to get into and around the city, as well as a choice of schools. As such, the area is particularly popular with families.
Strong growth in the suburb has seen median housing values move 8.72% to $592,500 within the last year. Buyers are increasingly viewing Adelaide as a quality place to live, with a level of liveability rivalling that of the eastern states. Suburbs like Semaphore that are well developed and close to the sought after beach side lifestyle will be high on the list of buyers.
by Adam Stone
Belrose/Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
Set 18kms north of the Sydney CBD, these leafy suburbs offer great opportunities for buyers looking to secure a solid family home that has been renovated or needs renovation within the $1.46 to $1.5 million market. As a result of the recent redevelopment, the streetscapes of Belrose and Frenchs Forest are experiencing a substantial transformation. Buyers who are looking for opportunities to establish their dream property is driving an increase in knock down rebuilds.
Families in particular are attracted to the suburbs thanks to being already well serviced by established infrastructure. However they are also benefitting from a raft of recent upgrades and new amenities. These include redeveloped library facilities, the forthcoming 4 Pines Brewery in Belrose and the opening of the Glenrose Shopping Village. There has also been upgraded infrastructure for the Northern Beaches Hospital, which accompany the easy 10 minute drive to the beach and access to the CBD. The area also offers a number of good schools.
In addition to these man made amenities, Belrose and Frenchs Forest also boast a number of natural attractions. They are only a 10 minute drive to Sydney’s northern beaches and Belrose backs onto the Garigal National Park for the outdoor enthusiast.
Owner occupier activity will see prices move upwards and continue to grow following the completion of development.
by Simone Luxford