Invest
Best and worst places to own property revealed
A property research house has released the median house price growth over the last 20 years, revealing the best and worst places to own property.

Best and worst places to own property revealed
A property research house has released the median house price growth over the last 20 years, revealing the best and worst places to own property.

CoreLogic has revealed the top 25 winners and losers in the Australian property game over the last two decades, based on median house price growth.
The top ten, which includes Waverly and Liverpool in Sydney, have enjoyed median prices growing by double-digit annually for the last 20 years.
Inexplicably, it was Murrumbidgee in NSW’s south-west that topped the list with a whopping 13 per cent growth per annum.
“I can’t really explain why Murrumbidgee is the number one performer, although I think the main reason is that prices came off an extremely low base 20 years ago and the fact that during the late 1990s, there was a bit of a boom to that market,” CoreLogic head of research Cameron Kusher said.
Melbourne was the clear winner, claiming six of the top ten areas, including the neighbouring areas of Monash, Whitehorse and Boroondara.
“I think ultimately it’s because we haven't really seen a sustained downturn in the Melbourne housing market for the last 20 years, whereas even though Sydney is very strong at the moment, it and most other capital cities have seen a downturn for at least five years during this time,” Mr Kusher said.
“Melbourne has been the most resilient housing market for the last two decades, not having had a sustained downturn since between 1991 and 1995 when it was coming out of the last recession.”
Victoria was well-represented with 17 of the top 25 areas.
Source: CoreLogic
Meanwhile, the regions of Isaac and neighbouring Banana made up Queensland’s representation in the top 10, despite both suffering recent mining slumps.
“Issac and those kind of areas have had a big downturn in the last five years but still we’ve seen prices come from virtually nowhere and there still much higher than they were 20 years ago,” Mr Kusher said.
“When you look at the bottom of the list, you can see the effect of the mining boom as well, given the common theme is that most of the worst performers are mining or agricultural areas linked to one or two industries.”
It was no surprise that Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia are home to the 20 worst performers.
Source: CoreLogic
Embattled WA held the worst three performing areas, with Coolgardie, Yilgarn and Dundas scrapping 1 per cent or less annualised growth.
“It was surprising that Coolgardie’s house prices have remained unmoved given it’s next to Kargoolie which is a long-established mining area that hasn’t seen a mining boom or bust,” Mr Kusher said.
“Not one of these worst-performing council areas is situated in a capital city, highlighting that there is often a divide between the performance of capital city and regional housing markets.”

Property
Property prices boosted by housing policies: RBA
The central bank has outlined the “pervasive” impact that policy has on property. ...Read more

Property
Labor’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme not without its risks
With Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM, home buyers are excited at the prospect of accessing the new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, but a property expert has warned that the risks may be g...Read more

Property
Australia's housing market is entering a ‘broad-based correction phase’
Westpac believes the housing market downturn is now underway. ...Read more

Property
ANZ now expects house prices will end the year lower
With higher interest rates on the horizon, the bank is forecasting larger house price declines than previously expected. ...Read more

Property
Which capital cities are most attractive to property investors?
A new survey has suggested that investor attention is shifting away from Australia’s two largest capital cities. ...Read more

Property
Market uncertainty fails to discourage foreign property investors
While interest from foreign investors in Australian property has remained strong, HLB Mann Judd warned that tax increases could see demand shift to other markets. ...Read more

Property
Regional renters forced to spend more of their income than ever before
Renters in regional areas are spending nearly as much on rent as home owners are spending on mortgage repayments. ...Read more

Property
Aussie home buyers now need to save for over 11 years for a deposit
Since early 2020, the time needed to save for a deposit has increased by more than two years. ...Read more

Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now

What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now

Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now

Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now

Property
Property prices boosted by housing policies: RBA
The central bank has outlined the “pervasive” impact that policy has on property. ...Read more

Property
Labor’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme not without its risks
With Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM, home buyers are excited at the prospect of accessing the new ‘Help to Buy’ scheme, but a property expert has warned that the risks may be g...Read more

Property
Australia's housing market is entering a ‘broad-based correction phase’
Westpac believes the housing market downturn is now underway. ...Read more

Property
ANZ now expects house prices will end the year lower
With higher interest rates on the horizon, the bank is forecasting larger house price declines than previously expected. ...Read more

Property
Which capital cities are most attractive to property investors?
A new survey has suggested that investor attention is shifting away from Australia’s two largest capital cities. ...Read more

Property
Market uncertainty fails to discourage foreign property investors
While interest from foreign investors in Australian property has remained strong, HLB Mann Judd warned that tax increases could see demand shift to other markets. ...Read more

Property
Regional renters forced to spend more of their income than ever before
Renters in regional areas are spending nearly as much on rent as home owners are spending on mortgage repayments. ...Read more

Property
Aussie home buyers now need to save for over 11 years for a deposit
Since early 2020, the time needed to save for a deposit has increased by more than two years. ...Read more