Invest
How you could add 30 per cent to the value of your property
Australian investors are potentially leaving thousands of dollars off the value of their properties by not correctly utilising the space provided, according to fresh data.
How you could add 30 per cent to the value of your property
Australian investors are potentially leaving thousands of dollars off the value of their properties by not correctly utilising the space provided, according to fresh data.

More than half a million home owners across Australia’s eastern seaboard have enough space to build a granny flat on their land.
For research house Corelogic, this could push the value of those properties up by approximately 30 per cent.
The rental opportunities are similar, with rental asking prices increasing by 27 per cent with the addition of a granny flat.
CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless, believes granny flats are an advantage for renters and home owners on a budget.

“Building a granny flat is becoming an increasingly compelling proposition for home owners in a relatively lacklustre market. Not only can it help to manufacture new capital gains, but it has the potential to generate rental income while meeting demand for more affordable housing,” said Mr Lawless.
Cost associated with the build
According to CoreLogic, constructing a two-bedroom granny flat would require an initial investment of around $200,000, while a smaller one-bedroom dwelling would cost roughly $120,000.
Potential opportunity
Co-founder of Archistar Robert Coorey believes home owners are missing out if they don’t use their land to create additional funds.
“Many home owners are sitting on a pot of gold in the form of excess land that could be developed to generate a new income stream. This has wider economic benefits for renters who want to access popular suburbs without paying a premium,” said Mr Coorey.
Mr Lawless believes younger Australians are moving into these homes as a cheaper alternative as they try to stay in a preferred area.
“Many properties identified as suitable for a granny flat are in densely populated and traditionally expensive areas, such as Sydney’s Northern Beaches or Hornsby. More granny flats on the rental market will make it easier for young people to stay in their preferred area, rather than move further afield to find value for money,” said Mr Lawless.
Mr Coorey also believes the economic impact from unlocking this unused land could potentially be worth billions to the Australian economy.
“What is a relatively small outlay for home owners could boost the construction industry to the tune of $87.5 billion and accommodate the growing population in some of the cities’ most popular suburbs,” Mr Coorey said.
About the author

About the author


Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more

Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more

Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more

Property
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal ...Read more

Property
Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market
In Australia’s A$10–11 trillion housing market, trust is emerging as a crucial factor that sellers and agencies can no longer afford to overlook. Traditionally viewed as a soft metric, trust is now ...Read more

Property
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie’s acquisition of the Belmont office, including its rent roll, is less about shopfronts and more about balance‑sheet resilience. In a market where listings ebb and flow with ...Read more

Property
Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
Melbourne has quietly engineered one of Australia’s most consequential housing turnarounds, with first‑home buyer demand running at roughly double the national pace and four of the top five buyer ...Read more

Property
First‑home buyers now anchor Australia’s mortgage growth — but the risk maths is changing
Great Southern Bank’s revelation that nearly one in three of its new mortgages went to first‑home buyers is not an outlier. It is the leading edge of a broader market realignment powered by government ...Read more

Property
Young buyers poised for a comeback as 5% First Home Guarantee takes effect
In a move set to reshape the Australian property landscape, the government’s revamped First Home Guarantee is poised to open the doors of homeownership to a new generation of young AustraliansRead more

Property
AFG Securities waives settlement fees for first-home buyers, signalling strategic shift
In a strategic move aimed at easing the financial burden on first-home buyers, AFG Securities has announced the elimination of settlement fees on select loans, potentially saving customers up to $699Read more

Property
From trust woes to wealth: Australian agencies' secret to boosting prices
In Australia’s residential market, trust is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a pricing variable. Persistent distrust of real estate agents is depressing vendor outcomes and inviting regulatory heat, but ...Read more

Property
Reality check for first home buyers: Affordable suburbs with 5% deposit
In a significant development for Australian first home buyers, a new property search tool from Aussie Home Loans is set to transform the way prospective homeowners approach the market. As the Federal ...Read more

Property
Trust as a performance multiplier in Australia's real estate market
In Australia’s A$10–11 trillion housing market, trust is emerging as a crucial factor that sellers and agencies can no longer afford to overlook. Traditionally viewed as a soft metric, trust is now ...Read more

Property
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie makes a splash with Belmont buy as real estate consolidation looms
LJ Hooker Lake Macquarie’s acquisition of the Belmont office, including its rent roll, is less about shopfronts and more about balance‑sheet resilience. In a market where listings ebb and flow with ...Read more

Property
Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
Melbourne has quietly engineered one of Australia’s most consequential housing turnarounds, with first‑home buyer demand running at roughly double the national pace and four of the top five buyer ...Read more

Property
First‑home buyers now anchor Australia’s mortgage growth — but the risk maths is changing
Great Southern Bank’s revelation that nearly one in three of its new mortgages went to first‑home buyers is not an outlier. It is the leading edge of a broader market realignment powered by government ...Read more