Western Sydney has dominated a list of high-growth areas where buyers can get into the market for under $350,000, but outside NSW savvy buyers are looking to regional areas.

Annual growth of up to 13.2% was recorded for one and two-bedroom units in some suburbs.

With interest rates at record lows, and murmurs of a possible rate cut ahead of the May Federal Budget, more and more home buyers and investors are looking to get into the market.

With affordability a key factor for many property seekers, we took at look at one and two-bedroom units with a maximum median price of $350,000 to find out where the highest growth suburbs are.

What the numbers show

NSW suburbs’ took out eight of the top 10 spots, with Victoria claiming the other two. Cabramatta had two showings inside the top ten, with both one and two-bedroom units recording annual growth above 10%.

Penrith emerged as the top suburb for annual growth in the sub-$350,000 market. One-bedroom units in the outer western suburbs recorded annual growth of 13.2% and sell for a median price of $295,000, according to RP data provided to realestate.com.au.

Second overall was Box Hill, in Melbourne’s east, where the median price for a one-bedroom unit is $305,000. A popular suburb with Chinese investors, Box Hill saw an annual growth rate of 10.9% in the past 12 months.

In third spot was Liverpool in southwestern Sydney. One-bedroom units in the major metropolitan centre sell for a median price of $285,000 and recorded annual growth of 10.6%.

LJ Hooker Penrith Director of Sales Steve Thomas says recent infrastructure upgrades, plus the impending construction of Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek, have contributed to high growth in Penrith.

He says units are becoming a more attractive and affordable option for first-home buyers who may not be able to commit to a higher-priced established home.

“We are seeing an emotional value being put on these units,” Thomas says.

“Previously it was just investors looking at units, so it was a completely unemotional purchase.

“These investors, if they’ve taken our advice and put in a new kitchen and bathroom, are seeing a really good sale value.”

Get out of the city

Outside of NSW, buyers are looking beyond the major capital cities with many regional centres featuring in state-based rankings.

In Victoria, the regional centres of Bendigo and Geelong both experienced annual growth of between 7.7% and 8.5% for two-bedroom units.

In Queensland, the top five performing suburbs were in all the southern city of Toowoomba, with two-bedroom units recording annual growth of up to 5.7%.

In Western Australia, Geraldton came out on top, while in the Northern Territory it was suburbs in Alice Springs that had the best showing.

Jo Chivers, CEO of property development company Property Bloom, says regional areas offer a number of great options for those looking for units.

“Units are in demand in regional areas, usually by renters – older people wanting to downsize or young people looking for something small,” she says.

“Single parents are also quite a big part of the rental market for these types of properties.”

Chivers says in regional areas buyers should look for units close to the CBD, walking distance from schools and on local bus routes.

“Look for something with a land component, something that does have a decent-sized courtyard. People do like to have a bit of land.”

Top five suburbs by state

Rankings are based on a maximum median price of $350,000 and are for units with one or two bedrooms. Listed by suburb, unit type, annual growth, median price.

NSW

Penrith – 1bd – 13.2% – $295,000
Liverpool – 1bd – 10.6% – $285,000
Cabramatta – 1bd – 10.5% – $256,000
St Marys – 2bd – 105% – $304,500
Cabramatta – 2bd – 10.1% – $340,000

VIC

Box Hill – 1bd – 10.9% – $305,000
Frankston – 1bd – 10.2% – $195,000
Bendigo – 2bd – 8.6% – $306,750
Geelong West – 2bd – 7.7% – $329,500
Malvern East – 1bd – 7.1% – $306,500

SA

Goodwood – 2bd – 6.6% – $326,500
North Adelaide – 1bd – 4.6% – $327,500
Port Lincoln – 2bd – 4.2% – $205,500
Mount Gambier – 2bd – 3.5% – $178,500
Plympton – 2bd – 2.9% – $290,500

QLD

Wilsonton – 2bd – 5.7% – $250,000
Toowoomba City – 2bd – 4.9% – $233,100
Centenary Heights – 2bd – 3.9% – $239,000
Kearneys Spring – 2bd – 3.6% – $262,500
Newtown – 2bd – 3.1% – $251,000

WA

Geraldton – 2bd – 3.7% – $312,500
Bayswater – 2bd – 3.2% – $329,000
Glendalough – 2bd – 3.2% – $330,000
Wembley – 2bd – 2.7%, $340,000
Rockingham – 2bd – 1.6% – $260,000

TAS

Launceston – 2bd – 3.7% – $300,000
Claremont – 2bd – 3.5% – $220,000
Ulverstone – 2bd – 1.5% – 202,500
Moonah – 2bd – 1.3% – $240,000
Newstead – 2bd – 0.8% – $190,000

NT

The Gap – 2bd – 3.4% – $342,000
Gray – 2bd – 2.2% – $348,000
Araluen – 2bd – 2% – $325,000
East Side – 2bd – 0.9% – $335,000
Gillen – 2bd – 0.9% – $308,000

ACT

Bruce – 1bd – 1.7% – $336,750

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