The top property investment numbers of the week

Property investing is a game of numerical knowledge.

Clued-up investors know that it’s not just about the headline median price, clearance rates and prestige sale figures. Yields, vacancy rates and employment figures can be just as important.

Some numbers are more equal than others. Here are seven of the standout figures that you should stick to the back of your brain this week:

1. 1.2%
   
   Sydney’s price gains managed to drag the national result up as the latest Australian Property Monitors PriceFinder data revealed that national price growth had risen by 1.2% for the September quarter.
   
   It was the slowest national growth figure recorded since March 2013.
   
   Brisbane was perhaps the most surprising result, with its median price falling 1.3% over the quarter.
   
   
2. 4%
   
   Infrastructure is often pointed to as one of the keys to future price growth. But just how big an effect does it really have.
   
   Researchers from Griffith University studied the effect of Brisbane’s introduction of ferries nearly 20 years ago and found that on average properties one kilometre closer to the ferry terminal increased by an average of 4% more than those further away.
   
   In fact academic Barbara Yen said that: “A one hundred metre decrease in the distance to the ferry stop would increase property values by between 4.9% and 13.1%.”
   
   
3. -8.5%
   
   The Sydney market has boomed over the past couple of years, but not every region has benefited.
   
   SQM Research’s Louis Christopher dug down into the three areas which have underformed.
   
   Among them the affluent Lower North Shore which has actually seen prices fall by 8.5% over the past three years.
   
   
4. 274
   
   Brisbane has a new contender for the crown of the city’s tallest tower.
   
   Brisbane Skytower will reach the city maximum height of 274 metres, potentially equalling Shayher Group’s proposed 82-storey residential tower on 300 George Street.
   
   
5. 11
   
   Melbourne’s median house price has stabilised over the previous quarter, but price growth in 11 suburbs stood out, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
   
   
6. 104
   
   Melbourne City Council has secured the $76 million purchase of a 6,462 square metre property site opposite the Queen Victoria Market after a 104 year wait.
   
   The council managed to fight off competition from $80 million offshore buyers to secure the prime redevelopment site.
   
   
7. 1,641
   
   Melbourne is gearing up for its biggest auction weekend ever.
   
   RP Data figures show 1,641 auctions are scheduled for the forthcoming pre-Melbourne Cup weekend, breaking the 1,619 auction record set on the same days last year.