Boomtime

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GUEST OBSERVER
Over the past five years, the inner south of Melbourne’s property market has consistently performed strong. And with the area’s population forecasted to grow by a steady <a href="https://forecast.id.com.au/stonnington/home" target="_blank">19,000 residents by 2036</a>, we expect it to remain that way for years to come.
Homes are flying out the door in suburbs like Prahran, Windsor and Armadale. Auction clearance rates for houses and apartments are well above the <a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/Research/?LocationType=LGA&amp;State=VIC&amp;LgaId=452" target="_blank">state’s average</a> with Armadale and Prahran the star achievers, clocking 86.5% and 81% respectively. Notably, <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/Property-Research/Median-Prices/Growth-suburbs" target="_blank">annual growth figures</a> show the value of Prahran properties have increased by an average of 6.4% which, again, is above the state’s average. So, what’s driving the demand in one of Melbourne’s most popular prestige areas?
The amenities of Stonnington are no doubt one of the biggest draw cards. There’s the array of parklands, public transport, cafes and shopping strips – and it’s in close proximity to the CBD. A significant number of area upgrades are underway to ensure the City of Stonnington can support its future growth. For instance, as part of the Chapel Street Master Plan, the iconic street is undergoing a facelift to improve the streetscape, transport infrastructure and enhance village squares. The Stonnington Council is also pursuing a range of important initiatives including underground car parks to create more open space and parkland, promoting and encouraging green spaces in the area. This follows a recent <a href="https://instonnington.realviewdigital.com/?iid=117763#folio=2" target="_blank">City of Stonnington</a> survey which found that 91% of local residents believe it’s important for the Council to create open space for current and future generations to enjoy.
But when it comes down to it, the inner south real estate market has remained strong because it appeals to a range of buyers. For example, we’re currently selling <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/83_PEEL_STREET_PRAHRAN_VIC_3181" target="_blank">83 Peel Street in Prahran</a>, a red-brick Edwardian which has sparked interest from downsizers who want to live amongst the action whilst not compromising on space. On the flip side, a single-fronted Victorian house at 64 Pridham Street, Prahran that we recently sold attracted the interest of young professional couples. Investors are also flocking to the area opting for apartments which can be rented out easily (Stonnington vacancy rates are currently 2.3% on average). This broad spectrum of buyers means it doesn’t matter where we are in the property cycle, the area will always be in demand.
However, it’s a different story when it comes to first home buyers. As the median house price in Stonnington is more than $1 million and competition is increasing, this demographic is realigning its expectations and considering other options to get a foothold on the inner south market. They are beginning to challenge the ‘Great Australian Dream’ and opt for an apartment, townhouse or unit, which you can still get on a budget – $600,000 is the median price for apartments in <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=BSYlwFdojixDq-4fuWm5JeXV_rnxN-jSJF3p7s4yJO0bNIhr0WrSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgBkAG8AbQBhAGkAbgAuAGMAbwBtAC4AYQB1AC8AYQBwAG0ALwBSAGUAcwBlAGEAcgBjAGgALwA_AEwAbwBjAGEAdABpAG8AbgBUAHkAcABlAD0AUwB1AGIAdQByAGIAJgBTAHQAYQB0AGUAPQBWAEkAQwAmAFMAdQBiAHUAcgBiAEkAZAA9ADMAMwAzADkANwA.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.domain.com.au%2fapm%2fResearch%2f%3fLocationType%3dSuburb%26State%3dVIC%26SuburbId%3d33397">Prahran</a> and <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/redir.aspx?SURL=dgp7VSX9A457VQfpV6tqbiCOpOq300C8X8xEhIoeHscbNIhr0WrSCGgAdAB0AHAAOgAvAC8AdwB3AHcALgByAGUAYQBsAGUAcwB0AGEAdABlAC4AYwBvAG0ALgBhAHUALwBuAGUAaQBnAGgAYgBvAHUAcgBoAG8AbwBkAHMALwBhAHIAbQBhAGQAYQBsAGUALQAzADEANAAzAC0AdgBpAGMA&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.realestate.com.au%2fneighbourhoods%2farmadale-3143-vic">Armadale</a>. Some are also investing in more affordable older style properties which can be renovated over time as their income grows. There are still many streets in South Yarra that have been coined to have renovation potential, according to data.
Looking forward to the next five years, we predict the City of Stonnington will remain just as popular. However, we’re likely to see changes in the demographic of home buyers as demand booms. If younger buyers can no longer break into the area as a result of increased competition, then the age bracket of owner-occupiers will start to increase. As the population in Stonnington rises and people want to live closer to the action, there is no doubt that demand is hardly set to wan in the inner south.
As the council continues to improve the area to support population growth, and savvy young buyers are looking for ways to break into the market, the area will continue on its trajectory to success and will continue to experience strong performance.
Andrew James is Director of hockingstuart Stonnington. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.hockingstuart.com.au/?pagecall=staffMember&amp;staffID=293" target="_blank">here</a>.
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Boomtime buyers realigning expectations: hockingstuart Stonnington

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Record high house prices in Australia doesn’t seem to deter buyer sentiment, while sellers think 2017 is a good time to sell, says a new survey.
Two in three (62 percent) Aussie home owners believe this year is a good time to buy, while a further 73 percent believe it is a good time to sell, according to the findings of the survey commissioned by free real estate agent search service, LocalAgentFinder.
The survey was conducted from a nationally representative, independent panel of 1001 Australian adults.
LocalAgentFinder allows vendors to compare property sales agents in their local area, in conjunction with Pureprofile, a data and insights company.
LocalAgentFinder CEO Matt McCann said it was interesting to see two-thirds of Australians believe property is a good buy this year, given the double-digit percentage increases, talk of interest rates rises, and possible changes to property investment legislation.
“Many of us are talking about Sydney and Melbourne’s strong property market, but that is not really being seen outside of the Eastern Seaboard. In fact, the value of property in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart were lower in 2016 than they were eight years ago,” he said.
Sydney and Melbourne recorded the highest dwelling value increases from 2015 to 2016, at 15.5 percent and 13.7 percent respectively. 
Other cities had lower increases, with Canberra dwellings increasing by 9.3 percent, Brisbane by 3.6 percent and Adelaide by 4.2 percent, while Perth decreased by -4.3 percent.
A majority of home owners surveyed in New South Wales, 81 percent, believe it is a good time to sell, and in Victoria and the Australia Capital Territory, where 82 percent of home owners believe the same.
Elsewhere, confidence was slightly lower: 73 percent of home owners in the Northern Territory, 70 percent in South Australia, 67 percent in Queensland and Tasmania, and 44 percent in Western Australia thought it was a good time to sell.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/03/29/Mar30NewsPropertySurvey.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/29/Mar30NewsPropertySurvey.png" alt="">
Home owners in WA and NT most likely to buy property in 2017
Residents in Western Australia are most optimistic about buying, with 85 percent believing 2017 is a good year to purchase property. Northern Territory residents follow at 80 percent, then Tasmanians at 71 percent.
Contrastingly, ACT and NSW residents are on the fence – at 47 percent and 55 percent respectively.
Outside of these areas, 68 percent of South Australians believe this year is a good time to buy, 65 percent of Queenslanders, and 57 percent of Victorians believe this year is a good time to buy.
The findings are consistent with rising house prices across Australia. 
Confidence highest among Baby Boomers
Over 60s are the most likely to believe 2017 is a good time to buy (53 percent of all over-60s), while those in their 20s were the least likely to believe 2017 to be a good time to buy (35 percent of all 20-somethings) – unsurprising, given wage-to-property ratios are growing unevenly. The survey also revealed that 53 percent of 60+ believe 2017 is a good time to sell.
“Older Australians typically have more purchasing power than young people, as they are able to rely on the equity of existing assets to purchase. Younger people are struggling to keep up with rising house prices, and they are less likely to be inclined to purchase this year,” McCann said.
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