Value pushed up by owner-occupiers in regional Victoria

The industry body said that areas within commuting distance of the city recorded the highest growth for traditional three-bedroom homes, as first home buyers and families capitalised on stamp duty concessions and affordability.

CEO Gil King said that Norlane was the state’s top performer for this property type, with the median price of a three-bedroom house rising by 10.5 per cent to $299,000.

“While this was up from $270,500 in September, it remains well below the $730,000 median price for a three-bedroom house in metropolitan Melbourne,” Mr King said.

The REIV CEO said that three-bedroom homes were also highly sought after in the Geelong suburb of Lara, with the median price up by more than $36,000 in December to $450,000, an 8.8 per cent increase on September figures.

“Similar price growth was also seen in nearby Corio, where the median for a three-bedroom house rose [by] 8.2 per cent to $310,000.

“Family homes in Clifton Springs on the Bellarine Peninsula were also popular in the last three months of 2017, with the median price rising [by] 8.1 per cent to $400,000. This was $30,000 higher than the previous quarter.”

Mr King said the data showed that Bairnsdale and Hamlyn Heights also experienced solid price growth for three-bedroom homes, up by 7.8 per cent and 6.4 per cent, respectively.

“Meanwhile, family homes in Ballarat East and Ballarat Central also performed well in the December quarter, with the median price increasing [by] 7.6 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

“This boosted the median price for a three-bedroom home in Ballarat East to $320,000, while similar-sized homes in Ballarat Central now attract a median of $399,000.”

The REIV said that other property types seeing statewide growth were three-bedroom units, up by 3.9 per cent to a median of $360,000, and four-bedroom houses, up by 1.1 per cent to a median of $470,000.