5 Victorian suburbs ideal for investors' beachside escape
As summer approaches, these five Victorian suburbs offer affordable coastal gateways for investors seeking a lifestyle change for the holiday.
A new analysis by Belle Property and Hockingstuart revealed five often overlooked Victorian coastal suburbs below the million-dollar mark.
The report showed these suburbs were best regarding accessibility to beaches, local hospitality hubs, recreational spaces, neighbourhood quality, and commutability from the city.
Belle Property and Hockingstuart’s head of Victoria, Anthony Webb, said the analysis wished to uncover lesser-known towns buyers should consider for beachside escapes.
Rosebud, Portarlington, San Remo, Lakes Entrance and Apollo Bay all made the list, scoring 43, 39, 35, 33 and 32 out of 50 on the Coastal Suburb Index, respectively.
Located on the Mornington Peninsula at approximately 61 kilometres south of Melbourne, Webb said that Rosebud scored first due to its premium lifestyle and proximity to Melbourne CBD while still having a relatively low median price of $765,000.
“Many factors make a suburb appealing to buyers, and Rosebud delivers on all fronts. From quality beach access to family-friendly recreation space and fantastic dining options, there isn’t much not to like about Rosebud,” Webb said.
Scoring second is Portarlington on the other side of the heads on the Bellarine Peninsula, near Geelong.
Portarlington is a historic coastal township surrounded by wineries and olive groves, making it a popular summer destination with a median house price of $881,000.
Webb said Portarlington provides replicable lifestyle offerings to nearby suburbs, such as Point Lonsdale, at a discount of more than a quarter million, making it more affordable for investors.
With the highest median house price of $920,000, San Remo ranked third on the overlooked Victorian seaside towns’ list.
San Remo was named after the Italian Riviera resort and is packed with cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and picnic areas around sandy beaches.
“San Remo, the gateway to Phillip Island, scored highly based on its recreation spaces, family activity centres, walking tracks, and access to front and back beaches,” Webb said.
Following San Remo is Lakes Entrance, which has the cheapest median house price at $545,000.
The coastal town of Lake Entrance is located in the eastern part of Victoria on the edge of Ninety Mile Beach, where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean.
Renowned for its seafood, wildlife and famous Ninety Mile Beach, Lake Entrance has great property values despite being further away from Melbourne.
Ranking fifth on the overlooked Victorian seaside towns’ list is Apollo Bay, which has a median house price of $900,000.
Located on the Great Ocean Road near the Great Otway National Park, Apollo Bay has rugged coastlines, beaches, mountains and waterfalls for outdoorsy investors.
Webb said the town has great hospitality offerings, surf lifesaving clubs, walking tracks and nearby golf courses.
“Everyone is looking for something different in a beach house, and I encourage buyers to zone in on what they value in a summer home,” he said.
“While somewhere like Rosebud may appeal to buyers after a getaway close to Melbourne that offers recreational facilities, others might want a quieter retreat off the beaten track and would be more inclined to look at Lakes Entrance or Apollo Bay,” Webb concluded.