Australian Homeowners Stay Put: New Report Highlights Suburbs With the Longest Tenure

Australians are holding onto their homes for longer, as a new report reveals some of the suburbs that are the most tightly held in the country. The newly released Domain Tenure Report reveals house owners are staying put for an average of nine years, up from seven years in 2013. Apartment owners are holding their homes for an average of eight years, up from six years in 2013.

There are many reasons why tenure periods are lengthening in Australia. Across the capital cities, the most consistent tenure increases have been in Sydney and Perth houses and Sydney and Melbourne units. Housing affordability challenges are likely a factor in more home owners staying put in Sydney and Melbourne. Whereas in Perth, a long period of weak market conditions may have discouraged people from changing homes until they can sell for more than they bought. It’s cheaper to buy a house today in Perth than in any other capital city bar Darwin, so the increasing period of tenure may also reflect buyers’ ability to secure a ‘forever home’ on the first purchase.

The report notes that transactional costs associated with moving, such as stamp duty, can distort housing decisions and be a disincentive to move. “The financial burden of stamp duty can be linked to people’s willingness to change homes to suit their current needs,” according to the report.

A long average tenure period can also reflect a suburb’s high desirability or aspirational nature, perhaps due to its strong community, the style of housing, or a prized school catchment zone. Domain chief of research and economics, Dr Nicola Powell says: “There are certain areas that people tend to stay at for much longer and that’s because they are committed to the community. So, what you can find is that those tightly held areas are very hard to gain access to.” Dr Powell commented that in certain areas “people almost stalk for houses to come up since it means you’ll gain access into that suburb”.

A long average tenure can also indicate a lack of variation in local housing stock. Growing families may opt to renovate and/or extend their existing homes to suit their changing needs, thereby staying put longer. Would-be downsizers may also stay in larger homes for longer periods because there is a lack of smaller homes available in the area.

The areas with the longest average tenure periods across Australia’s capital cities are profiled below.

The suburbs we love not to leave

Strathfield-Burwood-Ashfield area, NSW (average tenure 13 years – houses)

Within the Strathfield-Burwood-Ashfield area is the suburb of Strathfield, which is known for its grand modernised Federation homes on generous blocks in wide, leafy streets. The suburb has a large number of schools including Strathfield Girls High School, Trinity Grammar, Santa Sabina College and St Patrick’s College. The area attracts older families with teenage children who want to buy forever homes in their preferred school catchments. The median price for a four bedroom house in Strathfield is $3.01 million, down 6.3% in 2023.

Whitehorse-East, VIC (average tenure 13 years – houses)

Balwyn North is the most populous suburb within the Whitehorse-East area. Located about 10km east of Melbourne CBD, it is one of the city’s most affluent suburbs. It is known for its wide, leafy streets, large parcels of land and post-war homes that have been modernised or knocked down and rebuilt over the years. Balwyn North offers close proximity to some of Victoria’s best private schools. The median price for a four bedroom house in Balwyn North is $2.345 million, up 2% in 2023.

Centenary, QLD (average tenure 14 years – houses)

Within the Centenary area of Toowoomba is the suburb of Centenary Heights, about 4km from the CBD. The suburbs attracts younger families on a budget looking for homes they can renovate or extend over time. It’s a great alternative to the pricier neighbouring area of Middle Ridge, with the median price for a four bedroom house in Centenary Heights being $615,000, up 13.5% in 2023.

Port Adelaide (average tenure 11 years – units)

The suburb of Port Adelaide has a strong maritime history and is home to the Techport naval construction base. It was developed in the 1800s and showcases some of the best preserved colonial buildings in South Australia. A sizeable part of the town centre is heritage-listed. Much residential development over the past decade has provided more apartments and townhouses, thereby attracting younger buyers who are also drawn to the thriving social and sporting scene. The median apartment price in Port Adelaide is $533,500, up 23% in 2023.

Joondalup, WA (average tenure 11 years – houses)

The suburb of Joondalup is about 26km north of Perth CBD. It is the primary urban centre of the outer northern suburbs and has its own train station, many parks and a coastal zone featuring Burns Beach in the north and Beaumaris Beach in the south. Joondalup began its journey to becoming Perth’s ‘city of the north’ in the 1980s, when many houses and businesses were established in the area. The median price for a four bedroom house in Joondalup is $633,000, up 2.9% in 2023.

North Canberra, ACT (average tenure 12 years – houses)

Within the North Canberra area is the suburb of O’Connor, which borders bushland on the edge of the CBD. O’Connor is a uniquely quiet residential area with a much-loved local village, yet is only 3km from the city centre. O’Connor is gentrifying as families seize the opportunity to buy quarter-acre blocks with 1950s homes that they can replace with architecturally designed dream homes in tranquil bush surrounds. The median price for a four bedroom house in O’Connor is $1.588 million, down 27.8% in 2023.

Litchfield, NT (average tenure 13 years – houses)

The Litchfield municipality is on the eastern and southeastern outskirts of the Darwin-Palmerston urban area. Within Litchfield is the suburb of Humpty Doo, a popular tourist spot on the way between Darwin and Kakadu National Park. The town has a thriving agricultural industry and the warm climate enables top-quality mangoes to be grown and picked earlier than Queensland fruit. The median price for a three bedroom house in Humpty Doo is $650,000, up 11.5% in 2023.

Hobart Inner (average tenure 8 years – houses)

Within the Hobart Inner area is Sandy Bay, an affluent residential suburb known for its natural beauty, with many homes enjoying spectacular panoramic water views. It is just 1km from Hobart CBD and offers a mix of historical homes and contemporary residences. It is home to many prestigious schools and has a vibrant restaurant and café scene. The median price for a four bedroom house in Sandy Bay is $1.51 million, down 9.9% in 2023.

Rumah means “home” in Indonesian and Malay, and it’s clear this designer property in Melbourne’s coveted beachside enclave of Brighton is a dream house in any language.

The uber-contemporary residence is a collaboration between builders Belot Property, Seidler Group architects, and the interiors team at Golden.

The result is a modern marvel that combines a brutalist concrete exterior ready to weather its coastal setting with inviting interiors using a mix of textures, from French oak to metal and brick finishes.

Just listed with Kay & Burton Bayside agents, Rae Mano, Matthew Pillios and Jamie Mi, the prestige property is on the market via a private treaty campaign with price expectations of between $10.5 million and $11.5 million.

Created to be a great entertainer while maintaining a level of discreet privacy, Rumah is, at its heart, a warm, family-friendly home that ticks all the boxes for detail-oriented design connoisseurs.

A palette of contradictions, Rumah blends angular and rounded forms, features hard steel and glass, and effortlessly incorporates the earthy finishes of brick and timber for a holistic sensory experience.

Beyond the oversized pivot door sits a large structural column wrapped in gold leaf, setting the tone for the rest of the residence. The three-storey layout offers a choice of multigenerational spaces, from the ground-floor everyday living level to the accommodation wing on the top floor and the large basement “clubhouse.”

At the heart of the home, a gourmet kitchen features a dramatic island bench, high-end appliances, and a full butler’s pantry. Multiple spaces feed off the kitchen, including a vast dining area and a large living room, which both spill out through full-height glazed doors to either a side barbecue terrace or the poolside deck to the rear.

Even the downstairs entertainer’s room – also known as the club – is effectively poolside thanks to an innovative glass viewing window framing swimmers and cleverly connecting the subterranean level to the rest of the home. This games room also houses a sophisticated bar, a wine cellar, integrated night club style lounge seating and a full bathroom.

Additionally, the lower floor features a hidden laundry room, two store rooms, direct access to a huge five-car garage with a convenient turning circle, and an extra bedroom or home office.

Via the private elevator, the top floor is dedicated to after-hours living. It has four spacious bedrooms, each with its own ensuite and walk-in wardrobes. In the luxurious primary suite, there is a hotel-inspired ensuite with a unique kidney-shaped freestanding bath and a dressing room.

Rumah’s added extras include warming indoor and outdoor fireplaces, automatic blinds, feature lighting, marble accents, bespoke wallpaper, built-in bedheads, an external spa and low-maintenance landscaped gardens.

Positioned on the corner of William and Halifax Sts, the 21st-century beach house is opposite William St Reserve, close to Brighton Primary School.

Rumah at 91 William St, Brighton is on the market via private sale with Kay & Burton Bayside and has a sales guide of $10.5 million and $11.5 million.