The Australian suburbs where no one wants to sell up
Research reveals the suburbs people never want to leave
2 min
New data has uncovered the most tightly held suburbs across Australia, where happy homeowners very rarely sell up.
According to research firm PropTrack, the average time Aussies own their home has jumped by a quarter over the past decade to a whopping 11 years.
“The most tightly held suburbs tend to be those that appeal to a wide range of different people, from young families to retirees, and are often located in the middle and outer suburban rings,” PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty said.
These hot areas usually have sought-after amenities like good schools and shopping options, as well as appealing lifestyle characteristics such as parks or proximity to the water, Ms Flaherty added.
Clarinda in Melbourne’s southeast is the most tightly held suburb in the country, where houses are owned for an average of 24 years.
The top suburb for units is popular Cremorne Point on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, where apartment owners don’t budge for an average of 17 years.
Arncliffe in the city’s south is the tightest held for houses nationally at 21 years.
That suburb has seen soaring demand in recent times, particularly among young families and first-home buyers, with the median house price jumping from $1 million at the end of 2019 to $1.54 million currently.
Reflecting the strength of property markets in Australia’s two largest capital cities in the past decade, no Queensland suburbs made the top 10 list for houses.
However, Rochedale South in Brisbane’s south appeared in the units list with an average hold time of 15 years.
Two other areas outside of Sydney and Melbourne also appeared. Perth pockets Shelley and Kalamuna each have average hold times of 15 years.
Ms Flaherty said tightly held suburbs tend to have a high proportion of owner-occupiers and a higher median resident age.
The dominant dwelling type is also usually a detached house and areas are well-connected to CBDs via quality transport infrastructure, she added.
On the flipside of things, PropTrack also crunched the numbers on the suburbs with the shortest hold times, with semi-rural Pimpama on the northern fringe of the Gold Coast ranking first at four years.
When it comes to units, Hope Island, also on the Gold Coast, has the quickest tenure with four-and-a-half years.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
International AI strategist Justin Kabbani will headline the Kanebridge Property Summit in Sydney on June 18, with tickets selling fast.
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of quality apartments priced under $700,000.
3 min
Ophora Tallawong has launched its final release of apartments, positioning itself as one of the last opportunities for buyers to secure a new Sydney home below $700,000.
The project, located in one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors, is offering rare buyer protections at a time when affordability is tightening and competition for quality stock is intensifying.
According to JLL’s Q2 2025 Apartment Market Overview, Sydney’s median apartment price has already climbed to $795,000, setting a record.
With interest rates now on a downward trend and supply still heavily constrained, experts warn that today’s price brackets may not exist next year.
Ronnie Rahme, Development Manager at KDMC, said buyers were responding to the combination of quality and value.
“You simply don’t see this level of finish at these price points anymore,” Rahme said. “That’s why demand has been so strong for this final release.”
Dr Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist at My Housing Market, says the economic drivers are clear. “High rents and higher prices continue to provide clear incentives for first-home buyers and investors chasing solid investment returns,” he told Kanebridge News.
“New government initiatives to support first-home buyers will also act to place upward pressure on prices.”
The bigger picture
JLL’s research reinforces that point. While over 15,700 apartments are expected to be delivered nationally this year, a 40% uplift on 2024, Sydney remains undersupplied, with demand continuing to outpace completions.
The report also notes that reductions in the RBA cash rate are expected to further fuel buyer activity, with constrained supply continuing to push prices higher into 2026.
With construction costs soaring, Government contributions climbing, and interest rates remaining high, projects are harder than ever to bring to market, putting upward pressure on newly completed apartments.
The pipeline of new supply is shrinking as developers delay or abandon projects that no longer stack up financially.
According to JLL’s overview, only 2,554 completions are forecast for Sydney this year – against annual demand exceeding 30,000 dwellings.
At the same time, population growth, rental demand, and first-home buyer incentives are intensifying competition for limited stock. The imbalance between constrained supply and resilient demand is leaving new apartments scarcer and more expensive across Sydney.
Ophora: Last Chance In Sydney’s northwest
Developed by KDMC and designed by Architex, the $50 million project has launched its final release, with limited availability of 81 brand-new residences from just $500,000 for a one-bedroom, or $625,000 for a two-bedroom, which is far below Sydney’s median and significantly cheaper than nearby competition.
The five-storey development at 37 Reis St, Tallawong, combines affordability with premium inclusions more often seen in luxury builds: ducted air-conditioning, timber floors, premium finishes, fridge cavities with water plumbing, video intercom systems, fibre internet, EV charging, landscaped gardens and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views.
It also comes with something almost unheard of at this price point, a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy. Typically reserved for multimillion-dollar projects, LDI guarantees structural integrity for a decade and is only awarded to developers with a strong building track record.
SHC Insurance Brokers founder Stefan Hicks acknowledged the rarity of obtaining LDI, particularly for entry-level residential apartment complexes like Ophora.
“Gaining LDI is no mean feat. It’s offered selectively to developers and builders with a quality building history, and it requires both parties to employ an independent inspection service throughout construction,” he said.
“While this insurance is well-established around the world in about 40 countries, in Australia, we’re typically seeing high-end buildings covet LDI. The fact that Ophora has joined this exclusive list of quality-assured builds is a coup for entry-level home buyers.”
Raising the standard for affordable luxury
Rahme says the KDMC team wanted to set a new benchmark.
“Our mission with Ophora has always been clear: to raise the standard of what buyers should expect, regardless of budget,” he said.
“We’ve delivered a collection of apartments with finishes and features you’d usually only find in luxury projects, and we’ve backed it with one of the most stringent insurances available in the market. That gives buyers peace of mind that their investment is protected for the long term.
“People are walking through and realising you simply don’t see this level of quality at these price points anymore, as it’s effectively replacement cost in 2025.
“With rates coming down and limited competition, buyers and investors are moving quickly because they know the window won’t stay open. Investors, who have recently purchased at Ophora, have reported a strong rental demand, with minimum rental yields exceeding five per cent.”
Developments like Ophora, move-in ready, competitively priced and backed by rare structural protections (LDI), may represent the last chance for buyers to secure a sub-$700,000 apartment in Sydney.
Contact Ophora to arrange a private viewing or request more information. View Ophora on realestate.com.au
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