Why Melbourne's property market is suddenly so appealing

Potential homebuyers may be best placed to set their sights on Melbourne, with new data revealing Australia’s largest city recorded significantly less growth than other capitals since the pandemic began.

Figures from CoreLogic show that house values rose by just 1.6 percent between March 2020 and May 2023 compared with a stronger 16.5 percent gain in Sydney prices and a whopping 45.2 percent surge in Adelaide.

The increases have started to close the value gaps between Melbourne and the smaller capitals such as Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, said CoreLogic Asia Pacific research director Tim Lawless.

“Every capital city other than Canberra – the country’s second most expensive capital for houses – has significantly closed the house value gap to Melbourne,” he said. “At the onset of COVID, Brisbane houses were 47 percent cheaper than Melbourne. That affordability gap has closed to just 15 percent.

“Melbourne was 85 percent more expensive than Adelaide at the start of COVID but the gap has narrowed to just 29 percent and in Perth, where the gap was 88 percent, Melbourne house values are now 50 percent higher.”

Like most Australian capitals, Melbourne’s values fell at the start of COVID. During 2020, values declined by -6.7 percent according to CoreLogic, followed by substantial growth of 20.6 percent. This preceded another decline of -11.7 percent, with the market finding the floor in February this year. Since then, prices have grown 1.7 percent to May this year.

Melbourne is consistently ranked Australia’s most liveable city and was last year named the third most liveable city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global 2022 Liveability Index.

Mr Lawless said the latest data would likely make Melbourne a more attractive option for homebuyers and investors.

“With housing affordability remaining stretched, this improvement in Melbourne’s value proposition could place Australia’s second largest city in a more competitive position to attract a greater share of housing market participants,” he said.

“The city’s advertised supply level is trending lower and is -13.4 percent below levels at the same time last year and -7.0 percent below the previous five-year average.

“Melbourne’s rental vacancy rate of 0.8 percent in May is also one of the lowest in the country and yet another potential factor supporting purchasing demand for those with the financial capacity to enter the market.”

Australia’s housing debate is often dominated by affordability and supply, but a new collaboration between Brickworks and acclaimed architecture firm Kennedy Nolan argues the conversation should also focus on the quality and longevity of the homes being built.

The project, titled Our Next Neighbourhood, examines how suburban housing could evolve in response to shrinking block sizes, rising energy costs, increasing density and changing family structures.

Rather than proposing luxury dream homes, the initiative focuses on what its creators describe as achievable suburban housing models that are more flexible, sustainable, and better suited to modern Australian life.

Brickworks commissioned Kennedy Nolan to investigate what suburban housing might look like if “design, long-term liveability and enduring materials were placed at the centre of the conversation”.

The result is two housing concepts, known as the Street Terrace and Canopy Terrace, which explore higher-density living while maintaining access to green space, natural light and privacy.

The designs incorporate adaptable floorplans that can evolve as family needs change, along with passive design principles intended to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Brett Ward, General Manager of Marketing at Brickworks, said the company wanted to broaden the discussion around housing beyond simply increasing supply.

“Much of the housing conversation today is understandably focused on supply and affordability, but there is an equally important discussion to be had about the quality and longevity of the homes we build,” he said.

“We wanted to explore how thoughtful design, combined with durable, resilient materials, could create homes that not only function well today, but continue to support Australian families and communities long into the future.”

Kennedy Nolan said the project was partly inspired by concerns that contemporary housing often struggles to adapt to changing household structures and environmental pressures.

The architects said innovation in suburban housing was “essential” to address changing family groupings, energy use, urban heat island effects and growing disconnection from place.

According to the design team, the concepts draw on lessons from some of Australia’s most influential housing projects while seeking to create neighbourhoods with stronger links to landscape, community and local identity.

Rachel Nolan, founder of Kennedy Nolan, said the practice saw an opportunity to reimagine suburban housing as something “more connected to our climate, our landscape, our communities and our Australian identity”.

The project comes as policymakers, developers and planners continue searching for ways to deliver more housing without sacrificing liveability, neighbourhood character or long-term sustainability.

Why Melbourne’s property market is suddenly so appealing

Australia’s most liveable city just became a little more attractive

Brickworks has enlisted acclaimed architecture studio Kennedy Nolan to explore how homes could become more adaptable, energy-efficient and connected to community.