Specialising in Rental Property Management
Sunshine Coast

Real Estate Queensland

LOCATION is king when it comes to snaring a bargain property, regardless of whether it's a buyer's market or if there's uncertainty in the field.

Locations that are a little cheaper than their neighbouring suburbs with good infrastructure and services are likely to see good capital growth, says RPData researcher Cameron Kusher.

He has come up with a list of suburbs that are well-priced and set for strong capital growth while property research director Tim Lawless said some of the most strategic markets were within 10km of the CBD: "It's where recently values may have dropped marginally but historically these areas have proven to be safe buying bets."

Nambour houses: Sunshine Coast Hinterland suburb with a median house price of $345,000 compared with a median for the entire Sunshine coast of $523,031. Has its own train station and shopping and school facilities. Housing stock of post-war and lowset brick properties have renovation potential.

Mr Kusher has earmarked, Albion, Wooloowin, Salisbury and Holmview as the Brisbane hotspots.

Remax real estate salesman Tony McLoughlin, who is marketing two units in Albion, says he agrees it is undervalued.

"You are one suburb closer to the city than Clayfield and it's much cheaper. Everything works in Albion, all the tunnels go around it and you have easy access to main roads and so many facilities."

Albion units: With a median price of $335,000, entry into Albion is at least $30,000 cheaper than surrounding suburbs. "It's great value and has very good transport connections," Mr Kusher said. For investors, Albion units are achieving an average gross rental yield of 5 per cent.

Wooloowin units: "Wooloowin is one of those areas that gets overlooked but it is so well placed and very affordable (median unit price $311,250)," Mr Kusher said. Adding the older brick walk-up units that dominate the suburb were likely to have renovation potential and the suburb is seeing gross rental yields of 5 per cent.

Holmview houses: Situated near Beenleigh, Holmview has the second most affordable house price on the Gold Coast with a median house price of $310,000. Rental returns are strong averaging 5.5 per cent. "It's so affordable and the infrastructure is so much better than somewhere like Springfield and the prices are so much cheaper," Mr Kusher said. "At some stage it's got to go ahead."

Salisbury houses: Just 9km from the CBD, Salisbury has one of the lowest median prices for a suburb within the 10km radius. Mr Kusher said the zone was split between commercial and residential properties but in the future there was likely to be rezoning potential to create more residential allotments.

Most of the housing blocks ranged from 600-850sqm with some 1200sqm that may offer subdivision opportunities.

Tugun houses: The cheapest beachfront suburb of the Gold Coast with median house price of $490,000 and traffic congestion alleviated by the recently opened Tugun Bypass. "It appears property within the suburb is somewhat undervalued," Mr Kusher said.

Margate houses: Waterfront suburb on the Redcliffe Peninsula, 26km north of Brisbane, has a median house price of $335,000. Mr Kusher said house prices on the Redcliffe Peninsula lag significantly behind other areas that are an equal distance from the CBD.

Vincent houses: Situated in Townsville, Vincent is one of the most affordable locations in the fast growing North Queensland city.

Has a median house price of $315,000 below neighbouring suburbs.