Start with the market, not the suburb

I was recently commissioned by a long-standing client to identify 50 housing markets across Australia that, in my opinion, are likely to outperform the broader market over the next 24 to 36 months.

Normally I steer well clear of “hotspot” reports. Too much of that industry is about marketing rather than research. Many lists simply reward suburbs that have already had their run, instead of identifying places where the next phase of growth is quietly taking shape.

But this brief was different.

The client advises SMSF investors who generally buy detached houses priced between $600,000 and $750,000. They look for properties with genuine capital growth prospects, opportunities to add value through renovation or redevelopment, and, where appropriate, designs that can accommodate multiple tenants in the future.

Now, I can't simply publish the list - that's not how I work with clients. Confidentiality matters.

But the client has kindly agreed that I can share one of the fifty shortlisted suburbs, and perhaps more importantly, explain why it made the cut and the thinking behind the methodology. Also my approach applies to all housing investors, not just those looking to buy in a superfund.

The list remains confidential. The methodology doesn't. Paid subscribers get the framework, the filters and a real-world case study showing how the process works.