According to the Domain Liveable Sydney 2016 study released this week, the top suburbs of Sydney are not the ones that are the most affordable; they are instead the ones that are considered the most livable. Does your suburb rank?
The Domain Liveable Sydney 2016 study rates 555 suburbs from first to worst, with the suburbs ranked based on 16 indicators, some of which are general, while others are unique to Sydney; indicators include transport options, education, ferry access, traffic, harbour or water views, employment and proximity to the beach.
Take for example the number 1 property suburb on the list: Lavender Bay. This is a Sydney gold mine and is far from being one of the most affordable suburbs. In 2015, one of the grand Victorian Italianate mansions that the suburb is known for sold for $9 million. But according to the survey, Lavender Bay, on the lower north shore between Milsons Point and McMahons Point, is full of culture, has sweeping harbour views, an abundance of amenities, food options and shopping to die for, and employment opportunities that are hard to beat.
Places like Milsons Point, where you also find Luna Park, rank high for shopping, dining, transport options and open spaces; but if you’re trying to sell or lease a property here, you’ll find problems with crime levels and the lack of tree cover. Another good one is McMahons Point, coming in at number 3, which has the positives of water views, culture and dining, and plenty of employment opportunities; and good educational facilities and telecommunications coverage.
Kirribilli came in at number 4 and if you want a good selling point, try using the “second official residence of the Prime Minister”. If that fails, go for the harbour views, the fact that public transport is abundant, and there’s plenty of culture, dining and shopping.
Number 5 is once again on the north shore, where the suburb of Waverton outperforms most when it comes to cafes and restaurants, shopping, open spaces, harbour views and public transport.
Surprisingly, if you’re trying to sell or lease in some of Sydney’s most popular suburbs, you might find they didn’t fare so well, with Bondi Beach coming in at number 91 and North Bondi at number 164; the affluent suburb of Bellevue Hill ranking number 27; beautiful and expensive Double Bay at number 34; and one of Australia’s most expensive suburbs, Point Piper finishing at number 91. It was highly rated for culture, but lost points for traffic congestion and lack of open spaces.
And finally, if you’re wondering what the lowest rating suburbs were, the final 5 includes Ropes Crossing, Hebersham, The Ponds, Parklea – and coming in last at number 555: Stanhope Gardens. However, with some of these lower rated suburbs undergoing masterplanning, you’ve found your selling point and you can tell your clients what they can expect for transformation and improvements in coming years.
The key is that when you’re selling or leasing a property in Sydney, make sure you focus on all the positives – no matter how insignificant they may seem. You’ll be amazed at how much good tree cover actually does mean to a family with small children.
If you want to find the selling points for your next property deal, visit
http://www.domain.com.au/news/domain-liveable-sydney-citys-555-suburbs-ranked/
