While many are dreaming of greener pastures, others are scrambling to get into hot suburban markets — with buyer competition reaching new highs in some pockets.

New figures show that in some suburbs, more than 100 potential buyers are expressing interest in a single listing. This data, based on key online inquiries like requesting contracts, inspection bookings, or direct agent contact, paints a picture of extreme buyer demand in affordable markets. According to REA Group economist Angus Moore, it’s the outer-ring suburbs that are seeing the biggest spikes — particularly those with strong infrastructure plans.

In Sydney, Werrington leads the country with an average of 150 inquiries per listing, followed closely by St Marys with 144. In Queensland, suburbs like Woodridge (111 inquiries) and Loganlea (109) are also in high demand, likely due to their affordability and proximity to transport upgrades. In Melbourne, Dallas tops the list with 87 inquiries, and in South Australia, Stirling sees the strongest interest with an average of 93 buyers per listing. Moore notes that investors are playing a major role in these markets, looking to secure properties ahead of future growth catalysts.