Australia’s most in-demand suburbs aren’t your usual suspects, according to analysis by PropTrack. It says homebuyers are shifting their searches to emerging locations that offer a more affordable lifestyle.

REA Group senior economist Paul Ryan analysed views per online listing to find the locations where buyers were increasingly looking compared to last year. The most in-demand suburb for houses was Viveash – about 16 kilometres east of the Perth CBD – where demand is up 163% on the same time last year.

Lochinvar in New South Wales (up 101%) is next, while in Western Australia, the top location is Cardup (up 92%), and in Queensland, searches in Shoal Point are up 86%. Searches are up 55% in Crafers in South Australia, while in East Bairnsdale in Victoria, searches are up 43%.

Ryan says the increase in searches comes as new listings have surged throughout the spring selling season. “New listings were 20.9% higher nationally in October month-on-month and 14% higher year-on-year,” he says. “The property market has a lot of momentum going into 2025, so the big question is what happens when rates start to fall, and my expectation is that it will bring even more buyers into the market.”