With pristine beaches and a glistening water views, many dream of moving to the stunning Harbour City.
But eager buyers are being forced to look 36km northwest of Sydney in Kellyville, which has proved the most popular of its suburbs for buying a home, according to new data.
There were 670 sales over the last 12 months in the area, mostly larger, detached houses as families flock to the area in search of modern homes with gardens.
This exceeded the 524 sold in Blacktown in Sydney’s west, which is usually the most popular thanks to its affordable housing, according to data from realestate.com.au.
Kellyville has an abundance of modern, four-bedroom family homes (pictured, a similar property in the suburb) which has helped it become the most popular area for buyers
Blacktown (pictured) in Sydney’s west is the second most popular area for house sales thanks to its affordability and easy commute into the city
The large suburbs were among just five Sydney suburbs where there were more than 500 property sales.
The others were the northwestern suburbs of Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills and the stunning northern beach area of Dee Why.
But thanks to the economic downturn prompted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen Australia enter a recession and unemployment soar, overall property sales had fallen.
Transactions fell by a third in April, the height of the coronavirus lockdown, when even open homes were not allowed to take place.
Baulkham Hills is known as a ‘family-friendly’ suburb 31km north-west of Sydney, and features large homes with gardens (pictured, a home in the suburb)
Since that rule lifted in May, the number of sales are on the rise.
Of Sydney’s popular eastern suburbs, exclusive Mosman had the highest number of sales at 482, followed by Randwick – a gateway to the beaches of Bondi and Coogee.
Experts believe Kellyville’s popularity is down to its large volume of four-bedroom, two-bathroom family homes.
Dee Why beach (pictured) in the north of the city is popular among first-time buyers due to its relative affordability compared to other suburbs in the northern beaches
Baulkham Hills, which was the fourth most popular area for home buyers, has several modern, large properties (pictured, a four-bed home in the suburb)
Most homes sold in the area were built in the last ten years, making them modern for busy families, with an average price of $1.12 million.
It is also bigger that most other Sydney suburbs, which a larger range of homes.
Lumby Hampson principal and auctioneer Will Hampson told realestate.com.au that the Sydney Metro Northwest line also made the area attractive.
‘Families like the combination of accessibility and affordability,’ Mr Hampson said.
‘You can get into the area for around the $1 million range and get a traditional family house with a sizeable backyard that will be close to shopping centres and sports facilities.
‘COVID-19 and all the extra time people are spending at home has heightened some homeowners’ need for space.’
The most apartment sales were found in Dee Why in the northern beaches, where 457 units were sold.
The area was particularly popular for first-time buyers, experts said, with an average price of $795,000.
This made them slightly cheaper that in other northern beach communities, but still boasting the stunning ocean views.
It comes after Westpac forecast a 20 per cent plunge in house prices this year in Australia’s biggest property markets as coronavirus sparks a recession.
More than 1.4 million Chinese tourists last year visited Australia but border closures to slow the spread of COVID-19 have stopped a valuable generator of economic activity.
The worst global health pandemic in 100 years has also meant a temporary end to immigration and foreign students – a key source of rental income for landlords.
The Northern Beaches (pictured) prove a popular area for homebuyers, but particularly Dee Why due to its affordability