If you caught Kaz’s recent chat on the Reset Workplace podcast (listen to the full ep on youtube here or on spotify here!) you’d know that she dropped some absolute GOLD about how to choose the best location possible for your investment property – especially as we’re seeing all of the shifts in the current market.
And do you know why this kind of information is gold? Because investing in property is good. But investing in property in the RIGHT AREA is way better, and it’s what’s going to get you that $$$ when push comes to shove.
So we’ve condensed this gold down into the Ultimate Property Location Checklist just for you:
- Population growth & demographics:
One of the biggest things that drives property prices is – you guessed it, PEOPLE. The population of Australia is expected to really surge over the next 5 years, with lots of people immigrating from overseas to come and live in our (mostly) sunny slice of paradise.
And do you know what that means? More people are going to need more places to live.
Keep an eye out for areas with increasing population forecasts and also suburbs that are close to immigration hubs – they’re the places that are likely to boom in the coming years leading to increased demand and rising property value (WIN!)
- Infrastructure & development
If you want to see the value of your property rise, look to where the infrastructure is – or where it’s GOING to be.
Keeping an eye on suburbs with great transport links, schools, hospitals, shopping centres and parks is a great start, but also areas that have planned developments for this kind of infrastructure too.
These are all elements that make a place, well, nice to live in – which again, drives up demand and pushes property value up. It also means the ability to charge MORE in rent, putting more cash in your pocket.
Our hot tip because we love you: Looking in areas where developments are planned are usually BURSTING with opportunity for investors
- Local economy and industries
It sounds a bit confusing but it’s really not. You want to be looking for an area where jobs are growing – because people generally like to live close to where they work right?
Some things that can be helpful to check:
- Diverse industries (or opportunity for) such as healthcare, education, construction, tech, retail
- New commercial or business developments in the area
- Any nearby employment hubs
Basically, the more diverse the local economy is, the better luck you’re going to have with rental demand throughout that area.
- Rental vacancy rates
Now this one’s a good one because it’s actually a BIG mistake that a lot of investors make, which is buying in areas that are ALREADY flooded with rentals.
When it comes to getting strong rental yields from your tenants, it all comes down to having the right balance of supply and demand (ideally having more demand for the supply available).
If you’re buying in an area that already has a ton of rentals, you’ll end up lowering your rent to compete – just to get people in there.
Instead? Aim for suburbs where most people OWN rather than RENT. This usually means better capital growth, less competition and easier rental returns.
As a general figure, a vacancy rate below 2% points to a strong demand in the area.
So as we continue through 2025 and you continue along (or start) your investment journey, use this Ultimate Property Location Checklist to make sure you’re looking for opportunities in the RIGHT areas for you.
Smart property investment isn’t just about finding a random cheap property or jumping on what’s trending at the moment. It’s about researching, following the market, devising a strategy that works for YOU, and most importantly – picking a location that’s set up for long-term success.
We’re here to help you every step of the way, so if you’re currently looking for the right location for your next investment property, book a free consultation call with us and let’s chat! Contact us here to get started.