Forget smashed avo — in these suburbs, you might actually afford a house with that toast. A fresh report just revealed 43 rare gems in Australia where the dream of buying a home under $400,000 is still alive. But blink, and they might vanish.
If you’ve ever screamed internally while browsing Australia real estate listings, you’re not alone. Housing affordability has become the national punchline — except, apparently, in 43 select suburbs that still won’t destroy your wallet.
Thanks to exclusive data from PropTrack, we now know where these budget-friendly oases are hiding.
Darwin: The Last Frontier of Affordable Housing?
Darwin is really doing the most for budget-conscious buyers — with a whopping 22 suburbs under $400,000. Berrimah and Lee Point still offer actual houses at that price, while the rest (like Nightcliff, Gray, and Malak) serve up units that won’t make your bank account cry.
Melbourne’s Underdog Suburbs Are Showing Up
Eight Melbourne suburbs made the cut, including:
-
Albion: $281K (yes, really)
-
Notting Hill: $335,880 (still cheaper than your uni degree)
-
Travancore, Melton, Essendon North — all hovering below $400K.
Who knew the outer burbs could offer a shot at the Aussie Dream?
Adelaide’s Affordable Seven
Adelaide’s real estate MVP? Elizabeth Vale with a median of $315K. The city also boasts solid contenders like Kilburn and Kurralta Park — ideal for those not keen on selling a kidney to buy property.
Even Sydney Made the List… Barely
Yes, that Sydney. Three metro suburbs snuck in: Normanhurst, Vineyard, and Carramar — miracles do happen.
What’s the Catch?
REA Group economist Anne Flaherty says these are “historic, final opportunities.” Basically, if you wait too long, you'll be looking at $400K for a car park instead.
Why? Prices aren’t expected to backtrack to pre-Covid levels — not even if new housing stock floods the market. Plus, with demand heating up around metro-accessible suburbs, the list could be extinct by the time you finish reading this.
And the Forecast?
2025 could see national house prices inch up another 1 to 4%, according to PropTrack. High interest rates might keep things cool — but don’t expect a fire sale anytime soon.
Bottom Line
If you're still chasing the dream of owning real estate in Australia (and not just on Monopoly), these suburbs are your shot. Just don’t tell too many people… or you’ll be priced out by next Tuesday.
