MOVE over Wilston – Newmarket is the new place to be with figures showing the suburb is Queensland’s most popular with prospective home buyers.
The quarterly data from realestate.com.au shows demand in Newmarket has increased over the last three months, with the suburb moving from fifth place to the top spot.
Spring Hill and Red Hill have both made their debut on the top 10 list, while demand in Mansfield has increased significantly over the quarter, moving from eighth to third.
Holland Park, which was number one three months ago, has seen a drop in popularity with the suburb now sitting in fifth spot.
Wilston, the top Queensland suburb this time last year, has maintained a position in the top five in the last six months, moving from third to second spot in the last quarter.
Place Newmarket agent Mario Sultana, who is marketing 8 Parker St, Newmarket for vendors Robyn and Betty Ellis, said buyers were finding Newmarket was a beautiful alternative when they couldn’t afford Wilston but wanted to be close to everything.
“Newmarket is sometimes the forgotten cousin of the north,” Mr Sultana said.
“It’s only relatively small but it has a great selection of properties for people from all walks of life.”
Agent Simone Weigall, also from Place Newmarket, said demand in the suburb had been steadily increasing over the past few months, particularly for family homes.
“Family homes within the $700,000-$900,000 price range have attracted excellent numbers through the open homes recently, with multiple offers being made quickly,” Ms Weigall said.
She said buyers were attracted to the inner-city lifestyle and the suburb offered a range of property suitable for first-home buyers, families and unit dwellers.
Ray White Alderley agent Andy Cowan said Newmarket had a lot of new units and townhouses that were attracting buyers.
“They are selling like hot cakes, they’re stronger than house sales,” Mr Cowan said.
He said a lot of buyers in the area were moving from units in Newstead and New Farm because they wanted more space for a growing family but didn’t want to move too far away from the City.
Queensland’s most popular suburbs for buyers:
1. Newmarket
2. Wilston
3. Mansfield
4. Stafford Heights
5. Holland Park
6. Spring Hill
7. Red Hill
8. Grange
9. Paddington
10. Tarragindi
Original article published at www.news.com.au by Teela Jurgensen, The Courier Mail, 5/10/2013