Adelaide Advertiser

Growth tipped for cheap suburbs
By Jessica Brown

Cash-strapped buyers are rushing to Adelaide’s affordable suburbs as property prices continue to surge – but they won’t stay cheap for long. Industry experts say buying in areas where values are rising, demand is strong and rental yields are solid is a safe bet to ensure a property is a good investment, though it means there’s a small window to get in at an affordable price.

Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder said it was getting harder to find affordable properties, referring to those under the $850,000 mark. “Those cheaper areas are the ones that have actually shown the best growth,” he said. With many willing to give up land to get into a good location, Mr Ryder said units and apartments were becoming a much more appealing option. “There’s a lot more thought going into the design of them too,” he said.

Hotspotting and Finance Better’s Growth Leaders 2026 report reveals Adelaide’s top 10 suburbs that tick all the boxes. With all but one having a median house or unit price under $850,000 – Hallett Cove’s was $875,000 – they were considered affordable areas. Low days on market and vacancy rates, rising yields, as well as the percentage of homes selling above asking price were also considered to determine the list.

The Onkaparinga local government area in the city’s south had the most growth suburbs, with Christie Downs, Christies Beach and Seaford making the list for houses and Morphett Vale for units. Magain Real Estate agent Scott McPharlin, who sells mainly in the south, said all four suburbs offered great buying options, as well as few smaller neighbouring ones like Hackham West and Huntfield Heights. “Christie Downs is definitely a hotspot,” he said. “The other one I really like, and people turn their noses up at, is Hackham West – that’s because it’s really well located. A lot of those smaller suburbs get forgotten about.”

Harris Real Estate Wine Coast agent Sam Bennett, who also sells in the southern suburbs, said the lifestyle on offer with beaches, especially surfable ones, and wineries close by also a big drawcard to the area. While affordability was the goal for many, Mr Bennett said it was also important to consider future plans when choosing where to buy. Those hoping to upsize in the near future, for example, would need to carefully consider location, he said. “It’s important to get in the right location so you can get that growth, which means they can upgrade to the home they want,” he said.

Meanwhile, units in Ascot Park, Glenside, Magill and Plympton were considered good buys closer to the city, while houses in Gawler East were a solid contender in the north. Adelaide ranked 4th in the country when comparing capital cities, mainly because it had the highest number of suburbs with low days on market. Finance Better founder Louis Velasquez said the analysis by Hotspotting, showed there was broad strength in markets across Australia. “All 14 jurisdictions have demand drivers that will put upward pressure on dwelling values in 2026,” he said.