Where Tasmanians are looking to buy: Melbourne grabs top spot

News Corp Australia Network

A LOVE affair is brewing between these two neighbouring states.

New data from realestate.com.au has revealed where Tasmanians are searching for property most, and where buyers from interstate are eyeing most often on the Apple Isle.

In the spring and start of summer, Tassie property seekers were looking at Melbourne more than any other suburb. And Melburnians returned the favour making Hobart their No.1.

Greater Melbourne suburbs Richmond, Carlton, Brighton and Geelong also cracked the top 10 for Hobart house hunters.

Aside from Melbourne at No.1, Tassie’s top five was dominated by Queensland suburbs: Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads and Surfers Paradise, with Adelaide at No.5.

Petrusma Property senior consultant and sales manager David McLeod said Melbourne was often appealing to Tasmanians for “work opportunities” and “family-related reasons”.

Mr McLeod was not surprised to see so many Qld suburbs in Tasmanian property seekers’ preferred locations.

“People from Tassie seem to want to chase warmer weather,” he said.

“That is particularly the case through winter.”

For buyers located outside of Tasmania, the most popular suburbs searched were naturally Hobart and Launceston. And prestige locations Sandy Bay and Battery Point were next on the hit list.

Mr McLeod said with Sandy Bay and Battery Point in the upper end of town in terms of median house prices, this puts them ‘on the map’ for aspirational mainland purchasers.

“Typically, mainlanders make up a much higher percentage of internet views than they do of the total house sales,” he said.

“This suggests the vast majority are ‘window shopping’ or at least conducting more research than the locals.

“Maybe that is required, they simply don’t know the areas and streets as well as a local might.”

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun reported that Hobart was the top destination for Victorian property seekers on realestate.com.au over spring and early summer.

Peterswald for property director Kim Morgan said Victorians often move to Tasmania for its lifestyle opportunities.

He said affordability compared to Melbourne prices, alongside access to schools, the wilderness and the water, are among Tassie’s tempting attractions.

PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty said the surge in Victorians migrating to Tasmania began at the height of the pandemic, with its proximity and lush scenery attracting buyers.

“It’s incredibly scenic so a lot of people view it as a great place to have a holiday home,” Ms Flaherty said.

“We’ve seen a big increase in demand across the border in the greater Hobart area and interstate buyers have been a big part of that.

“It’s an area where buyer demand has exceeded the number of properties for sale for some time.”

WHERE TASMANIANS ARE LOOKING INTERSTATE

1. Melbourne

2. Broadbeach

3. Burleigh Heads

4. Surfers Paradise

5. Adelaide

6. Geelong

7. Richmond

8. Carlton

9. Brighton

10. Maroochydore

TOP TAS SUBURBS BY INTERSTATE SEARCHES

1. Hobart

2. Launceston

3. Sandy Bay

4. Battery Point

5. Kingston

6. Bellerive

7. Blackmans Bay

8. Devonport

9. Howrah

10. South Hobart

Source: realestate.com.au data Oct 1, 2022-Dec 31, 2022