A new report has revealed Australia’s top 10 property locations for future capital growth, with both urban and major regional areas making the list.
Arriving as brokers brace for more consolidation, rising prices, stubborn supply shortages, and possible RBA hikes in 2026, the findings highlight where investors, first-home buyers, and non-banks may stay most active in a tight market.
The latest Hotspotting National Top 10 Best Buys report identifies future growth markets, said to focus on “long-term, lower-risk growth rather than short-term hype,” The Daily Telegraph reported.
Featuring locations in Queensland, NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria, the research considers what the market can deliver over five to 10 years, rather than short-term price spikes, according to Hotspotting founder Terry Ryder (pictured left).
“We’re looking for depth of demand, consistent sales activity, tight rental conditions, diverse economies, and clear drivers such as infrastructure investment, employment growth, and population shifts,” Ryder said.
According to Hotspotting director Tim Graham (pictured right), some of the most recent price growth leaders did not make the cut in the latest research because their prospects for future performance were waning.
“Darwin is a prime example,” Graham said. “It continues to rank strongly, but market heat and competition have lifted to the point that buying well is increasingly difficult.”
Inner Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast were named as key Queensland markets.
Significant infrastructure spend across Inner Brisbane, including the recently announced $3.8 billion Brisbane Olympic Stadium, was one of its key market strengths, according to Ryder.
“Inner Brisbane is where the city’s infrastructure spend meets the strongest depth of demand,” he said.
Its housing mix was also highlighted, with apartments and townhouses dominant, reflecting the national shift toward attached living in inner locations. House medians are generally above $1 million, with unit medians starting in the high-$500,000s.
According to Graham, the Sunshine Coast has moved well beyond a holiday economy and is maturing into a major growth region.
“Spanning the Sunshine Coast and Noosa LGAs, it is tracking toward a larger population by 2041, with forecasts lifted as migration strengthens,” he said. “That influx is being matched by investment across health, education, tourism and digital infrastructure.
Graham pointed to Maroochydore as a defining catalyst in the new city centre and noted the best property investment strategy is to prioritise well-located homes near employment nodes and transport, and to stay alert to supply risk in ‘frontier growth’ areas.”
Greater Hobart’s combination of physical constraints, high-value industries and a pipeline of investment is set to underpin its future performance, according to Ryder.
“Glenorchy is a key focus because it is currently carrying much of the momentum across the region and remains one of the more affordable entry points in Greater Hobart which is buyer demand is rising,” he said.
Graham said Greater Launceston’s diverse economy, as well as its housing affordability by national standards, helps to sustain solid yields and keep the buyer pool wide.
“The forward drivers in the region are significant with a major, multi-year upgrade of the Launceston General Hospital set to expand health capacity and lift employment,” he said.
Renewable energy projects and advanced technology investment, including a large AI facility under construction in St Leonards, were also spotlighted in the region.
Casey in Melbourne was highlighted for combining strong turnover with price points that remain accessible for a large buyer cohort.
“Affordability remains a key advantage with median house prices starting in the low-$600,000s and several suburbs still sitting at $700,000 or below, which keeps first home buyers active and supports a reliable baseline of demand,” Ryder said.
“That demand is reinforced by rapid population growth, with Casey forecast to expand substantially through to 2041.”
Investors were pointed toward prioritising suburbs with transport links, schools and services, and to be cautious of oversupply risks in new-estate micro-markets in the outer-growth corridor.
Greater Geelong was said to be one of Victoria’s most compelling regional city stories because it has shifted from a manufacturing base to a diversified economy with genuine scale, according to Graham.
The best investment strategy included focusing on pockets with proven owner-occupier demand, proximity to jobs and transport, and amenities that support resale, he said.
Ryder said Latrobe City is emerging as one of Victoria’s standout value markets as it combines affordability, strong turnover and improving economic drivers.
“With several local house markets still below $400,000, Latrobe offers an entry point that is increasingly rare in Victoria, while maintaining the lifestyle appeal that supports ongoing buyer demand,” he said.
Ryder said Latrobe is positioned as a growth-and-yield market where affordability and momentum can work together.
Graham pointed to Tamworth as a proven regional hub with a diversified economy and an infrastructure pipeline that supports sustained housing demand.
“It services a wide northern NSW catchment and benefits from agriculture, mining, tourism, aviation, healthcare, and education, reducing reliance on any one industry,” he said.
A major catalyst was said to be the Tamworth Global Gateway Park, and Tamworth also sits within an emerging renewable energy region. Graham said the best property investment strategy includes focusing on well-located homes with broad owner-occupier appeal and avoiding fringe stock where resale demand is narrower.
Ryder said Parramatta is one of the clearest “next decade” stories in Sydney, sitting at the geographic heart of Greater Sydney and rapidly consolidating its role as the second CBD.
“With a Gross Regional Product around $31 billion, the area is being reshaped by a dense pipeline of transport, civic and precinct investment that lifts jobs, amenity and long-term demand for well-located housing,” he said.
The best opportunities include quality apartments in locations close to transport, employment and amenity, while staying alert to oversupplied micro-pockets.
According to Graham, the Hunter Region combines genuine economic scale with strong population growth, diverse employment and a major infrastructure pipeline.
“With a Gross Regional Product of $95 billion, it is effectively a national-sized economy, supporting more than 800,000 residents and tracking toward one million by 2031,” he said.
The best property investment strategy was said to include targeting established hubs and transport-linked communities where demand depth is strongest, while avoiding new-supply micro-markets with weaker resale appeal.
Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
