Speaking with buyers who are ready to buy now but are unsure. Why? Well, they are reading headlines about interest rates, watching prices move down and wondering whether they should buy now or wait 6 months. The reality is Sydney isn’t one market. Different suburbs, property types and price points behave very differently… at the same time.
And when you look at the Inner West over the longer term, there are some pretty simple reasons why buyers continue to want to live or move here.
The Fundamentals Don't Lie
When assessing each property, I always first consider the things you can’t easily change.
Location. Transport. Street. Land. Floor plan. Access to shops, schools and amenities.
Buying in The Inner West typically ticks a lot… if not all of these boxes. You’re close to the CBD, there are strong train, bus, light rail and now Metro connections, and you’ve got established shopping strips, parks, schools, cafes and restaurants throughout the area.
But there’s also a big difference from suburb to suburb. Balmain and Rozelle have a completely different feel to Haberfield, Summer Hill or Marrickville. Even within individual suburbs, one street can perform very differently to another. And that variety is part of the appeal... people aren’t just buying a house or apartment for shelter. There are buying into a particular village, school catchment, transport link or lifestyle they want to be around for a long time. That ongoing demand is one of the reasons well-located Inner West property has historically remained so tightly held.
The Next Wave: Gentrification and Infrastructure