The three-bedroom house at 4 Tathra Court, Grovedale, is listed for sale with price hopes from $620,000 to $660,000.
Geelong’s middle ring of suburbs has been identified among the nation’s best prospects for property market performance for 2026.
Property experts flagged the affordability, gentrification, family appeal to the next generation of buyers to make minor updates to existing homes that will further increase their value over time were common in the suburbs.
Grovedale and Herne Hill are tipped for a strong run as economists flag the region’s poor performance in recent years leaves the state primed for the new year.
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Property Investment Professionals of Australia chair Cate Bakos has nominated two Geelong suburbs among the Top 100
The hot spots were nominated among 17 Victorian suburbs, including regional such as Ararat and Carisbrook and suburbs of Ballarat and Bendigo on the Hot 100 watch list for realestate.com.au.
Homes in the Geelong suburbs sit broadly within the $600,000 to $800,000 price bracket, which is particularly in demand
They were also rated based on appeal to families, level of amenity already in place, plus ongoing infrastructure investment and improvement to homes.
Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia Victorian representative Matthew Scafidi said it was positive to see Victoria well represented after “a number of years going backwards”.
Mr Scafidi said it was worth noting that migration was a very important driver for the state’s housing markets.
REBAA Victorian representative Matthew Scafidi said Geelong is always going to be a good performer.
“But a lot of it is down to people wanting to see the back of interest rate rises,” he said.
“Geelong is always going to be a good performer for people who want that seachange and they can get it down there reasonably easily, and still commute to Melbourne,” Mr Scafidi said.
“And with major infrastructure projects finishing like the West Gate Tunnel and the Metro Tunnel, I can see why it’s on the rise.
“Affordability is massive, the cost of living just continues to go up, and a lot of people I’m talking to are selling homes and moving down to Geelong to get a bit more bang for their buck — especially when they are getting close to retirement age. And it can mean a decent home and no debt sitting over them.”
The West Gate Tunnel, due to opern in December, and the Metro Tunnel are set to benefit homebuyers choosing to purchase in Geelong. Picture: David Caird
Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee said buyers agents across the country were eyeing Victoria as “real hot spots at the moment”, a movement that was expected to grow.
Property Investment Professionals of Australia chair Cate Bakos nominated both Geelong suburbs, joined by The Agency founder Matt Lahood who flagged Grovedale’s prospects for new buyers and investors.
Grovedale’s $680,000 median house price puts family homes within reach of Geelong’s established south, Ms Bakos said.
The three-bedroom house at 52 Graylea Ave, Herne Hill, is listed for sale with price hopes from $700,000 to $730,000.
The suburb’s sprawl during the 1960s, 70s and 80s mean large homes with sizeable blocks are still common.
Adding Marshall train station, Deakin University and Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre is a potent draw for investors.
“Most of the blocks measure above 600sq m, and developer interest has been evident over the last decade, too,” Ms Bakos said.
Ms Bakos said Herne Hill was still a sleepy suburb compared to Geelong West, but offered some beautiful character homes, with a median house price a tad above $700,000.
with Nathan Mawby
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