Savvy young buyers have cracked the code, Western Sydney has both the lifestyle factor and cheap prices the inner-city can’t match.
First home buyers are ditching the beaches and overpriced lattes of the inner Sydney suburbs and choosing to live on the outskirts, and it’s not just the cost of property forcing their hand.
Many are weighing up their options, finding the lifestyle paired with the friendlier prices are making it the better choice.
New masterplanned communities with shops, cafes and quality restaurants all within walking distance were pulling in young buyers, as well as job opportunities and being close to the nature of the Blue Mountains were drawing points for others.
On top of that, most popular Western Sydney neighbourhoods were up to half the price of a homes in the city.
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Laura Crambrook and Jack Dennis chose to buy in Western Sydney for the cheaper prices and lifestyle. Picture: Thomas Lisson.
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The median price for a unit in Penrith, Campbelltown and Blacktown were all under $575,000, with Liverpool, Cabramatta, Guildford and Merrylands even cheaper with median prices under $500,000, according to PropTrack data.
In the Inner West and inner city areas, an apartment in Marrickville, Surry Hills, Mascot or Burwood would set you back a median price of around $880,000-$890,000 with many Eastern Suburbs units over $1m.
House prices in Western Sydney could be found under $1m in many of these suburbs, well below the city’s median house price of $1.55m.
Young couple Laura Crambrook and Jack Dennis purchased their first property in May this year in the Western Sydney suburb Jordan Springs.
Penrith and its surrounding suburbs was popular with young buyers.
Ms Crambrook said they weren’t even tempted to buy in an area closer to the city.
“We were pretty set on this area, we have everything we need here,” she said.
“We both grew up in the Blue Mountains and we wanted something close to home and something affordable for us.”
They loved being close to the Mountains and their family, but above all loved the convenient location and lifestyle of their new apartment.
“The lake is right at the front of our apartment so we can go for afternoon walks all the way around the lake, and it’s only a short walk to do our grocery shopping, it’s so easy,” she said. “There’s a great pub across the road which is an added bonus.”
The couple purchased their first home in Jordan Springs and didn’t consider moving closer to the city. Picture: Thomas Lisson
Ray White agent Peter Diamantidis grew up in Western Sydney and has worked in real estate in the region for over 20 years.
“It’s changed a lot compared to what we have now, there are better, good quality restaurants, and not just for the adults, but for the children too, you used to have to travel to the city for a trampoline park for example, in Penrith and St Marys there is a lot of that happening now,” he said.
Mr Diamantidis said out of over 1,000 of their recent sales of their Western Sydney offices, more than 50 per cent were to first homebuyer owner occupiers.
The transport and accessibility in the region had also changed significantly and with the metro in St Marys soon to be opening, it was an easy commute for those who did work in the city.
“If I left St Marys right now it would take me just over 30 minutes and I’d only have to pass one traffic light to get into the city,” he said.
A Granville two-bedroom apartment currently listed between $495,000 to $510,000.
Natasha Sanders who works across Ray White projects in Western Sydney said the Jordan Springs project had been extremely popular with first home buyers.
The prices were selling around $600,000 off the plan two years ago and now were selling for about $740,000.
“Penrith is also always really hot with first home buyers,” she said. “(Home) prices any closer to the city are getting ridiculous for first home buyers and Penrith is its own little CBD,” she added.
Laura Crambrook and Jack Dennis in their new Jordan Springs apartment. Picture: Thomas Lisson
Buyers loved the convenience of the area with amenities all within reach, she added, while many were also drawn to the area because of the new Western Sydney airport set to open in 2026.
“With the new airport people are expecting the area to keep expanding and growing,” Ms Sanders said.
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