The 20 suburbs that Aussies never want to leave

Nestled in the country’s suburban heartland, the most tightly held suburbs are located in quiet pockets of popular capital cities, close to community amenities but also just a stone’s throw from nature.

For freestanding houses, the suburbs with the strongest average hold periods are winners when it comes to lifestyle.

Seaside suburbs are particularly popular, with areas like Church Point and Killarney Heights in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and Battery Hill on the Sunshine Coast seeing average hold periods of over 20 years.

For inland suburbs, a family-friendly environment is key. Mount Ommaney in Brisbane, Morangup in Western Australia, Macgregor in Brisbane, and North Yunderup in Greater Perth all see long hold periods, thanks to their generous blocks, ample bedroom sizes, and proximity to local facilities.

In these popular suburbs, buyer interest outweighs supply almost 50 times, with Mount Ommaney seeing just 11 houses available in the past month compared to 549 interested buyers, according to REA data.

Even units see long hold periods, with the southern Sydney suburb of Dolls Point recording an average hold period of 20.70 years.

Coastal living is a major drawcard for apartment owners, with 50 per cent of the top 10 most tightly held suburbs for units – Dolls Point, NSW; Hillarys, Western Australia; Brighton-Le-Sands, NSW; Kallaroo, Western Australia; and Brighton, South Australia – located next to a beach.

Many of these suburbs have an abundance of 1960s and 1970s apartment blocks, high levels of home ownership, and an older local demographic.

Two-bedroom units are the most popular unit size in all 10 suburbs, offering greater flexibility and comfort to home owners.