Most affordable suburbs in capital cities revealed

The most affordable area overall, according to Domain, is Greater Hobart which has the most affordable suburbs that are closest to a CBD.

The Greater Hobart area has the lowest entry price point for houses, with a median at $130,000 in Herdsman Cove, 22 kilometres away from the closest CBD, while the Greater Adelaide area has the best median price point for units.

“While Greater Adelaide is the most affordable region for first home buyers looking for units, with the median price in Rosewater – the most affordable suburb in Greater Adelaide – at $154,000,” Domain’s chief data scientist Nicola Powell said.

The report considers a suburb to be affordable if it is below the average home loan size over the same period per state or territory, plus a 20 per cent deposit and additional grants.

The cheapest suburb for each capital city, as determined by Domain, are:

Greater Sydney

• Houses – Gosford ($412,5000, 65km to nearest CBD)
• Units – Ettalong Beach ($301,500, 51km to nearest CBD)

First home buyers in Sydney have access to the First Home – New Home scheme and a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant.

Under the First Home – New Home scheme, a new home valued at $550,000 or under are exempt from stamp duty. There are also concessions available for homes valued between $550,000 and $600,000.

The First Home Owner Grant is also available for purchases made on or after 1 January 2016.

Greater Melbourne

• Houses – Millgrove ($295,000, 70km to nearest CBD)
• Units – Albion ($225,000, 15km to nearest CBD)

First home buyers in Victoria have access to the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty concessions. 

The First Home Owner Grant is worth $10,000 for new homes valued under $750,000, with another $10,000 available for homes in regional Victoria, from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2020.

Stamp duty concessions are eligible for both new and established homes valued at $600,000 or less up to a potential 50 per cent.

Greater Brisbane

• Houses – Brendale ($259,750, 20km to nearest CBD)
• Units – Mount Warren Park ($183,500, 39km to nearest CBD)

First home buyers in Queensland have access to the First Home Buyers Grant and transfer duty concessions.

The First Home Owners’ Grant is valued at $20,000 for new and substantially renovated properties at $750,000 and below, but it is only available until 30 June 2017.

Transfer concessions are on a sliding scale, determined by the total amount of duty payable by the value of the purchased home and the concession rate minus the first buyer concession.

Greater Canberra

• Houses – Not considered to be affordable.
• Units – Hawker ($277,500, 11km to nearest CBD)

First home buyers in the ACT have access to the First Home Owner Grant and stamp duty charges at concessional rates.

The First Home Owner Grant is valued at $7,000 for the purchase of new or substantially renovated homes priced below $750,000.

Stamp duty is also charged at a concessional rate for new or substantially renovated homes priced below $590,000. For homes priced below $590,000 and above $468,000, stamp duty is valued at $14.70 per $100 or part of $100 where the dutiable value exceeds $468,000. Homes priced at or below $468,000 have a $20 duty payment.

Greater Perth

• Homes – Medina ($250,000, 39km to nearest CBD)
• Units – Orelia ($165,000, 39km to nearest CBD)

First home buyers in Western Australia have access to various grants, special rates for stamp duty and the Shared Home Ownership Scheme.

Concessions are available in the form of a $10,000 grant and a payment of an additional $5,000, the latter of which is only available until 30 June 2017. Eligibility for the grant is determined by the value and geographical location of the home.

Stamp duty is also charged at a special rate for first home buyers for homes valued below $530,000. Homes, both new and established, above $430,000 and below $530,000 will have duty imposed at the rate of $19.19 for every $100 or part of $100 with the dutiable value exceeding $430,000.

New and off-the-plan homes offered by Western Australia’s Housing Authority are also available to be purchased through the Shared Home Ownership Scheme, which gives first home buyers a SharedStart loan through government lending agent Keystart. This allows for just a $2,000 or a 2 per cent deposit, whichever is greater.

Greater Adelaide

• Houses – Elizabeth North ($176,500, 29km from CBD)
• Units – Rosewater ($154,000, 12km from CBD)

First home buyers in South Australia have access to the First Home Owner Grant and off-the-plan concessions.

The First Home Owner Grant is currently valued at $15,000 for new and substantially renovated homes under $575,000.

First home buyers buying off-the-plan can also be potentially eligible for concessions on new apartments at or below $500,000.

Greater Hobart

• Houses – Herdsmans Cove ($130,000, 22km from CBD)
• Units – Claremont ($174,000, 14km from CBD)

First home buyers in Tasmania have access to the First Home Owner Grant, valued at $20,000 until 1 July 2017 for the construction or purchase of new homes, including off-the-plan. After 1 July, the First Home Owner Grant will be valued at $10,000.

Greater Darwin

• Houses – Not considered to be affordable
• Units – Millner ($331,500, 10km from CBD)

First home buyers in the Northern Territory have access to the First Home Owner Grant, First Home Owner Discount and the Household Goods Grant Scheme.

The First Home Owner Grant can be claimed for both new and established homes, valued at $26,000 for a new home and can be potentially available for established homes.

First home buyers purchasing established homes can access the First Home Owner Discount, removing stamp duty for homes below $500,000. Additionally, a $10,000 grant is available for first home buyers to renovate the home.

Also available for first home buyers purchasing or constructing a new home is the Household Goods Grant Scheme, which allows up to $2,000 claimable for new household goods.