‘Golden opportunity': Victoria's top affordable tree-change towns
Bendigo, Greater Shepparton and Wodonga are listed as the best affordable regional areas where 'growth, value and lifestyle intersect' according to a new report by PRD Real Estate, Smart Moves: Regional Edition 2025.
In the report, which covers 10 regional markets, PRD Real Estate applied five criteria to identify the 'most promising' areas for either home buyers or investors. They are affordability, sales and growth, rental yields, future development and employment strength.
In Victoria's case, all three locations have house prices well below Melbourne's median, which was $894,500 in the December quarter according to PRD. By comparison, median house prices in the same period were $580,000 in Wodonga, $570,000 in Bendigo and $490,000 in Greater Shepparton.
PRD Real Estate chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo described regional Victoria as 'a world of opportunities'.
She said rising prices in Melbourne and loan conditions were prompting first home buyers to look elsewhere.
'Most of these [regional towns] are 40 to 45 per cent cheaper than Melbourne… You have a lot more choice if you are a first home buyer and [buying] under the first home grant … most of the stock in regional areas in Victoria fits underneath the price cap,' Mardiasmo said.
She said the areas listed also appealed to investors due to affordability and less competition.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
New figures reveal Melbourne has bounced back from post-Covid slump as vacancy rates fall
Vacancy rates in Melbourne have fallen to their lowest level since the end of COVID restrictions. According to new data by real estate and property development firm CBRE, retail vacancy rates in the CBD have fallen to 5.5 per cent as businesses come back to the centre of Melbourne. In 2021, the vacancy figure stood at 30 per cent. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicolas Reece welcomed the figures, proclaiming 'Our streets are alive, the retail renaissance is underway and it's a really exciting time for Melbourne." The CBRE said it was a healthy first quarter of 2025 for Victorian retail, with a 1.9 per cent up tick across the three months from January to May. It also said household spending is rising again as the interest rate begins to fall. Landlords are becoming more confident too, according to the report, with an indicator being the near arrival of a large Mecca cosmetics store in Bourke Street. Not all areas of the city are preforming well, with the Docklands lagging behind. Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece acknowledged this, saying "Docklands has been slower to come back than other parts of the city but the trajectory is really positive."
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Urgent advice on eve of major energy project deadline
Tasmania's caretaker government is seeking urgent advice about whether it can green light one of the nation's biggest energy projects, which has been caught up in a political stoush. The proposed Marinus Link cable would increase power transmission between Victoria and Tasmania, with the aim of boosting renewable energy investment in the island state. Backed by the Victorian and federal governments, the $5 billion project is waiting for Tasmania, which holds the smallest share, to sign an investment deal by a Saturday deadline. The state's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after a July 19 election, which resulted in a hung parliament and hasn't yet delivered final results. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to sign the contract but claims he needs Labor leader Dean Winter's support to do so, because of caretaker provisions. Labor supports Marinus Link, but Mr Winter said he was unable to back the deal by Mr Rockliff's "bullying" 9am Thursday deadline. Mr Winter, as well as the Greens and independents both major parties are trying to woo to form government, have lashed the Liberals for last-minute briefings on the project. Mr Rockliff told reporters on Thursday he had sought formal advice on whether he could sign the final investment deal without Mr Winter's support. Constitutional experts, as well as Mr Winter, believe Mr Rockliff can sign the deal without Labor. "We are on the verge of an announcement for Marinus Link," Mr Rockliff said. "We are in a position to support Tasmania through Marinus Link and its enormous social and economic benefits." Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the contract wasn't signed by Saturday, Marinus Link could lose its place in highly competitive production lines and be delayed by five years. Mr Rockliff has been criticised for not releasing the whole-of-state business case for the project after earlier promising to do so 30 days before the signing of the contract. He claims it will be public "as soon as possible" and hasn't yet been released because of confidential negotiations. The project will create 2000 jobs, keep power prices lower and increase dividends of government-owned energy provider Hydro Tasmania by $400 million per year, Mr Rockliff said. The state's equity contribution would be no more than $103.5 million, he added. Mr Winter, who was part of briefings provided to Labor, the Greens and independents on Tuesday, accused Mr Rockliff of playing political games and keeping the business case secret. He said there had been no real consultation and no chance to consider more than 1000 pages of documents. Mr Rockliff accepted there was a lot of information because "this has been over eight years in the making". The first stage of the project, one of two 750-megawatt transmission lines, is expected to be completed in 2030. Tasmania's caretaker government is seeking urgent advice about whether it can green light one of the nation's biggest energy projects, which has been caught up in a political stoush. The proposed Marinus Link cable would increase power transmission between Victoria and Tasmania, with the aim of boosting renewable energy investment in the island state. Backed by the Victorian and federal governments, the $5 billion project is waiting for Tasmania, which holds the smallest share, to sign an investment deal by a Saturday deadline. The state's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after a July 19 election, which resulted in a hung parliament and hasn't yet delivered final results. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to sign the contract but claims he needs Labor leader Dean Winter's support to do so, because of caretaker provisions. Labor supports Marinus Link, but Mr Winter said he was unable to back the deal by Mr Rockliff's "bullying" 9am Thursday deadline. Mr Winter, as well as the Greens and independents both major parties are trying to woo to form government, have lashed the Liberals for last-minute briefings on the project. Mr Rockliff told reporters on Thursday he had sought formal advice on whether he could sign the final investment deal without Mr Winter's support. Constitutional experts, as well as Mr Winter, believe Mr Rockliff can sign the deal without Labor. "We are on the verge of an announcement for Marinus Link," Mr Rockliff said. "We are in a position to support Tasmania through Marinus Link and its enormous social and economic benefits." Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the contract wasn't signed by Saturday, Marinus Link could lose its place in highly competitive production lines and be delayed by five years. Mr Rockliff has been criticised for not releasing the whole-of-state business case for the project after earlier promising to do so 30 days before the signing of the contract. He claims it will be public "as soon as possible" and hasn't yet been released because of confidential negotiations. The project will create 2000 jobs, keep power prices lower and increase dividends of government-owned energy provider Hydro Tasmania by $400 million per year, Mr Rockliff said. The state's equity contribution would be no more than $103.5 million, he added. Mr Winter, who was part of briefings provided to Labor, the Greens and independents on Tuesday, accused Mr Rockliff of playing political games and keeping the business case secret. He said there had been no real consultation and no chance to consider more than 1000 pages of documents. Mr Rockliff accepted there was a lot of information because "this has been over eight years in the making". The first stage of the project, one of two 750-megawatt transmission lines, is expected to be completed in 2030. Tasmania's caretaker government is seeking urgent advice about whether it can green light one of the nation's biggest energy projects, which has been caught up in a political stoush. The proposed Marinus Link cable would increase power transmission between Victoria and Tasmania, with the aim of boosting renewable energy investment in the island state. Backed by the Victorian and federal governments, the $5 billion project is waiting for Tasmania, which holds the smallest share, to sign an investment deal by a Saturday deadline. The state's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after a July 19 election, which resulted in a hung parliament and hasn't yet delivered final results. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to sign the contract but claims he needs Labor leader Dean Winter's support to do so, because of caretaker provisions. Labor supports Marinus Link, but Mr Winter said he was unable to back the deal by Mr Rockliff's "bullying" 9am Thursday deadline. Mr Winter, as well as the Greens and independents both major parties are trying to woo to form government, have lashed the Liberals for last-minute briefings on the project. Mr Rockliff told reporters on Thursday he had sought formal advice on whether he could sign the final investment deal without Mr Winter's support. Constitutional experts, as well as Mr Winter, believe Mr Rockliff can sign the deal without Labor. "We are on the verge of an announcement for Marinus Link," Mr Rockliff said. "We are in a position to support Tasmania through Marinus Link and its enormous social and economic benefits." Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the contract wasn't signed by Saturday, Marinus Link could lose its place in highly competitive production lines and be delayed by five years. Mr Rockliff has been criticised for not releasing the whole-of-state business case for the project after earlier promising to do so 30 days before the signing of the contract. He claims it will be public "as soon as possible" and hasn't yet been released because of confidential negotiations. The project will create 2000 jobs, keep power prices lower and increase dividends of government-owned energy provider Hydro Tasmania by $400 million per year, Mr Rockliff said. The state's equity contribution would be no more than $103.5 million, he added. Mr Winter, who was part of briefings provided to Labor, the Greens and independents on Tuesday, accused Mr Rockliff of playing political games and keeping the business case secret. He said there had been no real consultation and no chance to consider more than 1000 pages of documents. Mr Rockliff accepted there was a lot of information because "this has been over eight years in the making". The first stage of the project, one of two 750-megawatt transmission lines, is expected to be completed in 2030. Tasmania's caretaker government is seeking urgent advice about whether it can green light one of the nation's biggest energy projects, which has been caught up in a political stoush. The proposed Marinus Link cable would increase power transmission between Victoria and Tasmania, with the aim of boosting renewable energy investment in the island state. Backed by the Victorian and federal governments, the $5 billion project is waiting for Tasmania, which holds the smallest share, to sign an investment deal by a Saturday deadline. The state's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after a July 19 election, which resulted in a hung parliament and hasn't yet delivered final results. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to sign the contract but claims he needs Labor leader Dean Winter's support to do so, because of caretaker provisions. Labor supports Marinus Link, but Mr Winter said he was unable to back the deal by Mr Rockliff's "bullying" 9am Thursday deadline. Mr Winter, as well as the Greens and independents both major parties are trying to woo to form government, have lashed the Liberals for last-minute briefings on the project. Mr Rockliff told reporters on Thursday he had sought formal advice on whether he could sign the final investment deal without Mr Winter's support. Constitutional experts, as well as Mr Winter, believe Mr Rockliff can sign the deal without Labor. "We are on the verge of an announcement for Marinus Link," Mr Rockliff said. "We are in a position to support Tasmania through Marinus Link and its enormous social and economic benefits." Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the contract wasn't signed by Saturday, Marinus Link could lose its place in highly competitive production lines and be delayed by five years. Mr Rockliff has been criticised for not releasing the whole-of-state business case for the project after earlier promising to do so 30 days before the signing of the contract. He claims it will be public "as soon as possible" and hasn't yet been released because of confidential negotiations. The project will create 2000 jobs, keep power prices lower and increase dividends of government-owned energy provider Hydro Tasmania by $400 million per year, Mr Rockliff said. The state's equity contribution would be no more than $103.5 million, he added. Mr Winter, who was part of briefings provided to Labor, the Greens and independents on Tuesday, accused Mr Rockliff of playing political games and keeping the business case secret. He said there had been no real consultation and no chance to consider more than 1000 pages of documents. Mr Rockliff accepted there was a lot of information because "this has been over eight years in the making". The first stage of the project, one of two 750-megawatt transmission lines, is expected to be completed in 2030.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Urgent advice on eve of major energy project deadline
Tasmania's caretaker government is seeking urgent advice about whether it can green light one of the nation's biggest energy projects, which has been caught up in a political stoush. The proposed Marinus Link cable would increase power transmission between Victoria and Tasmania, with the aim of boosting renewable energy investment in the island state. Backed by the Victorian and federal governments, the $5 billion project is waiting for Tasmania, which holds the smallest share, to sign an investment deal by a Saturday deadline. The state's Liberal government is in caretaker mode after a July 19 election, which resulted in a hung parliament and hasn't yet delivered final results. Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff wants to sign the contract but claims he needs Labor leader Dean Winter's support to do so, because of caretaker provisions. Labor supports Marinus Link, but Mr Winter said he was unable to back the deal by Mr Rockliff's "bullying" 9am Thursday deadline. Mr Winter, as well as the Greens and independents both major parties are trying to woo to form government, have lashed the Liberals for last-minute briefings on the project. Mr Rockliff told reporters on Thursday he had sought formal advice on whether he could sign the final investment deal without Mr Winter's support. Constitutional experts, as well as Mr Winter, believe Mr Rockliff can sign the deal without Labor. "We are on the verge of an announcement for Marinus Link," Mr Rockliff said. "We are in a position to support Tasmania through Marinus Link and its enormous social and economic benefits." Energy Minister Nick Duigan said if the contract wasn't signed by Saturday, Marinus Link could lose its place in highly competitive production lines and be delayed by five years. Mr Rockliff has been criticised for not releasing the whole-of-state business case for the project after earlier promising to do so 30 days before the signing of the contract. He claims it will be public "as soon as possible" and hasn't yet been released because of confidential negotiations. The project will create 2000 jobs, keep power prices lower and increase dividends of government-owned energy provider Hydro Tasmania by $400 million per year, Mr Rockliff said. The state's equity contribution would be no more than $103.5 million, he added. Mr Winter, who was part of briefings provided to Labor, the Greens and independents on Tuesday, accused Mr Rockliff of playing political games and keeping the business case secret. He said there had been no real consultation and no chance to consider more than 1000 pages of documents. Mr Rockliff accepted there was a lot of information because "this has been over eight years in the making". The first stage of the project, one of two 750-megawatt transmission lines, is expected to be completed in 2030.
