According to a report by Washington Brown and Hotspotting, house prices in Aitkenvale surged 40 per cent, delivering capital gains of $170,000 on median-priced properties.
Midland in Western Australia followed closely with a 35 per cent price increase, netting investors $167,000 in gains, while Park Avenue in Rockhampton saw 33 per cent growth, translating to $140,000 in additional equity.
The report reveals that while national property growth averaged just two to three per cent, selected affordable locations delivered an average growth of 18 per cent, translating to investor gains of approximately $93,000 compared to the national average of less than $25,000.
Washington Brown Director Tyron Hyde said that these results challenge the traditional property investment paradigm.
“We’ve long been told you can’t have your cake and eat it too in property – growth or yield, not both. But that’s simply not true,” Mr Hyde said.
Other top-performing suburbs included Kin Kora in Gladstone with 30 per cent growth ($150,000 gain), Carey Park in Bunbury with 30 per cent growth ($130,000 gain), and Berserker in Rockhampton with 28 per cent growth ($126,000 gain).
Notably, these aren’t high-priced suburbs.
Carey Park in Western Australia, for instance, had a median house price of just $370,000 yet delivered $130,000 in capital gains while offering potential annual tax depreciation benefits exceeding $5,000.
Hotspotting Director Terry Ryder highlighted that rental yields have remained robust across these regions, with many suburbs delivering gross yields above 6 per cent while experiencing simultaneous rent increases.
“We’re seeing sustainable double-plays – value appreciation plus rental performance,” Mr Ryder said.
“What stands out in our house market analysis is the sheer consistency of growth in regional and affordable areas because these are not one-off boom towns.”
The report identified economic drivers, infrastructure investment, and increasing buyer demand as key factors behind the strong performance of these markets, many of which have flown under the radar of mainstream property coverage.
Mr Ryder said that locations like Kin Kora, Withers, and Berserker saw gains of 25 to 30 per cent in a single year, significantly outpacing national growth averages and suggesting investors should look beyond conventional investment hotspots.
Depreciation benefits provide additional value for investors, particularly those purchasing newer or well-maintained properties.
While the scale of these benefits varies based on property type and location, they contribute meaningfully to overall returns.
“Depreciation isn’t a silver bullet, but it makes a meaningful difference – especially in lower-priced markets where yields are already strong,” Mr Hyde said.
“In locations like Aitkenvale or Carey Park, for example, the additional tax offsets can help improve cash flow and make an already solid investment even more attractive.”
