Point Cook is the biggest real estate hot spot in Melbourne’s west, with new figures revealing more houses are being sold in the area than in any other western suburb.
Data from the Valuer-General’s office shows that 596 houses were sold in Point Cook last year, followed by Hoppers Crossing (513 sales), Werribee (504), Tarneit (473) and Caroline Springs (413). Victoria’s highest-selling suburb was Berwick, where 791 houses were sold.
LJ Hooker Point Cook director Paul Caine said he wasn’t surprised by the results, believing the suburb’s selling point was its proximity to the city and affordable house prices.
The median house price for Point Cook in December 2013 was $456,500.
“Point Cook has a family feel to the area and it’s only 20 kilometres to the city,” Mr Caine said.
“It has the family-orientated facilities that people are looking for, such as parks and good schools.”
Mr Caine said Wyndham’s congestion problems did not appear to be putting people off. He said the average Point Cook buyer was a family looking to buy their first or second home, however there were still some investors buying in the area.
Point Cook Action Group president Tony Hooper said while the suburb’s popularity was good for residents’ bids to get better infrastructure and facilities, he was worried the high number of recent sales meant that families may be leaving the area.
He said there was a shortage of white collar jobs and high schools offering years 10-12.
“If people are moving out to provide a home for kids when they get into high school, then that’s not good,” he said.
Mr Hooper, who has lived in the area for six years, is calling on the state government and the council to provide more jobs to encourage professionals to remain in the area.
“In 10 years, I see Point Cook being the go-to area of the western suburbs, if it is nurtured properly.”
