Experts Reveal their Best Kept Secrets

KATIE LUCAS, Century 21 state manager

Clarkson: Marmion Ave extension and train should give this suburb a boost. First-home buyers see this suburb as close to the CBD. Ellenbrook: Lifestyle choice being close to the Swan Valley. It is an affordable family and first-home buyer suburb with four-bedroom, two-bathroom houses in the $300,000 range.

Mandurah: Many properties to choose from, so prices are very competitive. The freeway extension
to Ennis Ave has helped lessen drive times and the Bunbury bypass should also be good for surrounding suburbs.

Bullsbrook: Tree-change lifestyle. Can get acreage and a house in the $500,000 range. It is 30 minutes from Joondalup and 20 minutes from Ellenbrook.

ROB DRUITT, president, Real Estate Institute of WA

Girrawheen: Predominantly public housing suburb commenced in 1970, large blocks with depreciated houses and inadequate R20 single residential zoning. Only 12km from city centre. Ripe for upzoning to R40 which would enable a much needed re-development phase for the suburb and corresponding increase in values. Can currently buy a modest home on 700sqm
from $275,000, subject to rezoning buyers could see topsite to values.

Carlisle: Only 4km from the city centre and directly on the rail line with a median house price of
$454,000. One of the most affordable suburbs so close to the city with diversity of properies
ranging from small blocks at $250,000, duplexes for low 300's and homes around $400k plus.
Great living close to city centre, river and amenities of Victorial Park and Burswood.

Geraldton: Set to consolidate and grow as the hub of the mid west with long term growth from the
development of Oakajee Deep Water Port. Good land supply, reasonable median house price of
$350,000 with more affordable building costs than other mining centres.

ANDREW MOORE, Harcourts CEO

Warwick: Warwick is likely to achieve a higher yield and grow in popularity than some other suburbs. Property in Warwick and nearby suburbs, about 15km from the CBD, could achieve a yield of up to 4.6 per cent, however, in suburbs further from the CBD, and other recreational facilities such as the beach, an investor could only expect to achieve a yield of around 4 per cent or less.

Iluka: In 2006, $500,000 would buy a northern suburbs coastal home, however in just two years, market values for this type of property have increased considerably. As an example, the northern coastal suburb of Iluka has outperformed the market, with a median price of $830,000 in December 2007, recording an outstanding 66 per cent growth since 2006.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder: As for growing regional centres, Kalgoorlie-Boulder continues to be an area
with a low vacancy rate due to the resources sector and high rental demand. This is not expected to change anytime soon.

PHIL SMITH, L.J. Hooker state manager

Spearwood: Close to Fremantle and Cockburn and the nearby Coogee Marina development will have some flow-on benefits. The Phoenix Central Revitalisation Scheme is set to boost capital growth further through proposed rezoning and there are 400 to 500 homes that could be positively affected. It could allow larger blocks to be subdivided. Prices are still reasonable.

Craigie/Beldon: Often considered to be on the ''wrong side'' of Marmion Ave, these neighbouring
suburbs have a lot to offer. They are close to the beach and significantly cheaper than properties across the road. While zoned single residential, and only blocks bigger than 900sq mcan be considered for subdivision, a forward-thinking local council should look at rezoning in the future.

Yanchep/Two Rocks: The Marmion Ave extension from Brighton to Yanchep will open up
this area.

Broome: Broome has good rental growth and prices have come back slightly. Investor interest is picking up already. Residential homes are in demand and form the predominant sector of the sales market.

DAVID HOBBS, Professionals Group chief

Mt Lawley: Money is being poured into the area, like the strip between Walcott and Queens streets being jazzed up. The Bulwer St, Lord St, West Pde section is one of the last areas within a hop, skip and jump of the city that has room for development. It is fast being seen as an alternative to the CBD. It hasn't been priced out like the Subiaco area, giving it plenty more room to move.

Riverton: As prices in surrounding suburbs increased, Riverton was looked at with renewed interest. Many of the attractions of Shelley and Rossmoyne—the river, Rossmoyne Senior High, their proximity to the city, Fremantle and the airport—could be found in Riverton. Big parts of Riverton have houses on blocks still suitable for subdivision due to the size of the land and zoning for the area.