Aussies hold onto homes in coastal and family-friendly suburbs for over 20 years

New data from PropTrack has revealed the top 20 suburbs where Australians are staying put for more than two decades.

The most tightly held suburbs are located in quiet pockets of popular capital cities, offering a balance of community amenities and proximity to nature.

For freestanding houses, seaside suburbs dominated the list, with areas like Church Point and Killarney Heights in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and Battery Hill on the Sunshine Coast seeing average hold periods exceeding 20 years.

Inland suburbs with family-friendly environments also proved popular for long-term residents.

Mount Ommaney in Brisbane, Morangup in Western Australia, Macgregor in Brisbane, and North Yunderup in Greater Perth all recorded lengthy hold periods, attributed to their generous blocks, spacious bedrooms, and proximity to local facilities.

Leanne Pilkington, President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), commented on the findings.

“These suburbs offer a unique blend of lifestyle factors that clearly resonate with homeowners,” Ms Pilkington said.

“The long hold periods demonstrate the enduring appeal of well-located properties that balance urban convenience with natural surroundings.”

In these sought-after suburbs, buyer interest significantly outweighs supply. REA data showed that Mount Ommaney had just 11 houses available in the past month compared to 549 interested buyers.

Even unit markets experienced extended hold periods, with the southern Sydney suburb of Dolls Point recording an average hold period of 20.70 years for apartments.

Coastal living emerged as a major drawcard for apartment owners, with half of the top 10 most tightly held suburbs for units located next to a beach.

These include Dolls Point and Brighton-Le-Sands in NSW, Hillarys and Kallaroo in Western Australia, and Brighton in South Australia.

Many of these suburbs feature an abundance of 1960s and 1970s apartment blocks, high levels of home ownership, and an older local demographic.

Two-bedroom units were found to be the most popular size across all 10 top suburbs for apartments, offering greater flexibility and comfort to homeowners.

The data highlights a trend towards long-term residency in suburbs that offer a high quality of life, combining urban amenities with natural attractions.