By ALESHA CAPONE
SEABROOK has stepped into the spotlight as the house sales star of Hobsons Bay.
Last week, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) released figures which revealed Melbourne’s median home across during the 2012 September-December period.
Traditionally seen as the ‘quiet’ time in the real estate market, nonetheless the average Melbourne home price rose to $555,000 during the period.
Within Hobsons Bay, Seabrook experienced the biggest increase in home prices.
They rose 8.3 per cent to an average of $405,000.
Houses in Altona rose by 6.6 per cent to $535,000 and Altona Meadows houses rose 2.4 per to $392,057.
There were less than 30 house sales in some Hobsons Bay areas during the December quarter, meaning the REIV could not release any data on them
However the median house prices for other suburbs at the end of 2012 included $487,500 in Altona North, $470,000 in Brooklyn and $688,000 in Spotswood.
Within Newport the average house price actually fell slightly to $610,000 and in Williamstown to $835,000.
Ray Harb, from Barry Plant Real Estate in Point Cook, said there were many reasons why Seabrook has emerged as the number one place to live in Hobsons Bay.
“There are only about 2500 houses in Seabrook I believe and not much land available,” he said.
“There’s more demand from a buyer’s point of view.”
Mr Harb said many people wanted to live within the zone for Seabrook Primary School – which is ranked among the top five Victorian primary schools on the government My School website.
Neil Rowarth from Sweeney Estate Agents in Altona said it was not surprising his suburb was ranked second for home values.
“People are not always able to afford Williamstown and Altona is always the second choice,” he said.
Craig Stephens, from Jas H Stephens Real Estate in Williamstown, said the past three or four months have been “very busy” due to the RBA slashing rates, the relative affordability of the inner West and a desire to buy period-style homes.
“In November/December our open-houses were up 23 per cent on last year and we have nine auctions scheduled for 16 February,” he said.