Once again, this summer, locals and tourists alike are flocking to the Bellarine Peninsula in search of fun, sand and, for some, the ideal beach home.
But what should you be looking for when searching for the ideal property? According to Stockdale and Leggo Real Estate agent Daniel Lamana, there are a few must haves to ensure success.
And he says the number one on the ticket is the most obvious.
“The big thing people want and never will change are bay views,” Mr Lamana said.
“If you get something with water views it will be solid for ever and a day. Looking at water and watching water is fantastic.”
Mr Lamana also says recent interest rate hikes means now is a good time to buy in the local area with a slight cooling of the property market overall.
“We’ve seen that in the Bellarine, Clifton Springs and Drysdale there’s been slight retraction in price with the Melbourne buyer feeding frenzy exiting the market,” he said.
“So, the market is settling a little bit, which means there is huge opportunity to get in below where the peak was six months ago,” he said.
And he believes the market is shifting back in favour of local investors.
“In Clifton Springs a year or two ago there was a feeding frenzy during COVID for people getting out of Melbourne or wanting second homes as investments,” Mr Lamana said.
“But now we just have the locals making the move. So, there is some opportunity. We have seen about five percent coming off the market so you can get amazing bay views across Corio Bay, Port Phillip Bay
and the You Yangs from one of one of the only north facing bay areas in the country.”
Mr Lamana said property hunters need to always keep one thing in mind.
“When buying, always follow the money or where the money is being spent,” he said.
“You cannot go wrong.”
His top tips:
Do your research
Follow the money
Bay views are always a good return on investment
Get expert advice
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
