Southern Suburbs

Summary: The suburb with the cool postcode, Penshurst sits in what we consider the “sweet spot” in terms of location in Sydney. It’s not too far south to feel isolated, and sits right next to a busy shopping and retail hub, yet still manages to feel secluded and tucked away regardless. There’s also a distinctly British atmosphere here on its northern side – think men in white playing cricket on the green, and red brick houses fringed by hedges. It might be a little too quiet for some and is lacking in major retail, but the overall livability here is very high. Read Review

Summary: A seaside suburb with a “permanent holiday” feel, Sans Souci is sleepy enough to feel like an escape yet well equipped enough to not need to trek elsewhere for daily life. It’s walking distance to slices of beach with some panoramic waterfront views and boasts one of the best foreshore areas of any suburb in what’s still “inner” Sydney. Main roads are right nearby, but it’s awkwardly disconnected from the city via public transport and its popularity as a holiday home area means prices have continued to climb. Read Review

Summary: Boasting a solid mix of reasonably centralised location, variety of dining opportunities, and convenience versus greenery, Kogarah is an underrated “sleeper” suburb that’s closer to Sydney city than you’d think. It’s a hotspot for educational facilities while still providing a good selection of housing types that offers the chance at a reasonably affordable place to live without having to endure a massive commute. It’s got some traffic issues and isn’t exactly “beautiful”, but it’s a good all-rounder without many other weaknesses. Read Review

Summary: This nondescript inner-southern suburb mixes together residential buildings and apartment blocks with a smattering of warehouses, car shops, and various other light industry in a central location not too far from the Sydney CBD. Arncliffe is mostly a base for local workers, but offers relatively cheap property rental and purchase prices making it a viable option for commuters to the city too. It’s safer than its past reputation, and has a heavy Middle-Eastern influence with some great eats on offer as well. Read Review

Summary: Up-and-coming in terms of both desirability and price, “Ersko” has become a darling of the young professional and hipster communities, with its mixture of easy access to Sydney city, greenery and growing array of cafes, pubs and bars all positive points in its factor. Soaring costs and the effects of gentrification are creeping in, however, and buying a slice of Erskineville life may soon be out of reach of the average income earner – if it isn’t already. Read Review

Summary: A suburb on a main train hub that has popped up seemingly out of nowhere in recent years, Wolli Creek is a centralised concentration of modern high-density apartments that is clean and moderately visually appealing, if a little soulless. It’s heavily Asian-dominated and features plenty of authentic eats close by, and offers speedy access to the Sydney CBD.

The potentially dubious construction quality of its newer highrises makes this a suburb you may likely be better off renting in rather than buying – at least for the time being. Read Review