This is what will shape the future of property markets

Infrastructure – it's not a very sexy word, is it?

But the things is, building things to make our lives and our economies, better will be even more vital in the years ahead.

That's because our population is growing so fast that our cities are becoming increasingly congested – and no one likes being stuck in traffic for hours going nowhere fast. 

Population explosion 

Since the GFC specifically, Sydney and Melbourne's populations have ballooned.  

Both Sydney and Melbourne are now home to five million people. 

And the populations of both cities are expected to skyrocket over the next 40 years to hit an extraordinary eight million souls in each. 

To put that in perspective, a population of eight million puts those cities on par with London.

And a city of that size will mean even more traffic congestion than what we have to endure today.

International economic strategy consultant AlphaBeta recently analysed the average commuting times for more than 1.4 million Sydneysiders based on where they live and work as well as their access to public transport. 

And the results are sobering to say the least...

Workers in the city’s southwest and northwest, on average, take up to 90 minutes to get from home to work on public­ transport, often travelling more than 30 kilometres on several­ modes of transport.

A lack of jobs close to home and poor transport links mean people in these areas can spend an average of three hours commuting – or the equivalent of 20 working weeks each year.

In fact, the federal infrastructure department recently found Sydneysiders commute on average­ longer than residents of large US cities, including New York and Chicago!

A car story 

While there is a solid push for more infrastructure to deal with all these new people, the sad news is that it probably won't be enough. 

Infrastructure Australia, the body which plans for our future road and transport needs, says that a staggering 94 per cent of all vehicle passenger trips are currently being undertaken by motor vehicle, according to MacroPlan.

Even if all the rail and light rail projects on the table are completed, by 2035, 94 per cent of Australian vehicle trips will still be taken by motor vehicle.

The more things change...  the more they stay the same.

Research shows that most people are unwilling to commute more than 45 minutes each way to work so we are starting to see a divergent property market take shape.

Market divisions

According to MacroPlan, the residential property market is breaking itself into two distinct components, responding to two very different types of worker.

Professional jobs in the knowledge-based economy are clustering in the inner- and middle-ring suburbs.  

And what that means is that the highly paid households who work in these sectors are living in these areas, too, and driving up property prices because they do. 

On the other hand, in Sydney and parts of Melbourne, a completely different housing market on the outer fringes is emerging.  

The residents here work for more modest salaries which, even with career progression, will not increase significantly, so they have to buy dwellings that fit within their limited long-term budget.

In fact, MacroPlan analysis compiled over the past 10 years indicates that the rate of price and growth for inner- and middle-ring dwellings is between three and six times faster than fringe areas.

The bottom line...

It doesn't take Einstein to work out what that will mean for property investment opportunities in the years ahead, does it?  

Sophisticated investors will opt to buy in those inner- and middle-ring suburbs because they will continue to appeal to professional owner-occupiers who can afford to pay a premium to live there.

Even with infrastructure at the top of state and federal government agendas, it appears that it can't be built fast enough to cope with our skyrocketing population.

Everyone's time is valuable.

And in the years ahead, living closer to work or employment nodes with make property in those areas much more valuable, too.

SO WHAT WILL BE YOUR NEXT STEP?

Are you going to take advantage of the opportunities in some of our property markets in 2020 or are you going to get caught by the traps ahead? 

If you're looking at buying your next home or investment property here's 4 ways we can help you:

Sure our property markets are improving, but correct property selection is even more important than ever, as only selected sectors of the market are likely to outperform.

Why not get the independent team of property strategists and buyers' agents at Metropole to help level the playing field for you?

We help our clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through a range of services including:

1. Strategic property advice. - Allow us to build a Strategic Property Plan for you and your family.  Planning is bringing the future into the present so you can do something about it now! Click here to learn more 
2. Buyer's agency - As Australia's most trusted buyers’ agents we've been involved in over $3Billion worth of transactions creating wealth for our clients and we can do the same for you. Our on the ground teams in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane bring you years of experience and perspective - that's something money just can't buy. We'll help you find your next home or an investment grade property.  Click here to learn how we can help you.
3. Wealth Advisory - We can provide you with strategic tailored financial planning and wealth advice. Click here to learn more about we can help you.
4. Property Management - Our stress free property management services help you maximise your property returns. Click here to find out why our clients enjoy a vacancy rate considerably below the market average, our tenants stay an average of 3 years and our properties lease 10 days faster than the market average.

About Brett Warren Brett Warren is National Director of Metropole Properties and uses his two decades of property investment experience to advise clients how to grow, protect and pass on their wealth through strategic property advice.