This three-bedroom house at 9 Adair Court, Marshall, recently sold for $635,000.
Demand has soared in dozens of suburbs across Geelong, with new data challenging assumptions that buyers are retreating across the board.
Realestate.com.au analysis reveals hotspots which have seen the largest increase in househunter inquiries per listing over the past 12 months.
A search for affordability appears to be behind the spike across mostly cheaper Geelong suburbs.
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Buyer inquiries in Marshall surged 85 per cent per house year-on-year and 66 per cent in neighbouring Grovedale.
Indented Head, St Albans Park, Newcomb, Rippleside and South Geelong also all experienced rises of 50 per cent or more.
For units, Armstrong Creek topped the table with a 154 per cent increase in inquiries per listing, closely followed by Herne Hill.
Hayeswinckle, Highton agent Rachael Taylor said with limited stock currently available in Marshall there had been a “fair increase” in the amount of traffic per property.
But it remains to be seen if this will translate into spring results, given the retreat of investors who had been fuelling the competition.
31 Macfarlane St, Marshall is on the market for $645,000-$695,000.
Ms Taylor said the price point was the biggest attraction for owner occupiers who can expect to pay $685,000 for a typical house in Marshall.
“It’s because the entry point is a little bit more affordable and they are still in the vicinity of that 3216 Grovedale area, but Marshall homes are a little bit newer so they’re not having as many issues with the structure,” Ms Taylor said.
“You can get something move-in ready without having to spend any money on it.”
She said Grovedale, by comparison, had always been an attractive entry-level suburb with the added appeal of bigger blocks.
“We’re finding that a lot of people who build a newer home out in Armstrong Creek are coming back to Grovedale because they want bigger land and not to be on top of each other,” she said.
This former Malishev display home at 289A-289B Torquay Rd, Grovedale just sold for $1.25m.
The data covered areas with at least 10 listings across the 12 months and measured buyer interest though activities such as inspection requests, listing document downloads and queries on agent’s contact details.
Eight of the top 10 Geelong suburbs on the list have a median house price of $765,000 or less.
It coincides with new report showing Geelong has so proven a safe bet for first-home buyers who bought properties through the Australian Government’s 5 per cent deposit scheme after its expansion last October.
While many first-home buyers around the country are at risk of falling into negative equity, SuburbData found those who bought in Geelong under the $950,000 price cap had typically gained $2309 in value.
Canstar.com.au’s data insights director Sally Tindall.
By comparison, almost half of Melbourne properties purchased through the program are estimated to have lost an average of almost $60,000.
Canstar.com.au’s data insights director Sally Tindall said a growing number of buyers were getting into the property market with barely any skin in the game.
“Buying with a 5 per cent deposit can get you through the front door, but it doesn’t give you much of a safety net once you’re inside,” Ms Tindall said.
SURGE IN BUYER INQUIRIES FOR HOUSES
| Suburb | Annual % change in key inquiries per listing |
| Marshall | 85% |
| Indented Head | 75% |
| Grovedale | 66% |
| St Albans Park | 64% |
| Newcomb | 58% |
| Rippleside | 58% |
| South Geelong | 54% |
| Hamlyn Heights | 45% |
| Winchelsea | 45% |
| North Shore | 41% |
Source: Realestate.com.au. Increase in buyer inquiries is between August 2025-August 2026 for suburbs with at least 10 listings in the time frame.