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Richmond’s housing stock could be viewed as “interesting” or "architecturally inconsistent” - dependent on your bias! It is a mix of Victorian & Edwardian single & double front houses, warehouses & factories of various periods converted to residential, Housing Commission – both low & high rise, modern multi-unit both townhouses & apartments – of varying architectural merit & build quality, 1940s to 1980s apartment blocks & some beautiful modern single dwellings.

While it is commonly seen as ideal for younger professionals, increasingly it is seen as desirable by down sizers - often as a second "inner city" residence with easy access to the CBD. The suburb is an eclectic mix of residents as it also comprises an elderly southern European populace, young families, a large Asian community, students & some hipsters!

PLUS
Arguably one the most conveniently located inner city suburbs – easy access to the CBD & potentially walkable if you reside in the western section of Richmond - otherwise a short train or tram trip
Great range of cafes, restaurants & bars
Foodies are also well serviced by numerous large supermarkets & the Saturday morning Gleadell Street fresh food market
Richmond’s neighbouring or nearby suburbs offer lots of amenity: Burnley e.g. Victoria Gardens shopping centre/cinemas, Collingwood e.g. Smith St cafes/restaurants/retail, Abbotsford e.g. Victoria St Asian restaurants, South Yarra e.g. Botanical Gardens, cafes, restaurants
Great for sports fans both passive - with the MCG, Rod Laver Arena/Melbourne and Olympic Park all a short distance away - & active- with the numerous gyms, yoga studios, the river trail & the tan for running & cycling, Melbourne Park for tennis etc

MINUS
Traffic – but where in inner city Melbourne does n’t have traffic issues
Availability of parking
Drug issues – although this tends to be concentrated in the northern section the suburb especially the streets on & surrounding the Medically Supervised Injecting Room in Lennox St - & drug users are a relatively common sight on Victoria St bordering Abbotsford. ,

Scott Hall – Buyers Advocate – 0457 513 124

When buyers/renters reference Kensington as prospective suburb in which to live I often think they are sub consciously seeing Kensington/Flemington as the same – the two share the same 3031 postcode. The two suburbs I think should be viewed separately - with Flemington to the north of Racecourse Rd - the poorer cousin- to Kensington to the south of Racecourse Rd. As evidenced by Kensington’s higher median house price.

PLUS
“Village” like feel
Good range of cafes & restaurants – Laksa King in adjoining Flemington is one of my favourite Asian food spots in Melbourne & The Premises in Bellair street my favourite Kensington café.
Very good public transport with three train stations accessible depending on what area of the suburb you live in
Easy access to Citylink
Good for cyclists re access to the river bike paths
Some leafy streets with relatively consistent historical (predominantly Victorian) architecture
Relatively affordable for the inner city e.g. a double fronted Victorian here may be bought for circa the same amount as single fronted Victorian inner bayside e.g. Albert Park or inner south east e.g. South Yarra
Access to the Maribyrnong River & various parks inc. Royal Park
Easy access to the CBD
The CBD's drift west - towards Docklands - favours Kensington

MINUS
The elephant in the room is the large volume of Housing Commission in the locality
Crime, vagrancy, drug users in the locality are noted by some residents as being a downside of the suburb
Nearest large supermarket is in North Melbourne
New multi-unit housing stock both townhoses & apartment blocks - a lot of which is of dubious architectural merit & poor build quality is impacting the “charm” of the suburb. However this is consistent with what is happening across Melbourne, not just in Kensington

Scott Hall – Buyers Advocate – 0457 513 124

In my experience Balwyn isn’t a suburb that provokes a neutral response from buyers – they either love it for the schools & quiet lifestyle or prefer to be closer in to the action.

PLUS
Quiet - great for families
Green/leafy
Very good for schooling - Balwyn High is one of Melbourne’s highest ranked public schools & private schools nearby inc. Fintona Girls Grammar & Camberwell Grammar (boys). However I’m frequently surprised that prospective buyers have not run the numbers on the cost/benefit of paying the at times hundreds of thousands of dollars premium to get a child in to Balwyn High zoning versus the cost of a private school
Access to Whitehorse Road cafes & retail. My favourite Balwyn café being Snow Pony - 95 Whitehorse Rd

MINUS
Quiet - not great for those wanting an interesting inner city lifestyle
Lack of a train station is the elephant in the room & negates its relative proximity to the CBD - circa 10 km. While there are bus services you are still going to face the traffic delays inherent on Melbourne roads
Traffic - but where in Melbourne does n’t have this issue
Streetscapes have “modernised” significantly in the last 10 years & it could be argued that the number of Mc Mansions inc. historical reproductions e.g. Neo Georgian & increased multi-unit development has reduced the “charm” of the suburb - however this has been a Melbourne wide phenomena.

Scott Hall – Buyers Advocate – 0457 513 124

Melbournesque – some charming historic architecture - Edwardian, Victorian &1920s, leafy streets, multiple parks, good cafes (Lights in the Attic on Camberwell Rd is my favourite) & retail all contributing to a “village” feel circa 7 km from the CBD. Although it could be argued that the presence of large commercial premises e.g. Coles head office work is n’t ideal in a residential suburb. Residents can also easily access the nearby attractions of Hawthorn & Camberwell e.g. Rivoli theatre & Camberwell food market. While its access to a railway station is not “central” within the suburb - Auburn station being located on its northwest border & Camberwell station on its northeast – trams (routes 70, 72 & 75) are an alternate for CBD access. It’s a suburb that appeals to a broad demographic inc. families, young professionals & downsizers. This broad buyer appeal has resulted in consistently high capital growth for houses which looks set to continue relative to the performance of the general Melbourne market. Scott Hall – Buyers Advocate – 0457 513 124

Footscray Market offers a great range of well priced fresh food options
Convenient freeway access
Footscray train station services three city & two regional lines.
Opening up to the Maribrynong river with walking/bike paths
Eating out in Footscray offers a wide range of well-priced choices – primarily Asian & African. The gentrification taking place is evidenced by new cafes such as West 48 on Essex St or Rudimentary on Leeds St.
Melbourne’s best cannoli at T.Cavallaro & Sons in Hopkins St. In operation since 1956 - when Footscray had a large Italian population.
Upcoming transport infrastructure inc. station on Melbourne Metro, Westgate Tunnel elevated bike path to Docklands. Collectively this will reduce traffic – particularly heavy trucks.
New 504 bed Footscray hospital being built

MINUS
It’s not a visually charming suburb & does n’t have the “village” feel of its more expensive nearby inner west suburbs e.g. Yarraville & Seddon.
Drug & crime issues e.g. Footscray railway station & surrounds I find intimidating at night
Heavy trucks – particularly those accessing the port
A lot of high density multi-unit has been built & is under construction or in the approval process. As well as the related increased traffic issues, it further decreases the charm factor of the suburb.

Summary
Footscray is “cheap” compared to other inner west suburbs - but it cheap for a reason – aesthetically it lacks charm & it suffers from crime/drug/social/traffic issues. There are only four streets in Footscray I am comfortable buying in. Neighbouring West Footscray is I think a far more compelling option - particularly a house with historic architectural charm within walking distance of train station. Scott Hall – Buyers Advocate – 0457 513 124

Adjoining the CBD - & offering walkability to all that has to offer – Fitzroy is Melbourne’s oldest (1839) & smallest suburbs which provides a lot of its heritage architecture charm. Gentrification of the suburb has well & truly occurred & while some of its bohemian & druggie residents remain – but as a much smaller part of the populace – they have been replaced by high income hipsters, professionals & downsizers. Factories and warehouse sites have been converted into apartments or demolished to make way for multi residential with a wide variance in the merit of the contemporary architecture - some of it being of pretty dubious quality. Lots of Victorian & Edwardian residences, particularly single fronted terraces. As well as one of Melbourne’s largest Housing Commission complexes - Atherton Gardens on Brunswick St at the city end. It’s a culturally rich with many art galleries & performance spaces for live music etc. As well as having an incredible range of cafes, restaurants & bars. If you don’t want to walk into the CBD you can catch a tram on Brunswick, Gertrude or Nicholson streets. The Fitzroy swimming pool (outdoor heated 50m) is a great community asset. While the main “shopping strip” - Brunswick St is acknowledged as a Melbourne attraction given its cafes, restaurants & interesting retail - residents often lament the noise & out of suburb “tourists” it attracts - especially in the weekends & wish its retail mix was more practical. Residents are also able to enjoy all that neighbouring Collingwood (now even hipper than Fitzroy!) & Carlton provide.

Fitzroy has enjoyed consistently strong capital growth for houses – which is likely to continue given its proximity to CBD, historic architectural feel & cultural & culinary attractions - Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

PLUS
Village feel & impressive cafe culture
Tree lined streets & lots of attractive historic architecture inc. deco apartment blocks
Elwood beach
Easy access to the rich variety of café, restaurants, retail of neighbouring St Kilda

MINUS
One of Melbourne’s higher density suburbs particularly given it is circa 8km from CBD. This density looks set to further increase as house sites continue to make way for multi unit developments
Poor public transport - no train station or tram n/w. Car access – in common with Melbourne inner city suburbs generally is slow & frustrating at peak commute times
Lack of a major supermarket – nearest being Coles in St Kilda & Elsternwick. Great to have a Farmers Market but not an economical option!

Elwood houses have enjoyed consistent high performing capital growth. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

At 12 km from the CBD its just outside the magical "within 10km" but it's still great family living - close to the CBD. Housing stock is a mixture of grand historic houses on large blocks - mainly Victorian & Edwardian, newer mansions, some of questionable architectural merit e.g. Neo Georgian!, townhouses, & both historic & newly built apartment complexes - the newer ones often targeting local down sizers Very good schooling options both private e.g. Brighton Grammar, Firbank Girls Grammar & public e.g. Brighton Secondary College. Rich in sporting options e.g. easy access to Beach Road cycling and multiple sand belt golf courses, gyms, sailing, tennis courts, swimming. yoga studios etc. The retail & cafe, restaurant options offered by Church & Bay streets add to the suburbs appeal & it must be the most well serviced suburb in Melbourne for film fans with multi screen complexes in both Church & Bay streets. Very well serviced by four train stations (Sandringham line) within walking distance of residents in Brighton as well as bus & tram services. Like anywhere in Melbourne car access can be challenging in peak times in the man roads servicing the suburb from the CBD (Nepean Highway & Beach Road). As expensive as it is - median three bedroom house price circa $2m - given the quality of lifestyle offered, size of the properties relative to proximity to CBD & beach - it can be argued that it represents good value - particularly for family buyers. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

An incredibly convenient & pleasant place to Iive with great cafe, restaurant & retail options & multiple parks. Melbourne University & the nearby medical precinct drive strong demand for rental accommodation. A film at cinema Nova followed by dinner around the corner at Carlton Wine room is one my favourite Carlton activities. Adjoining the CBD it offers the opportunity to access all the CBD has to offer while being able to live in a far less dense residential environment. However at 13,600 resident per square km it is not far off greater Cario at 15,600! Its housing stock includes Victorian terraces, public housing, specialist student accommodation (increasing the density figures) & increasingly high end multi unit townhouses & apartments. Its easy access to the fresh food options at nearby Queen Victoria market is a bonus as is the short walk to hip & happening Fitzroy. Neighbouring Carlton North offers more historically consistent residential streetscapes & a less busy more "village" feel. Scott Hall - Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

As close as you get to the CBD without actually being in it. West Melbourne had little recognition as a “residential neighbourhood” until recent years. Increased recognition has resulted in increasing pricing & the pricing gap between it & its neighbours – especially North Melbourne – has decreased. However its still arguably relatively good value – particularly in comparison to nearby Parkville, Carlton & Fitzroy. West Melbourne does n’t really have its own a retail/hospitality “hub” but as a resident you are going to benefit from the retail, café, restaurant etc infrastructure of neighbouring North Melbourne. Roller Door on Stawell St is my preferred café option – off a very short West Melbourne list! While I see it as a more suited to students, young professional & down sizers – rather than families – my understanding is that it is in the very highly regarded University High School catchment zone. Although you should always check before moving here on that basis. Queen Victoria Market with its great range of fresh food options is within walking distance. An easy walk into the CBD & three nearby train stations inc. Southern Cross. As the CBD drifts westward towards Docklands - West Melbourne is well positioned to benefit. As well as from the the Metro Tunnel project which will see a station – Arden - relatively nearby in North Melbourne (near intersection of Arden & Laurens streets). Scott Hall Buyers Advocate - 0457 513 124.

It’s difficult to choose a single word to encapsulate North Melbourne’s brand. It has not got the “hip” factor of a Fitzroy/Collingwood or the “village” appeal of an Albert Park/Middle Park - but it does share some of their attractive characteristics inc. easy access to the CBD (circa 2km), & an impressive & diverse range of cafes & restaurants etc. My favourite cafes - Fandango & Auction Rooms & for dinner – Sosta Cucina. A LARGE suburb by area, while it has definitely gentrified - there are pockets of very bleak Housing Commission & Errol St the heart of the retail precinct can at times feel a bit confronting due to some of the druggie, homeless element. The suburb still has a far more “working class” feel than many of its nearby neighbours. Its housing stock has a significant number of Victorian, Edwardian & other historic housing mixed with warehouse conversions & newly built multi-unit townhouses & apartments. For foodies walkability to Victoria Market’s food offerings is a real bonus. As the CBD drifts westward towards Docklands - North Melbourne is well positioned to benefit. Easy access to Citylink/freeway system is a plus. It offers a relatively affordable latte lifestyle! & significantly more affordable than nearby Parkville, Carlton, Fitzroy. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

A diverse mix of residents; its bohemian & druggie residents remain – but as a much smaller part of the populace - as they are replaced by high income hipsters, professionals & downsizers. Its housing stock is also diverse: Victorian, Edwardian & other historic housing, mixed with numerous apartments from each decade from the 1920s through to newly built. This one of the most densely populated Melbourne post codes & I expect in will become even more so. The new St Moritz 130 luxury unit development on the Esplanade is a good example of St Kilda’s transformation – both in terms of higher density - 130 apartments - & a higher income demographic - as evidenced by the personal chauffeur, in-house wine curator etc.
St Kilda is probably more “street specific” than any other Melbourne suburb in terms of the quality of living e.g. there is lots of backpacker accommodation & for backpackers every night is a Saturday night! No shortage of food & drink options. Some of my favourites - Cicciolina on Acland St – great pasta & steak & the back bar is Fun, Fitzrovia on Fitzroy St for breakfast, Paper Fish on the beach front next to Stokehouse - one of Melbourne’s best “people watching” spots on a summers night.
I recommend it to my clients wanting an inner city beachside lifestyle & who have an appetite for diversity. St Kilda West - which is far quieter & more traditionally Melbournesque - may be good alternate for those wanting access to the St Kilda hype while being able to walk back to a calmer suburb. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

A movie at the Sun Theatre (with a choc top) & a short stroll to Barkley & Johnson wine bar for a discussion of the film - a perfect night in Yarraville & a good example of the inner city lifestyle amenity Yarraville offers. The “village” atmosphere & sense of community are major draw cards. The elephants in the room are the surrounding heavy industry & the traffic - particularly the issue with trucks through the area, & getting across the Westgate Bridge. However getting this close to the CBD on the eastern side of the city is a significantly more expensive exercise. For those coming from across the bridge – Yarraville’s proximity to Seddon, Newport, Footscray (inc. the market) & Williamstown (the beach) add to its appeal. The south eastern sections of neighbouring Kingsville are an alternate if you can’t find what you want in Yarraville itself. I recommend it to my clients wanting an inner city lifestyle with a strong sense of community at an affordable price point relative to the eastern side of the city. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate

That’s a good rating given Albert Park is one of Melbourne’s most expensive suburbs as buyers are willing to pay plenty for a "village atmosphere" so close to the CBD. Parts of Port Melbourne have a similar feel. The primary general difference is Port has far less consistent housing stock. It is a classic example of gentrification - although in this instance perhaps a significant amount of its potential charm was lost with a factories & warehouses giving way to medium & high density towers of little architectural merit & often poor build quality. The “Legoland” feel of Beacon Cove provokes mixed responses as does Garden City a planned community of 1920/30s English bank style houses. There is significant public housing within the suburb. With a relatively high volume of new multi-unit development being undertaken it is wise to be very aware of the risk of multi-unit bring built around you when you buy here. On the plus side access to the beach, parks & only 3km from the CBD - a circa 10 minute light rail trip, & the café/restaurant/bar/retail etc options on Bay St make it popular with young professionals& down sizers in particular.
My favoured localities are between Station & Bay Streets & the streets in the southern section of the area between Pickles & Bay Streets.
I recommend it to my clients wanting an inner bayside lifestyle with very convenient CBD access - at a relatively affordable price point. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

One of Melbourne’s biggest suburbs by area e.g. it has four different train stations within it. As a result there is a huge difference in the range & quality of housing stock. As a broad guideline the further south you can be the better. In some of the southern sections of Reservoir - you are actually closer to Preston train station than Reservoir train station. You can effectively “turn your back” on Reservoir & utilise the amenities of Preston e.g. Preston Market, High St cafes/restaurants/retail. Reservoir is one of the few suburbs where it’s still possible to get a family house for circa $1m just outside the magic “within 10km of the CBD” marker - 12km re Reservoir. A lot of new townhouse development being undertaken - which necessitates being very aware of the risk of multi-unit bring built around you when you buy here. Good freeways access. Lady Bower Kitchen is a great local café & would fit right in in Fitzroy or St Kilda. I recommend it to my clients wanting an “inner city lifestyle at a relatively affordable price point”. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

In the top four most expensive suburbs in Melbourne on a $s per sqm basis. The suburb has a Heritage Overlay leaving very limited opportunities to get higher density housing stock in - preserving & enhancing the value of the existing stock. Very Melbournesque - charming historic architecture - particularly Victorian, a nice “village” feel with numerous cafes/ restaurants/retail, leafy, St Vincent Gardens - gets my vote as one of Melbourne’s most beautiful parks while the beach is also a great option. Incredibly convenient - walking distance to South Melbourne Market, Albert Park Lake & the western section of the CBD. Or a short tram or light rail ride. Albert Park Primary School & the relatively new Albert College are both very well regarded state schools. St Vincent Place & Richardson St are two of the most compelling residential streets in Melbourne. I highly recommend it to my clients based on both lifestyle & as a highly consistent capital growth opportunity. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate 0457 513 124

On a $s per sqm basis no other Melbourne suburb is as expensive. However it’s arguably good value. Very Melbournesque - charming historic architecture, leafy, parks, wide streets but only a short stroll thru the beautiful Treasury Gardens or a quick tram ride to all that the CBD has to offer. Peaceful & quiet while walkable to the cool stuff - cafes, restaurants, bars, retail, galleries etc in Collingwood, Fitzroy, Richmond, Abbotsford. Oddly - for a city with such a great café culture – East Melbourne in my opinion lacks a compelling cafe. Football crowds can be a relatively minor issue in the southern section of the suburb. I recommend it to my clients based on both lifestyle & capital growth opportunity. Scott Hall Buyers Advocate