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If you’re ready to buy a home in Victoria, and want to invest in a reliable, long-term location, listen up. The property experts at Hotspotting have dropped their National Top 10 Best Buys report for 2026, and there’s good news for Victorians keen to buy in Melbourne’s outer fringe area and regionally. The annual list zeroes in on suburbs and regions tipped for steady, lower-risk capital growth over the next five to ten years – and these three Victorian locations earned a spot among Australia’s best.
Unlike rankings driven by short-term price spikes, Hotspotting Founder Terry Ryder told realestate.com.au that this report is about fundamentals: depth of demand, consistent sales activity, tight rental markets, diverse economies and long-term drivers like infrastructure, jobs and population growth.
Melbourne’s City of Casey (aka suburbs in the southeast like Cranbourne, Narre Warren and Berwick) was highlighted as one of the state’s best long-term prospects, thanks to a rare combination of strong turnover and price points that remain accessible for a wide range of buyers. Median house prices in the low $600,000s – with several suburbs still at $700,000 or below – continue to attract first home buyers, creating a reliable baseline of demand.
According to Hotspotting, that demand is only set to grow. When speaking with realestate.com.au, Ryder pointed to Casey’s rapid population expansion, with forecasts showing substantial growth through to 2041. For buyers and investors, the advice is to be selective: prioritise suburbs with established transport links, schools and services, while keeping a wary eye on oversupply risks in new estate micro-markets across the outer-growth corridor.
Greater Geelong has long been on the radar, but Hotspotting’s report reinforces its status as one of Victoria’s most compelling regional city stories. According to Hotspotting Director Tim Graham (speaking with realestate.com.au), Geelong’s shift from a manufacturing-heavy base to a more diversified economy has given it genuine scale and staying power.
According to the report, the investment sweet spot here lies in pockets with proven owner-occupier demand, strong access to jobs and transport, and lifestyle amenities that support long-term resale. In short, Geelong’s evolution into a well-rounded regional city is translating into consistent housing demand, rather than the boom-and-bust cycles seen elsewhere.
Rounding out the Victorian trio is Latrobe City (which is made up of four central towns: Morwell, Churchill, Moe-Newborough and Traralgon), which has emerged as one of the state’s standout value markets. When speaking with realestate.com.au, Ryder describes Latrobe as combining affordability, strong turnover and improving economic drivers – a combo that’s becoming increasingly rare in Victoria.
With several local house markets still below $400,000, Latrobe offers an entry price that feels almost anachronistic, particularly when paired with lifestyle appeal and growing buyer interest. Ryder characterises the region as a “growth-and-yield” market, where affordability and momentum can work together to support both capital growth and rental returns over time.
From Melbourne’s expanding outer suburbs to regional centres finding their economic footing, these Victorian locations underline a simple truth: long-term growth isn’t about chasing yesterday’s winners. It’s about identifying places with strong fundamentals, room to grow and the kind of steady demand that rewards patience.
These are the best places to buy in Australia for long-term growth, according to Hotspotting:
Victoria
City of Casey
Greater Geelong
Latrobe City
NSW
Tamworth
Parramatta
Hunter Valley
Queensland
Inner Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
Tasmania
Greater Hobart
Launceston
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