EP. 317 - Expert Tips for Regional Markets: Property Strategies in Geelong, Surf Coast & Bellarine

🎙️ In this episode, Dave is host, exploring two hot regional markets following listener questions from Daniel and Liam. Daniel asked for a deep dive into Geelong after enjoying the recent Ballarat episode, while Liam wanted insights into the Bellarine Peninsula’s property prospects.

🏙️ Geelong: Victoria’s Thriving Regional Hub
Cate kicks off with a snapshot of Geelong, Victoria’s second-largest city, just 75 km from Melbourne. With a population nearing 300,000, Geelong has evolved from its industrial roots into a vibrant city known for its waterfront, heritage buildings, and arts scene.

Geelong’s economy has endured some tough moments, such as the Pyramid Building Society collapse and Ford’s plant closure. However, as Cate explains, the city quickly rebounded. The closure of Ford in 2016 barely dented property values, with strong growth following, particularly during COVID.

📈 Growth, Migration & Infrastructure
Geelong has become a top destination for internal migration, surpassing Queensland’s Sunshine Coast according to the Regional Movers Index. The city’s population has surged, fuelled by affordability, lifestyle appeal, and job opportunities in healthcare, education, tourism, and manufacturing.

Cate and Mike highlight that improved infrastructure—including freeway upgrades and better rail services—has made commuting to Melbourne far more viable. Cate also draws comparisons with Sydney’s satellite cities, noting that Geelong offers a shorter and more manageable commute than many of Sydney’s outer regions.

💡 Economic Strength & Future Vision
Geelong’s future looks bright, with a major CBD revitalisation plan aiming to create 60,000 new jobs and boost walkability and urban living. Tourism investment through the Geelong City Deal ensures continued visitor appeal and economic diversity.

🌊 Bellarine Peninsula: Coastal Living with Considerations
Turning to the Bellarine Peninsula, Cate shares insights on its stunning beaches, wineries, and growing popularity among holidaymakers and sea-changers. Key towns like Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, and Point Lonsdale are among the most affluent.

However, the team also highlights the risks tied to holiday hotspots: market volatility, land tax, and the challenges of owning a holiday home. They caution investors to carefully weigh lifestyle appeal against economic risks and longer-term practicality.

This episode delivers valuable insights for anyone considering Geelong or the Bellarine Peninsula for investment or lifestyle moves!

…. and our gold nuggets!

Cate Bakos’s gold nugget: It pays to consider the population sizes of our cities, and to not overlook the regions. We have a lot of large regions in our nation and we need to run the ruler over all of our big cities. Household income growth, job growth and capital growth go hand in hand. And Cate promises to take Mike to Geelong!

Mike Mortlock’s gold nugget: Mike touches on “second wind” cities and some of the interesting reports out there featuring Geelong. He also touches on the importance of understanding the city’s population count. “If you can get Ethiopian take-away, the city is big enough!”

David Johnston’s gold nugget: The strategic relocation of the major government agencies has been a crucial part of Geelong’s thriving professional eco-system.

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