Australian properties attracted more views from afar last month, as property searchers in the United States led the boost in overseas interest in the run-up to the hotly contested presidential election.
Searches for properties to buy on realestate.com.au rose by 9% month-on-month and 3% year-on-year in July, and were higher than the same period over the past five years.
The United States saw searches increase more than any other country in recent months, likely due to the heated presidential race currently taking place.
Although it is not possible to identify whether the searchers are Australian nationals or citizens of another country, or exactly what their reason was for searching, we can tell which states and locations they were looking at.
Popular locations with overseas property searchers
When combining searches from all countries, Melbourne was the most popular location, closely followed by the Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
Sydney, Perth CBD and Inner Suburbs, and the broader Perth Greater Region were also highly desired.
Noteworthy is the consistent appeal of the Queensland and Victoria regions, indicating a strong draw towards these states.
United Kingdom
Searchers from the United Kingdom showed a preference for the Brisbane Greater Region, marking it as their top choice.
Perth and the Gold Coast were also highly rated.
Interestingly, Fremantle and Cottesloe ranked within the top ten, suggesting that UK searchers favour areas in Western Australia significantly.
Melbourne, albeit popular, was only ranked sixth in their preferences.
United States
For searchers from the United States, Sydney topped the list, followed by the Brisbane Greater Region and Melbourne.
The Gold Coast and Perth were also prominent choices.
Specific neighbourhoods within Melbourne, such as South Yarra and Brighton, were included in the top ten, showing a particular interest in these affluent areas.
China
The preferences of searchers from China are notably concentrated in Victoria.
Balwyn, Camberwell, and Balwyn North were the top three preferred locations. This trend continued with other suburbs such as Glen Waverley, Kew, and Box Hill.
The common thread between these suburbs is the high Chinese populations and culture.
New Zealand
New Zealanders expressed a strong preference for the Gold Coast, making it their most favourite.
There is a large population of New Zealanders in Queensland so it makes sense that searches for this state continued to be high.
The Brisbane Greater Region and the Sunshine Coast were other significant choices.
The Perth Greater Region and Melbourne followed closely.
Broadbeach and the Cairns Greater Region also made an appearance, highlighting a keen interest in Queensland's coastal and tropical attractions.
Hong Kong
Searchers from Hong Kong, similar to China, appeared to favour Melbourne and its suburban surroundings, with Doncaster East being the most preferred.
Suburbs including Glen Waverley, Balwyn, Doncaster, and Camberwell also ranked prominently.
Sydney was the only non-Victorian entry in the top ten, appearing at the ninth spot.
Singapore
For Singaporeans, Perth was the top location of choice, followed by Melbourne and Sydney.
They also showed a distinct interest in various Perth neighbourhoods such as Cottesloe and Claremont, indicating a strong predilection for Western Australia.
Adelaide and Brighton in Melbourne also find places in their top destinations.
India
Indian searchers preference began with Melbourne, followed by Sydney and Brisbane Greater Region.
Suburbs of Melbourne such as Tarneit, Point Cook, and Truganina are significant choices, as these areas have the largest Indian communities in Victoria. Indian migrants also tend to be keen on newly-built family homes.
The broader regions of Perth and Adelaide also featured.
It is evident that while major cities like Melbourne and Sydney remain universally popular, specific suburban regions around Melbourne were particularly favoured by searchers from China and Hong Kong.
UK searchers preferred Perth and its suburbs more than other nationalities, while top choices for American searchers tended toward metropolitan and affluent neighbourhoods.
Finally, Queensland's coastal attractions were especially appealing to searchers from New Zealand.
