An introduction to Hampton East, home of The Block 2023
I love an overlooked suburb; the areas that often slip through the cracks. These hidden gems are usually where the value is, albeit harder to see because they’re overshadowed by bigger and more extroverted suburbs.
I see you there, Hampton East, snugly nestled in Melbourne’s beautiful bayside region.
The suburb lies not far from Melbourne’s grand and beautiful Brighton. Affluent and leafy, with its curvy wide streets and marquee properties dotted on every corner. The stately and serious suburb has long been the top of the crop for many when it comes to prestige property. But entry into it comes at a high price, with Brighton’s median house price currently pegged at $2.9m.
Closer still, is Hampton. It’s long been the choice for buyers priced out of the aforementioned Brighton. Hampton was once seen as the “entry point” to a bayside lifestyle. Still on the beach, still with its own local shops, just a bit more subtle than grown-up Brighton.
The lifestyle is more low-key, the vibe a bit sleepier and the streets not as wide and green. This all added to the area’s appeal but alas, as Hampton became the new kid on the block (and of course, quite literally The Block in 2021) the median house price has hit $2.1m.
On price alone, it’s no wonder areas like Hampton East are considered the rising star suburbs of Melbourne. The Hampton East median house price sits at a relatively more accessible $1.4m, still over the Melbourne median of $1.04m.
Having originally been part of the larger suburb, Moorabbin, Hampton East was annexed off and as such, has become its own little oasis. But the quiet and unassuming suburb had better get ready for its close-up, with the upcoming season of The Block set smack bang in the heart of humble Hampton East.
The area is a mecca for families (you’ll probably see kids playing cricket and footy in the street), and those looking for houses with more space, great schools and an easy local lifestyle. Predominantly made up of unassuming post-war blonde brick houses there’s a lovely simplicity and old-world charm to the area.
Block sizes aren’t enormous, and they needn’t be with decent green spaces nearby. There’s Basterfield Park – with a beautiful lake and parkland. There’s also Thomas Street Reserve – home of a wonderful and revamped children’s (destination!) playground.
And of course, the real selling point, Hampton Beach is just under four kilometres away or a 15-minute ride on your BMX if you’re one of the many kids who live in the neighbourhood.
Hampton Street shops may not (yet) have the cache of High Street in Melbourne’s Armadale but it’s got a mix of practical shops, wine bars as well as specialty shops and restaurants. It’s a true neighbourhood high street complete with village vibe.
And in the other direction, there’s Highett Road in Highett, another suburb on the rise, which is also bubbling and bustling. Case in point; the main strip is increasingly dotted with trendy new restaurants. You know when the artisan coffee and the latest food trend arrives, the property prices are usually the next thing to go up.
The joy of Hampton East is it’s a destination, not a thoroughfare. There’s no through traffic. While it may lack its own train station – that’s what happens when you live in a postage stamp size area – it’s just a 10-minute walk to Moorabbin station or a short drive to Hampton or Brighton Beach stations.
Melbourne bayside agent, Michael Townsend, principal of McGrath, says they are increasingly seeing younger downsizer buyers. “There are buyers who are downsizing as a family with their kids because they’re sick of the pressure of having a huge mortgage but they don’t want to move far from friends, the community or schools.”
Townsend says they are seeing buyers of this profile sell in Brighton, rid themselves of an overwhelming mortgage and go for a better way of life with a smaller mortgage in suburbs such as Hampton East. “They move 10 minutes away, but their external world of schools, commutes and so on largely stays the same.”
While growth in Hampton East is down 5.7 per cent over the past year, Townsend attributes that to the fact growth has slowed there because we haven’t seen the higher “outlier” sales over the past 12 months due to the current interest-rate cycle.
“In terms of bang for your buck, compared to nearby Brighton or Hampton what you get in Hampton East is a home that will sustain a young family for 20-plus years. There is so much unbridled potential. You have all the residual benefits of nearby blue-chip suburbs but at half the cost.”
He says current buyers in this area of the market are looking for houses that they can add value to in time. They’re not after “shell homes” that need extensive work, but ones that can be lived in now and in time can be extended by going up or out in the future.
“Stock levels remain incredibly tight across Melbourne. Sellers are ready to [list now] if they see the property than want, but many are sitting tight largely due to the fear of the unknown.”
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