The dealbreakers that make Aussie homebuyers run for the hills

Landfills and aeroplane noise are the two largest bugbears for Australians looking to buy or rent a house, new research reveals. 

In fact, 29.5 per cent of househunters would say no to a property if it was located near a rubbish tip, according to a survey conducted by Compare the Market. 

Air traffic was the second biggest dealbreaker identified by househunters, with 22.1 per cent saying they would refuse to buy a house near an airport. 

Hot on its heels was living next to a graveyard (16.5 per cent), living next to a highway (12.3 per cent), and living next to a railway line (6.8 per cent). 

Surprisingly, 6.2 per cent of survey respondents said that living next to a school would be a dealbreaker. 

Real estate expert Andrew Winter notes that attitudes about property dealbreakers can change based on local norms. 

“A busy road in a quiet suburb or acreage location can have a huge negative impact, but traffic noise is part and parcel of living in city and urban environments,” he says. 

“Even airport noise is accepted as the norm in some areas, if it means you are living in a well-placed, high demand area.” 

For example, some of Sydney’s most popular suburbs – such as Marrickville, Newtown, and Dulwich Hill – are located directly under a major flight path. 

In the inner west suburb of Tempe, a dilapidated 1930s house under a flight path fetched $1.27 million at auction last year. 

SOLD - $1,270,000

99 Samuel Street, Tempe NSW 2044

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“Since COVID, many people’s savings buffers have depleted, which doesn’t leave much wiggle room to be a picky buyer,” Winter says. 

With house prices at an all-time high, many buyers are willing to compromise on things that may have been a dealbreaker in the past. 

The suburbs of Minchinbury and Erskine Park in Western Sydney are located just minutes away from Sydney’s biggest landfill site, Eastern Creek. 

Last year, the NSW Land and Environment Court fined the landfill company $280,000 after hundreds of local residents complained about “offensive rotten egg odours”. 

However, there also are some strong positives to the area. It’s possible to pick up a large family house in Minchinbury for just $1.15 million – well below the Sydney median. 

Meanwhile, in nearby Erskine Park, househunters with large families could buy a five-bedroom, two-bathroom brick house with a pool for just $1.25 million.

Price Guide - $1,150,000 - Corner Block -

1 Sauterne Crescent, Minchinbury NSW 2770

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$1,200,000 - $1,250,000

13 Cepheus Place, Erskine Park NSW 2759

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