Australia’s hottest suburbs for property investors, plus more reports

For PropertyGuru’s real estate news roundup, Australian property experts unveil the hottest suburbs for investors. In other news, Vietnam has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in the East Asia-Pacific region in 2024. Lastly, Thailand’s 2024 power development plan (PDP) may need significant adjustments to manage the kingdom’s long-term power supply and strengthen the country’s fight against global warming.

Investment hotspots: Australia’s hottest suburbs for savvy property investors revealed

Australian property experts have gathered for the third consecutive year to unveil the hottest suburbs, many of which are prime spots for investors. REA Group’s “Hot 100 suburbs for 2025” study collated insights from industry leaders, including heads of major agencies, buyer’s agents, researchers, investors, academics, and PropTrack economists, to identify standout suburbs based on lifestyle, demographic, and economic factors. Many of these suburbs are excellent for investors due to high rental yields, affordability, and strong rental growth. Though there has been a decline in property investors in recent years, 2024 saw a rebound, with a 19 percent rise in new lending commitments to investors over the past 12 months. Among the top 100 suburbs, many boast impressive rental yields alongside affordable house and unit median prices. These suburbs are spread across various states, with a significant concentration in Western Australia. PropTrack looks at the top 10 suburbs with the highest rental yields from this year’s Hot 100 list.

Vietnam emerges as East Asia – Pacific’s economic powerhouse: WB

Vietnam has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in the East Asia-Pacific region in 2024, according to a VietnamPlus article. Andrea Coppola, the World Bank’s Lead Country Economist and Programme Leader for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, said in a Vietnam News Agency interview that the country’s remarkable performance is attributed to a robust export recovery coupled with strong domestic demand. “Vietnam’s economic performance in 2024 has been very positive,” he said. “Vietnam had to face the challenges associated with international geopolitical tensions and the vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters. Despite these adversities, Vietnam’s economy demonstrated resilience, continuing its long-term trend of growth and development, and was able to achieve the fastest growth rates among all economies in East Asia, thanks to a rebound in exports and a gradual recovery of domestic demand. We expect that this positive performance will continue in 2025.”

Ministry eyes tweaks to Thailand’s 2024 power plan

The 2024 power development plan (PDP) may need significant adjustments to develop better ways to manage Thailand’s long-term power supply and strengthen the country’s fight against global warming, says Prasert Sinsukprasert, permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry. Under the PDP, power demand in Thailand is expected to increase to 112,391 megawatts at the end of the plan set for 2037, up from 51,000 MW at present. The PDP is currently being considered by the Energy Policy and Planning Office, which will forward it for approval by the National Energy Policy Council, chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The possibility of changing the PDP is mainly due to disagreement among energy experts, though the plan has already passed through a public hearing. Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga also did not give an “active response” to the plan, Mr Prasert said in Bangkok Post. “The volume is viewed as being too high by critics who are worried it will cause big investment burdens on the government,” said Mr Prasert.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].