Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Sunshine West

Sunshine West is an established suburb in Melbourne’s west with a practical, mixed-use character where residential streets sit alongside light industrial and commercial areas. Kororoit Creek and its linear reserves give pockets of greenery and walking routes through otherwise urban blocks, and neighbourhood parks, sports ovals and community centres support local clubs and family activity. Housing is largely single-storey brick and weatherboard from the post-war period, with pockets of newer townhouses and units. Everyday life revolves around local shopping strips, schools and regular bus connections, with Sunshine train station and major arterial roads within easy reach.

Home to 18,552 people with a median age of 38, Sunshine West is largely a suburb of families: couple families with children are the largest group at 43.7% and, together with couple families without children, make up roughly three in four families. Around 71.1% of homes are owner-occupied while 28.9% are rented. The council has been investing in streetscape, park and local traffic improvements around Glengala Road and there is a planning application for works at a nearby non-government secondary college, while the primary school has received environmental learning funding. Whether Sunshine West suits you depends on whether you want an established, practical suburb with local schools, parks and good transport links.

Housing costs in Sunshine West sit notably above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. The median house price of $767,500 works out to about 10.4 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which puts buying well above local incomes.

Renting also takes a sizeable share of income: a house at $520 a week would use about 36.7% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a unit at $450 a week would use about 31.8%. On these figures, renting takes a sizeable slice of income while buying is considerably more stretched against local incomes.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Over the past 12 months in Sunshine West, property values rose more strongly than rents. Median house values climbed 8.6% and median unit values rose 6.3%, both solid increases, while house rents increased 4.0% and unit rents increased 2.3%, modest rises. Houses outpaced units on both value growth and rent growth over the year.

For someone weighing Sunshine West as an investment, the value numbers speak to capital growth and the rent numbers speak to rental income; this year the capital-growth figures were the stronger performers and rental income rose more modestly. Whether that profile suits your objectives depends on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.