Hotspot in Focus: Blacktown
Blacktown is a suburb in the Greater Western Sydney area, New South Wales. Blacktown is located only 34 kilometres west of the Sydney CBD. Blacktown is one of the largest suburbs in New South Wales and is one of the most multicultural places in metropolitan Sydney.
Disclaimer: This article is general nature and should not be relied upon. FHBA is not qualified or licensed to recommend locations for your first home. If you do not know where you want to buy your first home, you should speak to a licensed professional.
Why the suburb of ‘Blacktown’?
As the housing affordability crisis worsens in Sydney, Blacktown is fast becoming a popular destination for aspiring first home buyers due to some of the desirable features the suburb offers. Blacktown is well known for its multiculturalism and some unique attractions. Some reasons why first home buyers might find Blacktown as a suitable first home choice include :
Variety & Lifestyle – For young people & migrants, Blacktown is located in an ideal setting to experience a supportive community and for future residents. With the following amenities/attractions available within the suburb, it is no surprise that Blacktown is fast becoming a first home buyer hotspot:
- Wildlife park
- Wet n Wild theme park (NSW’s only Wet n Wild)
- Drive-in (the state’s last remaining)
- Sporting fields
- Westpoint Shopping Centre – with Myer, supermarkets, and more than 200 specialty stores, shoppers can find everything they need within minutes of their house
- Libraries
- Public Hospital – newly renovated hospital
- Medical centres
Therefore, first home buyers in Blacktown can enjoy all the benefits of community living but with easy access to everything the area has to offer. It’s also a multicultural suburb with locals hailing from across the world, with the majority from India, the Philippines, China and Sudan.
Historically, Blacktown has been prone to a high crime rate, however, now Blacktown is now home to some of the hardest-working people in the state and is seeing significantly reduced crime rates.
Transport & Location – Whilst Blacktown is 34kms from the Sydney CBD, one of the best features of the suburb is its location. You can get to the Sydney CBD via train in 40-50 mins (depending on the time of day) and to Parramatta in less than 20 minutes. Blacktown is also only a short distance from the Norwest Business Park & Macquarie Business park.
It’s not only the convenient train network, Blacktown also has access to Western & North-Western Sydney’s major arterials such as the M4, M2 and M7.
In terms of buses, the Blacktown Train Station also has an extensive bus interchange servicing residents who live a fair distance away from train stations.
Schools – There are plenty of child care and early learning centres in Blacktown, plus a number of public and private schools, making it the ideal suburb for young families. As the population in the suburb continues to grow, more child care centres are opening and there is increased capacity local schools.
Blacktown is home to one of Western Sydney’s best private schools – Patrician Brothers School. Blacktown also has the Coreen school for children with learning difficulties, two Catholic primary and two Catholic high schools. There is also Tyndale Christian School, a private Christian school for children in Kindy right through to year 12.
Almost 50,000 people call Blacktown their place of residence now.
The Blacktown economy
The Blacktown Council is committing a large chunk of the $610 million allocated to them to plan for several projects including a university campus and multi-storey business centre in the Blacktown CBD. The council is keen on developing Blacktown into Sydney’s 3rd largest CBD after Sydney & Parramatta.
With the Blacktown City Council forecast to have over 500,000 residents in the future, it is important for the Blacktown Council to continue revitalising the CBD to ensure it can service the growing population.
The council want to make Blacktown a modern, inspirational city that residents and businesses are proud of and is a magnet for economic growth
Other projects currently in the pipeline include:
- About $165 million for improving and building roads, footpaths and facilities.
- Some $23 million to reduce the council’s infrastructure renewal backlog.
Blacktown first home buyer housing
With the median house price in Sydney’s inner suburbs unaffordable for most first home buyers, it is no surprise that the suburb of Blacktown is popular with aspiring first home buyers, especially those looking to take advantage of the NSW FHOG by buying brand new apartments and the Stamp Duty exemption available for established apartment/unit buyers under $650,000 and concessions available to those looking to buy under $800,000. Blacktown is also undergoing significant development as more medium and high-density housing is being built to cater for the growing population in Western Sydney.
According to APM Data, the median prices in Blacktown are as follows (as of January 2018):
Blacktown Houses – $746,000
Blacktown Units – $546,000
The median prices mentioned above shows the region is comparatively more affordable than many other parts of Sydney. In particular, first home buyers have taken advantage of the NSW Government’s stamp duty exemptions by buying apartments/units since 01 July 2017 – this has resulted in Blacktown being known as one of the most popular suburbs for stamp duty savings across the state. For first home buyers looking to buy a house or townhouse, they are still able to take advantage of stamp duty discounts for a property purchase price between $650,000 – $800,000 (at the time of writing on 17/02/2018)
A boom in the construction industry in NSW has also resulted in a greater number of new apartments becoming available in the area and allowing first home buyers take advantage of the $10,000 FHOG in NSW (for a purchase price below $600,000) and affordable prices relative to other Sydney regions. This means there is plenty of supply for first home buyers to take advantage of when buying their first home.
We can help you find a brand new apartment that is eligible for the FHOG
Looking to determine if you have saved enough for your first home in one of the above suburbs? Click here to use our Eligibility Estimator.
How can FHBA help secure your first home in Blacktown?
Buying your first home can be quite tricky. That’s why at FHBA, we are with you every step of the way, even as far as helping you move into your first home!
First Home Loan
Your FHBA Coach will explain all the steps, determine your borrowing capacity, offer suitable loan options, compile your loan application paperwork and even assist you with applications for the FHOG in NSW. Click here to get pre-approved with a no-charge assessment!
FHOG eligible brand new home
We have access to a range of brand new property opportunities for aspiring first home buyers looking to buy in Blacktown and surrounding areas (all with FHOG eligibility + the FHBA 50 Rebate!). Be sure to complete the form at the bottom of this page if you are interested and want to know more about the exciting apartments, townhouses and house & land packages we have access to. Alternatively, search our large range of properties by clicking here.
Established homes
FHBA assists first home buyers looking to buy an established home – regardless of budget, property type, or property location, we will not rest until you have successfully settled on a property you have chosen & you have comfortably moved into your first home.
If you are looking for more information or if you have any questions, please complete the form below to speak with an FHBA Coach.
Written By,
First Home Buyers Australia
