If you want to be living close enough to access Wollongong's CBD, but without the heftier price tag, Coniston could be the answer.
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Zoran Marjanovic, 49, has resided in Coniston from the age of four.
Mr Marjanovic and wife Branka run a printing and embroidery business on Auburn Street, Wollongong.
"It's centrally located," he said of Coniston.
"If you want the hustle and bustle of Wollongong and the restaurants, it's there (nearby). And you can just drive a couple of streets to where we are in Coniston and you're away from it.
"I used to love going out in Wollongong as a teenager. All my mates would have to get a taxi or whatever else to get home, and I would just walk home."
Mrs Marjanovic has lived in the suburb for 28 years, and also praised its central location, which includes being just one stop away from Wollongong on the South Coast rail line.
"You're close to the beach, close to town and the train station," she said.
"It's a nice neighbourhood, and not as busy.
"It's family-orientated. And compared to where I grew up in Sydney, no traffic, I love it. It's busier here in Wollongong, and we're only a few streets away."
She said the suburb was going through changes, including knockdown-rebuilds of some of its older houses, as well as construction of units on a number of bigger blocks.
"There's still a lot of elderly people living in the area, but you're slowly seeing new families come into the area too. It's just on the outskirts of city living, and you've got nice little shops there."
The Marjanovics have no plans to leave their long-time home, either.
"There's some friends of mine that I started Kindergarten with, finished Year 12 with, and they're still in Coniston, still around in the area," Mr Marjanovic said.
"Our kids have grown up on the same soccer fields that I did. It grows on you; my boys have all purchased properties in the area, and they're all saying they don't want to move anywhere."
"We just love the place," Mrs Marjanovic said.
Suzie Petkovski has lived in Coniston for ten years, while husband Tom has done so for 35 years.
"It's close to town, very central to everything and we've got ocean views," she said.
"It's a little above that entry level market, so it's probably people looking to upgrade or downsize. There's still a lot of young families in the area, which is good."
Mrs Petkovski said she didn't feel the suburb had changed too much over the years she had lived there.
"It's still very much working-class 'Cono'," she said. "It's very family-orientated. You're still close to town and close to Figtree, but you're still in the 'burbs."
Market overview
According to CoreLogic, the predominant age group in Coniston is 20 to 29 years.
Currently the median sales price of houses in the area is $813,500. The median sales price increased from $650,000 in August 2020 to $813,500 a year later.
However, this price point has likely endeared Coniston to home buyers when compared to nearby suburbs.
CoreLogic figures show that currently the median sales price of houses in Wollongong is $1,023,000.
In Figtree, the median sales price of houses in the area is $900,000; while in Mangerton, the median sales price of houses is $989,000.
Anthony Sorace from A-List Property Group said Coniston benefited from still being in the 2500 postcode, close to rail transport and on the outskirts of Wollongong's CBD.
He said these factors had made it a popular suburb with investors.
"It was a secret for a while - but it's now known to be a hot suburb," he said.
Nicole Kay from Belle Property Illawarra said many buyers they were working with were looking to establish themselves in Coniston due to the proximity to the CBD, transport and quality schooling.
"Being in the catchment for Mount St Thomas Primary School is a huge drawcard for buyers with young children, along with easy access to a number of private and public high schools," she said.
"Coniston is particularly appealing to out-of-area buyers that are seeing it as an area that offers incredible value for money and all the amenity of some of the region's more exclusive suburbs."
Jordan Andonovski from The Agency Illawarra said Coniston offered good value for money, especially when compared to the likes of Wollongong and Mangerton.
"It's definitely on the up as it's still close to town; flat in some parts but obviously hilly in some others," he said.
"You're still getting a lot of value for money for where it is. It's only five minutes from town, and has good train line access."
For sale
Recent sales in the suburb include 95 Bridge Street for $1,175,000; 86 Heaslip Street for $1,062,222; and 43 Bridge Street for $820,000.
Mrs Kay is the selling agent for 21 Robwald Avenue, Coniston.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home sits on 759 square metres.
It's due to be auctioned on December 17.
Mrs Kay said there was no guide available yet, although similar homes have sold for between $1,300,000 and $1,400,000.
"The home is ideal for families, benefiting from a cul-de-sac position with leafy outlooks and ample entertainment zones, while the layout is really generous and even lends itself to multi-generational living," she said.
Mr Andonovski is the selling agent for 1/146 Auburn Street, Coniston.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home has a buyer's guide of $890,000, and is due to be auctioned on December 13.
"It's a duplex, 221 square metres, really nice inside, fully finished and brand new," he said.
"There's been a lot of local interest in it."
Read more: Property Suburb in the Spotlight: Bellambi
Stewart Maloney from Century 21 is the selling agent for 5/8 Miller Street, Coniston.
The two-bedroom unit has a price guide of $500,000.
He said the listing was "fully renovated and there's nothing to spend".
"At the moment, first home buyers, especially local buyers, are inundating us with inquiries," he said.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
