Understanding the Most Desirable Aspect When Buying Property in Australia

What factors should you consider when investing in Australian property?

Price, size, fit-out, transport and area development are all important.

There is also one aspect that draws a great deal of buyer attention — the aspect of the home.

So which aspect is truly the ideal choice when buying property in Australia? Let Aobo explain below!

Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere

Because Australia lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the best aspect is not the same as it is back home, so facing south is no longer the ideal orientation. For different regions, the sun sits in a different part of the sky. That is why the Chinese community knows that, when choosing a home for property investment in Australia, the situation is reversed: a north-facing aspect is the ideal.

And don't think only the Chinese community favours north-facing homes — locals also know the benefits of a northerly aspect, which is why English-language Australian real estate advertisements likewise use a north-facing aspect as a selling point.

Choosing an aspect for Brisbane and Gold Coast property

Back home, apartment buildings are either slab-style or tower-style: slab-style buildings run north–south for excellent cross-ventilation and great comfort; tower-style buildings, if you choose a south-facing orientation, offer comfortable sunlight.

In Australia, homes fall into three types: apartments, townhouses and freestanding houses.

Australian apartments are all tower-style, with units facing every direction. However, because Brisbane and the Gold Coast have a subtropical climate — evergreen through all four seasons, and as warm as spring in winter — with an average of 7.5 hours of sunshine a year, they have earned the title of the "City of Sunshine". According to the official figures of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2016, Brisbane is the most liveable city in Australia!

So, if you choose a high-floor apartment, Aobo does not recommend a due-north floor plan, because too much summer sun makes it rather hot. If you love the sun, a north-east aspect is a better choice; if you prefer cool comfort, south-facing and south-east-facing aspects are actually excellent options too — especially a high-floor, unobstructed, view-rich south-facing floor plan.

If you choose a lower-priced, low-floor apartment, then north, north-east and north-west aspects will suit you very well.

If you choose a freestanding house or a townhouse, aspect is not really an issue: with all four or three sides of the home facing outward, the whole house lets in light from east, west, south and north. In this case, you need to pay particular attention to the aspect of the bedrooms:

If you like to welcome the first rays of morning sun, choosing bedrooms facing east or north-east is very wise; but if you like to sleep in and don't want the morning sun in your eyes, a south-east aspect is also a good choice.

In summary, Brisbane is a warm, sunny city. You can choose an aspect to suit your preference (love the sun: north or north-east; prefer cool: south or south-east). However, we do not recommend a home facing due west or west-facing bedrooms, as the harsh western afternoon sun will affect your everyday comfort.