Region. Best rental returns

Homes in Sydney’s outer west are delivering the best rental returns to investors. Suburbs in the Blacktown and Penrith regions are among those in big demand, with vacancy rates lower than the Sydney average, according to RP Data figures. Convenience and affordability were pulling young renters to Penrith and Blacktown, said Douglas Driscol, of Starr Partners, in the Sun Herald.

Region. Rental growth suburbs

A report by Australian Property Minitors shows that Sydney’s top 10 suburbs for three-year rental growth are in Western Sydney: Tregear Median price $228,000, 3-year rental growth (%) 14; Emerton, $228,000, 12; Blacket, $240,000, 21; Whalan,, $241,000, 15; Hebersham, $276,000, 12; Heckenberg, $300,000, 17; Miller, $280.,000, 16; Lethbridge Park, $229,000, 12; St Marys, $292,000, 12; Wilmot, $221,000, 11.

Office rental growth in the Parramatta CBD

Rental growth in the Parramatta CBD office market was strong for the 12 months to March 2008 with an indicative net face rent of $323 per square metres for A-grade properties. Yields have begun to soften for the first time since 2003, according to the CBRE Market View. Parramatta’s total office stock was 648,122 square metres in the first quarter 2008, with a vacancy of 7.4 per cent. The next three years are expected to deliver a total of 127,750 square metres followed by a lull in construction activity.