
Residential real estate in Greater Sydney is expected to see a surge of sales activity in the second half of 2025, as investors return to the market with confidence buoyed by declining interest rates. But with house and unit prices remaining high and cost-of-living pressures continuing, savvy investors will be seeking out emerging future hotspots to unlock greater growth potential.
According to leading agents Colliers, investors are vying for properties in select pockets across Greater Sydney where they can identify significant future uplift and capital gain â on top of the typical investor wish list of prime location, public transport connectivity, high-quality builds and low on-going costs.
âInvestors have largely remained dormant over the last few years, caught in the crossfire of a high interest rate environment, elevated property prices and inflation. But with conditions easing, we are starting to see investors return â and they are seeking elusive opportunities where property may be priced under market value in suburbs earmarked for growth,â said Blake Schulze, National Director at Colliers Residential.
Granville is emerging as a new property hotspot in Western Sydney with its strategic location minutes from Parramatta making it a compelling investment choice. As Parramatta continues to grow as a major commercial and lifestyle hub, Granville is emerging as an affordable and well-connected alternative.
With the median Sydney apartment price currently at around $855,000, according to NAB, Granville units present the elusive potential capital gains investors are seeking.
Colliers, exclusive sales agents for East+Cowper, say Granvilleâs proximity to Parramatta positions it as an âin-demandâ suburb, where buyer and tenant demand is greater than apartment supply.
âSavvy buyers are drawn to Granvilleâs affordability and future growth potential. Infrastructure upgrades such as the Parramatta Light Rail will further improve connectivity between Granville and the Sydney CBD, making it an even more attractive location,â Mr Schulze said.
The Australian and New South Wales governments are currently investing $4.4 billion in the Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan (WSIP), while City of Parramatta is planning to deliver the $13 million Granville Town Square â a new village centre with public open space, a kiosk, BBQ facilities and event spaces. Other infrastructure in Granville includes Junction City Plaza – a $1.4 million urban multi-purpose park built underneath the M4 Motorway.
New infrastructure projects in nearby Parramatta, including the Parramatta Light Rail, Civic Link project, and new CBD transport hub, are also tipped to create uplift for Granville.
âInvestors are well-positioned to benefit from Western Sydneyâs continued evolution, with future development and enhanced transport links expected to drive capital appreciation,â he said.
Ellipse Propertyâs $215 million East+Cowper development is testimony to this, with 20% of apartments sold off-the-plan to investors to date. It represents a rare opportunity for investors to snap up a brand new apartment in Sydney for under $600,000.
According to Colliers, East+Cowper could represent one of the last opportunities to buy a new unit in Sydney at this price point, with escalating construction costs priced into other current new project releases.
Located at 2-6 Cowper Street in Granville, the 19-level building comprises mostly two-bedroom apartments, in response to strong tenant and investor demand for this floorplan configuration.
The Stage One release comprised 85 apartments and around 19% have sold to date, with 69 units remaining available.
East+Cowperâs apartments are forecast to exceed the suburbâs average rent of $550 per week â with one-bedroom apartments set to yield $600-650 per week and two-bedroom configurations expected to fetch $750-900 per week.
Prices range from $550,000 to $640,000 for a one-bedroom apartment sized from 50 to 62 square metres. Two-bedroom units are sized between 74 and 83 square metres and priced from $745,000 to $1,045,000, while three-bedroom apartments are priced from $920,000 to $1,180,000 and are 89 square metres.
Construction of East+Cowper is set to commence by the end of 2025, with leading builder Decode scheduling completion by the end of 2027.
The apartments boast access to a range of âin-demandâ tenant amenities usually associated with inner-city residential buildings, including a rooftop entertainment area with CBD skyline views and tranquil landscaped gardens.
âEast+Cowper does not include a gym or swimming pool by design, in a bid to only deliver amenity residents would use, and also to keep strata levies affordable. The local area is amenity-rich with an abundance of open spaces and Granville Memorial Park Swimming Pool nearby for residents to enjoy,â Puja Khanna, Associate Director â Design, Marketing & Sales at Ellipse Property, said.
As a result, estimated strata levies are relatively low starting at $570 per quarter for one-bedroom and $820 per quarter for two-bedroom apartments.
The apartments are spacious, with considered layouts boasting optional multi-purpose rooms and studies to accommodate fluctuating needs and hybrid working styles, along with ample storage. Abundant balconies and decks seamlessly integrate living areas with the outdoors.
East+Cowper offers enhanced connectivity, just a two-minute walk from Granville train station and close to major arterial roads including City West Link and the M4 Motorway.
Case Study: John Hatzis â Investing for the Kids
John Hatzis, an Operations Manager based in Sydneyâs Canterbury area, snapped up a one-bedroom plus multi-purpose room apartment at East+Cowper during the projectâs pre-launch phase in 2022.
âIt was a great opportunity to get in early at an exceptional price for a brand-new property. Granville has an excellent central location and is an up-and-coming suburb with a lot of growth potential. It is rare to find suburbs in Sydney that can offer this these days,â Mr Hatzis said.
With a commercial space in Lane Cove already in his investment portfolio, Mr Hatzis was keen to secure a residential investment for his adult children, aged 16 and 20 years.
âThis investment is for my kidsâ future. Iâm not sure if they may choose to live in it one day, or sell it in years to come to unlock the capital gains â but it is for them,â he said.
Working within the property sector, Mr Hatzis was comfortable securing the apartment off-the-plan at such an early stage ahead of construction starting.
âIt is generally a much better deal to buy early before construction, so I took advantage of that. Working in the property space, I knew what to look for, and the fact that the builder has an iCIRT rating makes me confident in the quality of the finished build,â Mr Hatzis said.
âThe other drawcard for me was the relatively low on-going costs at East+Cowper – with no fancy amenities in the building, the strata levies are very affordable.â