Frequently asked questions

Q1. How does NextSuburb rank Australian suburbs?

We score every suburb 0–100 across eight investment-grade signals — capital growth, population growth, supply tightening, rental yield, vacancy rate, income growth, infrastructure pipeline exposure and affordability headroom — then weight them by the strategy you choose (Growth, Balanced, or Yield). Full formula on /methodology.

Q2. What data sources do you use?

ABS, ATO, SQM Research, Domain, realestate.com.au and the infrastructure portals of every state and territory. The /sources page lists each dataset with update cadence.

Q3. Is NextSuburb financial advice?

No. NextSuburb is a screening tool. Scores describe how well a suburb fits a filter today — not a forecast and not a recommendation to buy. Always speak to a licensed adviser before purchasing.

Q4. How often is the data updated?

Full dataset rebuilt monthly. Listings, vacancy and rent monthly. ABS and ATO annually. Infrastructure quarterly. Build date is shown next to the picks.

Q5. Why is NextSuburb free?

Because the data underneath it is mostly public. We’ll launch a paid pro tier with saved alerts and deeper analytics — the core suburb screen will stay free.

Q6. How is this different from a buyers' agent?

A buyers’ agent charges $8,000–$15,000 per purchase. NextSuburb automates the research and shortlist half of that work, across every suburb in Australia, free. We don’t inspect properties or negotiate — hire a buyers’ agent for that.

Q7. Why do I need to enter a budget?

Because the same suburb can be a great pick at one price point and a poor one at another. A budget filter ensures every recommendation has enough headroom.

Q8. What does "Stable but fully priced" mean?

Strong fundamentals already reflected in the median price. Limited near-term upside; better as a hold than a buy. All flag definitions are on /methodology.

Q9. Why does the same suburb get a different score when I change strategy?

Because each strategy weights the eight signals differently. The data is the same; your priorities are different.

Q10. Do you cover units, townhouses and houses separately?

Currently scores are dwelling-blended at the suburb level. Splitting by property type is on the roadmap.

Q11. Is my email shared with anyone?

No. Used only for emails you opt into. One-click unsubscribe in every email. Never sold or shared.