Homely’s most popular stories of 2017

As we only have a few weeks of 2017 left, this time of year is a great opportunity to take a moment to reflect and look back on some of the highlights of what we’ve shared over the past 12 months.

Nothing pleases us more than seeing homely house hunters reading, enjoying, commenting on and sharing content from our Homely Advisor Blog.

From housing affordability to DIY tips, suburb quizzes, home improvement ideas and reno success stories, we can see what issues and topics were most important to homely readers and Australians more broadly this year.

This short list will help to guide us towards producing more quality content that informs, inspires and matters to you most in coming years.

If you happened to miss these stories the first time around, here is your chance to take a squiz at and enjoy our very best articles of 2017.

1. What we can learn from Australia’s median house prices from 1970-2016

This guest post analysed and graphed median house prices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth from 1970 to 2016 in an to attempt to understand swelling house prices in Australia’s capitals.

2. Melbourne’s 10 best growth suburbs under $1M

This piece listed the 10 best growth areas in Melbourne for under $1 million and what unique lifestyle features they provide residents. With Melbourne’s median house price climbing to $740,000 in September 2016, it was pleasing to note that four of the city’s best growth suburbs had median house prices under the $550k for homebuyers looking for affordable opportunities.

3. 11 ideal homes to fix & flip

We rounded up some of the best fixer-uppers from desirable suburbs around Australia that were ripe for a reno project.

4. What’s really behind Australia’s soaring house prices? 

We’re starting to see a pattern here, with three out of our top four stories relating to housing affordability. This is a two-part in-depth look at the many and varied factors that have contributed to the Australian housing affordability crisis.

5. Kitchen design trends 2017: What’s hot & what’s not

With the uptick in renovation loans this year, it’s not surprising our readers were eager to discover what’s in and what’s out in terms of materials, appliances, features and lighting for their kitchen projects.

6. Interview: A breathtaking Victorian masterfully transformed

We had a chat with savvy renovator Kirsty Ristevski about the third home she has fixed up in Albert Park. Looks like third times the charm, where the stunning home sold for $4.735 million in February this year!

7. How to build a home that oozes luxury but doesn’t break the bank

Five pieces of advice for new home builders to ensure their new home is luxurious and elegant without breaking the bank.

8. Quiz: Which hip Melbourne neighbourhood is the best match for you?

If you’re thinking about moving to Melbourne or want a change of scene, this quiz will help you figure out which trendy Melbourne borough you belong in.

9. The best swimming pool designs for small backyards

This article summarises the most attractive and functional pool designs suited to small spaces.

10. Bargain beauties- Homes under $450k with stellar street appeal

This makes four housing affordability articles in our top 10 most popular reads. We did the hard work for you and tracked down nine reasonably priced homes from around the country with a stellar street presence that didn’t blow the budget.

We hope this retrospective provided you with a fun trip down memory lane and the opportunity to revisit some of your favourite blogs of 2017.

If we missed your favourite story, feel free to share it in the comments section below.

Thanks to all our readers and guest bloggers for supporting the Homely Advisor Blog this year. Keep your eyes peeled for more great content in 2018!

Happy house hunting!