FrankRuffo

Named for the infamous Victorian Premier, Sir Thomas Bent (who earned the epithet “Bent by name, bent by nature” for his questionable land deals), Bentleigh has come into its own with regular million dollar price-tags. Buyers now know the benefits of this leafy location just one suburb back from the bay…and just over the Highway from blue-chip Brighton

With a vibrant shopping strip centred on a Zone 1-2 station, and relative affordability (especially compared with over-heated Brighton), Bentleigh is a true real-estate hot-spot. Growth has been strong in recent years with the Californian Bungalow street-scapes around the Centre Rd strip claiming the highest record prices. North of Centre Rd., where Bentleigh spills into the McKinnon College Zone, educational values add real value to already prized real estate. Here, prestige new family homes and townhouse developments are growing up in response to demand for a highly-prized Zone address.

But while substantial Californian Bungalows and architectural new homes are hitting the heights, Bentleigh still retains a good old-fashioned reputation for value. First home buyers are still welcome here, especially towards the east, where the solid homes of the post-war era (and later) represent an affordable Bentleigh buy.

Affordability increases in the unit and apartment market of this desirable suburb, with apartment blocks close to the Centre Rd strip and station offering excellent value and units and apartments closer to South Rd near Holmesglen Institute providing equally excellent rental returns.