Here are the best suburbs for off-the-plan projects

Amid the housing downturn, buyers remain interested in purchasing off-the-plan properties, the latest market insight by Realestate.com.au found.

Real.estate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee told Yahoo! Finance that purchasing off-the-plan properties has gained traction amongst first-home buyers since it is relatively more affordable than buying established properties.

In fact, data from realestate.com.au show buyer interest in new housing and apartment development has increased by 11% and 6%, respectively.

"With a growing population and declining property prices, the ability to find and secure affordable housing continues to be a concern for many Australians," Conisbee said.

She added that the buyers are now considering other property-purchasing options due to the planned changes on negative gearing rules and the stricter lending rules as a result of the investigation of the royal banking commission.

The data also show that first-home buyers contribute to around 50% of the growth in new apartments in Queensland and South Australia. This demographic is also the primary driver of the growth in Western Australia.

Conisbee said several factors are attracting first-home buyers to off-the-plan properties.

"Aside from affordability, people are attracted to buying off-the-plan because of the modern features, the flexibility to choose floor plan and the fact that no-one else has lived in the property previously," she said.

Realestate.com.au identified 50 suburbs where off-the-plan properties are popular:

Victoria
New Houses	New Developments
Doncaster	Melbourne, 3000
Langwarrin	Melbourne, 3004
Lilydale	South Melbourne
Drouin	Southbank
Officer	Footscray
Western Australia
New Houses	New Developments
Doubleview	Perth
Scarborough	Fremantle
Floreat	Scarborough
Duncraig	Jolimont
Como	East Perth
South Australia
New Houses	New Developments
West Lakes	Bowden
Lightsview	Adelaide
Warradale	Hyde Park
Somerton Park	West Lakes
Christies Beach	Lightsview
New South Wales
New Houses	New Developments
Schofields	The Rocks
Kellyville	Dee Why
The Ponds	Wollongong
Epping	Sydney
Edmondson Park	Newcastle
Queensland
New Houses	New Developments
Newport	Palm Beach
Caloundra	Broadbeach
Rochedale	Kangaroo Point
Springfield Lakes	Burleigh Heads
Maudsland	Newstead