30/06/2026
Wonder what our average is here in Launceston?
23 years.
That's how long the average homeowner in Clarinda, VIC, holds onto their house – nearly double the national average of 11.7 years.
New data tracking the 12 months to May 2026 has revealed Australia's "20-Year Club" – a tight group of suburbs where owners simply don't sell.
REA Group Economist Luc Redman says it comes down to a perfect storm: high owner-occupier rates, middle-ring locations, and families who planted roots decades ago when prices were lower.
"They've essentially held onto that asset while the area has densified around them," Redman said.
The surprise? Not a single suburb from WA, SA, or Tasmania cracked the national Top 10 for houses or units.
And despite speculation that recent Budget changes to negative gearing and CGT could tighten supply further, Redman says these suburbs are largely insulated – most owners are occupiers who don't claim those perks anyway.
The real impact, he suggests, will hit investors in the medium and lower-end unit market.
At the other extreme, Bells Creek in QLD recorded an average hold time of just 2 years – though Redman notes newer communities skew short simply because long holds haven't had time to show up in the data.
If you work in these long-hold suburbs, how do you approach building pipeline when stock barely moves?
realestate.com.au Agents
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