St James is an established suburb located approximately 7km south-east of the Perth CBD.
It’s a small, often overlooked, suburb that has a number of features desired by owner occupiers and renters alike. Location-wise it benefits from its position which is just a short drive from the Perth CBD and Kwinana Freeway, within minutes of the train line, and accessible by a number of primary routes including Albany Highway and Leach Highway. St James itself has a number of good schools and a local shopping centre, whilst also being conveniently located to nearby amenities such as Carousel shopping centre, the cinema’s, educational institutions such as TAFE and Curtin University, the Swan River, the cafes and restaurants of Victoria Park, and Perth Airport.
Some investors find St James particularly attractive because of it’s proximity to Curtin University, plus its value compared to nearby suburbs and because of the potential for redevelopment. Although many large plots have already been developed, there are still opportunities available including renovation of older character homes.
Despite being a near city suburb with much development having taken place over the years, St James has still managed to retain a more ‘suburban’ feel. There are a mix of both new and old housing types available to suit a variety of budgets from small units and villas, to family homes with large backyards, to multi-unit development sites. Along with reasonable pricing, it is these factors that attract a variety of homebuyers and keep the area in demand.
Prices start from around $250,000 for a smaller parcel of land, while the entry price for dwellings is around $350,000 for a small-sized villa. Larger and newer villas however are often priced somewhere in the $500,000’s. Green title homes typically fetch between $550,000 and $750,000 depending on size and quality, while development sites usually start around $600,000. Average rents are between $350 – $450 (although expect higher for larger and more premium family homes).