Buyers advocate · Preston

Buyers Agent in Preston, on your side only.

Preston has changed quickly since the Mernda line was raised above four level crossings in 2022, with rebuilt Bell and Preston stations, a protected Preston Market and growing density near the stations.
★ 4.9 rated on GoogleIndependent, buyer-onlyOne fixed fee, agreed upfront
1 in 2Bought off-market
47Days on average
50+Years combined
REIV memberREBAA accredited memberPIPA memberREIV Awards 2024 finalist
Preston at a glance

Preston: Skyrail, Preston Market and a Changing High Street

Preston is one of the larger suburbs in Darebin, stretching east to Darebin Creek and taking in everything from Edwardian and interwar houses to postwar brick homes, 1950s and 1960s Housing Commission stock and new apartments. In 2022 the rail line was raised over Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road, with new Bell and Preston stations on the Mernda line. Median house prices are around $1.3 million (REIV, March quarter 2026).

Preston Market remains the heart of the suburb. In 2023 the state government introduced planning controls and a heritage overlay that protect much of the market and cap the site at around 1,200 dwellings. For a Preston buyers agent, the work is separating the streets that benefit from all this change from those that will simply absorb its traffic and density.

Preston market snapshot

  • Median house price: $1.3 million
  • Auction clearance rate: 77.7%
  • Average days on market (houses): 41
  • Median weekly rent (house): $680
  • Gross rental yield (houses): 2.9%
  • Source: REIV, March quarter 2026
How it works

How we buy in Preston

01

Free strategy call

Thirty minutes on your brief, your budget and the streets and property types that genuinely fit it. No obligation.

02

Search on and off market

We inspect, shortlist and run the due diligence, including homes that sell quietly and never reach the portals.

03

Negotiate or bid, then settle

We set the price strategy, negotiate or bid on your behalf, and manage the contract through to settlement.

Book a free strategy callOne fixed fee, agreed upfront. We act only for the buyer, never the vendor.
Lou LihariFormer selling agent and auctioneer. Leads negotiation and bidding for our clients.
Before you inspect

Where Preston Value Hides, and Where It Doesn't

Preston is big enough that suburb averages are close to useless. West Preston, served by the route 11 tram, has a different buyer pool from East Preston near Darebin Creek, and Bell Street is a hard dividing line for noise and traffic. Price each pocket on its own sales.

Check what sits around the property. Former Housing Commission land, apartment sites near the stations and the market precinct can all bring change to a quiet street. Homes beside the raised rail line gained open space beneath it, but also trains passing at upper-floor height. The opportunity is in solid original houses on full blocks in streets where neighbours have already renovated, which often sell below their potential to buyers who look past the presentation.

Tell us your Preston budget and brief, and we will map the pockets and school zones that fit.
Local knowledge

Buying in Preston: a local view

Premium pockets

The streets near the sought secondary zones and the leafier west.

Quieter pockets to weigh up

High Street, Bell Street and Plenty Road frontages.

Hardest stock to secure

A renovated period home in a sought-after school zone.

A common buyer mistake

Overlooking how much school zoning varies across Preston.

Life in Preston

Preston Market, High Street and local reserves.

School zones in Preston

Local government schools serve the area, with parts near sought secondary zones. Confirm zoning at findmyschool.vic.gov.au.

If Preston is out of reach: Reservoir or Thornbury.

Thinking of buying in Preston?

We take on a limited number of clients at a time, so every brief gets a director’s full attention. Book a free, no-obligation strategy call and we will map out your Preston search together.

Book a free strategy call

A Recent Preston Buyers Agent Success Story

A young family engaged our full buyers advocacy service to buy their first home in Preston. Their brief was clear: a family-friendly property with a backyard, good walkability to local amenities, and scope to renovate and add value over time. We identified a suitable home heading to auction and moved early, negotiating directly with the selling agent to secure it before auction day. The pre-auction strategy gave our clients certainty and removed the stress and risk of competing under the hammer.

Whether you’re buying or investing in Preston or the wider inner north, our local knowledge and negotiation experience help clients secure opportunities both on and off market.

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Federica Caldaroni profile picture
Federica Caldaroni
7 days ago
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I was flat out with work and had neither the time nor the resources to house hunt, and not being local made the Melbourne market hard to understand. Lou and Alana were incredibly professional and took care of every single detail, making the whole process smooth and stress-free. They found my home in just 11 days! I'd wholeheartedly recommend LP Advisory to friends and family who want to actually enjoy finding their perfect place.
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Jac Bowie profile picture
Jac Bowie
10 days ago
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I can’t recommend Lou and Alana from LP Advisory highly enough! They helped me secure my dream Melbourne apartment and, along the way, educated me on the property market, Melbourne suburbs and making smart investment decisions. Their knowledge, professionalism and genuine care made the entire experience fantastic. I’ll absolutely be using them for future purchases and recommending them to everyone I know. Couldn’t be happier!
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Connie Caligiuri profile picture
Connie Caligiuri
38 days ago
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Lou was extremely helpful, professional, personable and knowledgeable from the get go. He was responsive throughout the process and gave us the confidence we needed to make informed decisions. My partner and I can’t recommend Lou’s services enough! Thank you Lou!
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Stephanie Evans
39 days ago
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Have dealt with LP Advisory on many occasion being a real estate agent in the Port Phillip area. I have to say Lou is always extremely easy and no fuss to deal with, always having the best intentions for their clients. Lou recently purchased a property through us pre market in South Melbourne. Within 48 hours, his client had viewed, a building inspection had been conducted and we had negotiated with the owner and come to an agreeable price. Happy clients all round so thank you. Steph Evans - Marshall White.
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Kirrily Graham profile picture
Kirrily Graham
40 days ago
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The team at LP Advisory are an absolute delight to work with. They have incredible experience, local knowledge and expansive network in the industry. They provide an impeccable service and I was so impressed with their promptness and level of communication. Thanks Lou and Alana, it is a pleasure to work with you!
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Tashi Dorjee
41 days ago
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Genuine, easy to trust , real world market advice. Can't recommend him enough
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Hayley Vo profile picture
Hayley Vo
46 days ago
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I’ve had the pleasure of working with Lou on a number of property matters, and one thing that really stands out is the level of care and attention to detail he puts into the property search for his clients. Lou is extremely knowledgeable. He is always asking questions, clarifying details and making sure he has a thorough understanding of the property so he can properly guide and assist his clients. From a conveyancer’s perspective, it’s really lovely to see the amount of care he takes behind the scenes to ensure his clients are making informed decisions and purchasing the right property for them. I would happily recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and genuinely caring buyer’s advocate.
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Dominic Monaco profile picture
Dominic Monaco
79 days ago
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I've had the pleasure of getting to know Lou and Alana from LP Advisory and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. They genuinely put their clients first and are committed to helping buyers make informed property decisions. Their knowledge of the Melbourne market, professionalism and attention to detail are evident in everything they do. They're approachable, honest, responsive and clearly passionate about achieving the best possible outcome for their clients. I have every confidence recommending LP Advisory to anyone looking for a trusted buyer's advocate.
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James Miller profile picture
James Miller
85 days ago
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There are not enough superlatives for what a wonderful job Lou and Alana have done. Looking for a home is stressful enough, especially when you add in the fact I am move interstate, however the LP Advisory team took all the difficult work out of it. I am extremely happy with the service and care I have received, which obviously ranged from sourcing appropriate inspections based on my preferences, then through going to them, giving me amazing advice and suggestions. They are both very professional, very kind and very efficient. Thank you both so very much. I am beyond appreciative and I could not recommend their services enough. If anyone is looking, please look into Lou and Alana. Thanks :)
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Erin Richardson profile picture
Erin Richardson
85 days ago
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I could not recommend Lou, Alana and the LP Advisory Team more highly. They are absolutely the real deal in terms of their local knowledge, price guidance and relationships - it is almost an unfair advantage if you have them on your team. I recently was able to purchase a home far better than anything I would have dreamed of due to the strength of their relationships and negotiating advice. At no point did I ever feel pressured to look at homes which I felt were off brief - they would send me video tours of homes before I even stepped in to make sure that it was only for the highest and best potential homes that I was investing my time. I wasn't fighting with the regular weekend crowds but had the opportunity to view when it suited me. And more than that, I was able to be candid and open in my feedback which was clearly taken back on board and reflected back in the shortlist that was presented back to me. As a business owner making a significant purchase, their commercial nous was unbelievable as was their integrity (they earned their fee four times over) and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with them. I was actually recommended them by one of the local Port Melbourne/Albert Park agents who probably regrets introducing us now!
Your team

Why Preston Buyers Use LP Advisory

Preston rewards buyers who understand change. Alana’s due diligence looks at the planning around each property, from apartment sites near the stations to the Preston Market precinct and any former public housing land nearby. Lou negotiates with a clear view of where each pocket trades, which matters when houses take around 41 days to sell and not every campaign runs hot. Sharyn’s network across the inner north brings early notice of homes that may sell before advertising. We have bought in Preston before, we represent buyers only, and our fixed fee keeps the advice independent.

Lou Lihari

Director · Lead buyers agent

Former selling agent and auctioneer. Negotiates and bids for you.

Alana Prideaux

Director of Operations · Licensed agent

Runs due diligence: contracts, Section 32, overlays and building reports.

Sharyn Prideaux

Off-market specialist

Finds the homes that sell quietly, before they reach the portals.

Questions

Buying in Preston: Common Questions

How has the level crossing removal changed Preston?
It removed four level crossings at Oakover Road, Bell Street, Cramer Street and Murray Road in 2022 by raising the Mernda line, and delivered new Bell and Preston stations. Traffic now flows more freely across the suburb, and the stations are attracting new apartments nearby. Homes within walking distance of the stations benefit most, but check privacy and noise if a home sits right beside the line.
Planning controls and a heritage overlay introduced in 2023 protect much of the existing Preston Market and cut the site’s development capacity to around 1,200 dwellings. Parts of the site can still be developed over time, adding apartments and activity close to Preston station. Buyers nearby should expect future construction, alongside longer-term improvements to the precinct.
Preston High School is the main local government secondary school, and some southern parts of Preston may fall within other inner north secondary zones depending on the exact address. Primary options include Preston South, Preston West, Bell, Newlands and Preston North East primary schools. In a suburb this large, zoning can shift within a few blocks, so verify the property at findmyschool.vic.gov.au.
Neither is better outright; they suit different briefs. West Preston, on the route 11 tram and close to Coburg and Thornbury, tends to attract buyers wanting period and interwar homes on quieter streets. East Preston, toward Darebin Creek and its trail, has more postwar housing and former Housing Commission stock, which can offer land value and renovation upside. We compare individual streets against your budget.
It can be, with houses returning a gross yield around 2.9% on a median weekly rent of $680 (REIV, March quarter 2026). Rental demand is supported by the Mernda line, two tram routes, Melbourne Polytechnic’s Preston campus and the High Street strip. Investors should be wary of new apartment supply near the stations and focus on houses or well-built townhouses with their own land.
It is worth considering, especially if you do not know Preston well. The suburb is large and varied, and prices can change sharply between streets on either side of Bell Street or near the market precinct. A buyers agent helps you avoid paying a premium for the wrong pocket, checks planning and nearby development, and negotiates on your behalf.
Free 30-minute call

Buying in Preston?

Talk to us before your next inspection or auction. You will come away with a clear view on price, competition and your best next step.

Also buying nearby

How we can help

We act for owner occupiers buying a home to live in, as well as first home buyers, families upsizing, downsizers and property investors.

Some homes change hands before they are ever advertised, so we search off-market property as well as listings. If it goes to auction, we can bid for you. Not sure about the building? Start with a pre-purchase property report.

Moving from interstate or overseas? We run the search and inspections for buyers who are not in Melbourne. Buying for business or super? See our commercial property buyers advocate service.

Selling instead? Our vendor advocates help you pick the right agent and campaign.

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Independent property advice you can trust.

  • ✓  50+ years combined experience
  • ✓  REIV, REBAA & PIPA accredited
  • ✓  50% of purchases secured off-market
  • ✓  Average 47 days to purchase
  • ✓  Boutique, senior-led team

Buy with independent property advice.

Whether you are buying a home or investment, we help you assess value, reduce risk and negotiate with confidence before you make a move.

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Pre-market and off-market opportunities through established agent relationships.

Avoid overpaying

Comparable sales, pricing analysis and negotiation strategy before you act.

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Guidance from licensed estate agents with campaign and negotiation expertise.

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