TO say you live in Ropes Crossing rather than Blacktown, Glenmore Park over Penrith or Glen Alpine instead of Campbelltown adds thousands to your home's value.
Latest sales figures reveal suburbs ending with waters, park, point, hills or heights can be worth more than three times as much as their neighbouring suburbs.
Sylvania Waters (median $1.5 million) is worth three times as much as surrounding Sutherland (median $500,000). Pleasure Point (median $900,000) is more than double the rest of Liverpool (median $400,000), according to RP Data 2009 figures.
In Sydney's west the median price for popular estate Glenmore Park throughout 2009 was $410,000 compared with Penrith's median of $340,000. Glen Alpine recorded a median of $490,000, compared with Campbelltown LGA's median of $390,000 and new suburb Ropes Crossing had a median of $420,000 compared to Blacktown's $350,000.
University of Western Sydney Urban Research Centre Professor Peter Phibbs said suburb names were a marketing hook, advertising a aspect such as views, beaches or gardens.
"They like a snappier name. With it, you are differentiating yourself from the surrounding suburbs, you are trying to differentiate from a reputation which might not be earned," he said.
University of Newcastle urban development associate Professor Pauline McGuirk said the name game began during the industrial revolution when trains were built and the middle class could move out of the city to places with views, or that overlooked water.
"Where people live brings social status. Historically, the most salubrious suburbs had views, fresh air and were away from pollution," she said.
New suburbs like Jordan Springs and Oran Park are following suit.
Delfin Lend Lease Ropes Crossing project director Natalie Jones said the names became more significant when creating a community and most often played on the heritage of the site.
Jenny
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It's all in the name for selling your home
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