The number of people leaving the big smoke for regional living is still on the rise, but property hotspots are changing as demand grows.

120,000 people currently make the daily commute from the Central Coast to Sydney.

Money Magazine’s Effie Zahos has collated the top 20 regional areas to buy in Australia, and Geelong is well ahead, with its suburbs making up 12 of the top 20.

Nowra, Dalmeny and Mayfield in NSW are also among the best performing suburbs at the moment.

Ms Zahos tells Chris Smith the results might surprise listeners.

“One in four regional areas that were so-called hotspots last year actually had negative capital growth”

She uses the example of Wollongong being quite pricey nowadays, and Shoalhaven currently providing the better opportunity.

Click PLAY for the full chat with Effie Zahos 

The regional hotspots breakdown can be found in the June edition of Money Magazine.