If you are looking for a home in Oxley, chances are you'll have to wait a while.
Not only is the southside suburb one of Canberra's smallest but it is also the place where homeowners stay the longest.
Residents in Oxley, on average, stay in their houses for almost 17 years, new data from agent comparisons site OpenAgent has found. This is compared to the average 11 year hold period for Canberra overall.
Cath Byrne has lived in the suburb for six years and while she is about 11 years off the average hold period, she definitely planned to reach the milestone.
"There's no plans for me to move at all," she said.
"I'm loving it and I'm gonna be here for as long as I can."
Ms Byrne, a keen cyclist, was attracted to the suburb for its close proximity to Lake Tuggeranong as well as shopping centres. She described the bush setting as her favourite thing in the suburb.
"The sounds of birdlife around here - in the morning and the evening is just really beautiful ... it's a gem to find places like this," she said.
"Not many people know the location of Oxley either and I think it's Canberra's little secret in a way."
Ms Byrne recently set up a Neighbourhood Watch in Oxley and as a result has met other residents who shared her fondness for the suburb such as Sharan Fergie.
Ms Fergie has owned in Oxley since 1987. She lived with her family overseas for 11 years but would always come back to the suburb. She said Oxley Hill was one of the best parts of the suburb and she loved the location.
Factors such as easy access to public transport, major roads, facilities, high-performing schools and employment opportunities could all be reasons not to sell.
OpenAgent data analyst Carson Teh
"You can go up on the hill and you can look out on a panoramic view across Canberra," she said.
"I think that's a favourite part for me and the cycle paths as well and the proximity to the shops."
OpenAgent data analyst Carson Teh said suburbs with long holding period offered characteristics that encouraged residents to stay in the area.
"Factors such as easy access to public transport, major roads, facilities, high-performing schools and employment opportunities could all be reasons not to sell," he said.
However, Oxley does not have any shops or school. The only community zoned site is a child care centre which opened four years ago.
"Its location with easy access to major shopping centres and main arterial roads make it a convenient suburb to live in even though it doesn't have any shops or schools," Anne Farrell of McGrath Estate Agents Woden said.
The other suburbs where homeowners stick around for more than 15 years are Holder (16 years), Dickson (15.8 years), Lyons (15.1 years) and Bonython (15 years).
"With average hold periods in Canberra for houses at about 11 years and for units about nine years, these suburbs have something on offer, keeping property owners in the area for longer," Mr Teh said.
