Jason Spencer

I've been going to Portsea all my life, absolutely love spending summer on Shelley Beach or the Portsea Back Beach if you want some surf. Great shopping nearby at Sorrento, or a short trip to Rye/Rosebud if you need more. It's an expensive place to have a beach home but the property prices have held up over the years.

Box Hill is close to the growth suburbs of Surrey Hills and Doncaster both of which have experienced increased prices in recent years Good amenities and excellent transport with Box Hill Central. Box Hill Hospital and LIbrary are also fantastic local services.

Driven down this street hundreds of times, has alot of through traffic but fortunately the speed humps slow people down. Some convenient shops.

You might say why is this better in winter? As a regular visitor to Sorrento it can get very busy with tourists in summer. I love visiting in winter and being able to get a carpark anytime or into a restaurant.

It does get very cold in winter as the wind blows up the main street. In summer it is perfect, Ocean Beach Rd has lots of shops, restaurants, ice cream parlours and even the Athenaeum Cinema for the latest movies. Other than the main street though it is a delightful place to live and you can escape the crowds.

House prices are starting to hit the minimum $1 million mark with anything up to $10 million for beach front property.

Sorrento doesn't have a large permanent resident population, mainly holiday homes for Melbournians. Many of the residents are retired.

Incredible cliff top homes, gorgeous beach, and home to Home and Away TV series.