Why it's worth digging a little deeper for regional real estate gold
Kanebridge News
Share Button

Why it’s worth digging a little deeper for regional real estate gold

As prices falter in Australian capital cities, regional areas continue to offer good value, if you know where to look

By KANEBRIDGE NEWS
Thu, Dec 8, 2022 12:55pmGrey Clock 2 min

It could be argued that the 2022 real estate rollercoaster of the Australian property market has not been felt harder than in regional areas, with CoreLogic’s Regional Market Update reporting several areas that experienced the strongest growth now seeing the fastest declines.

The update, which examined 25 of Australia’s largest non-capital city regions, showed that house values in six of the most popular lifestyle markets had fallen by -6 percent or more, with NSW regions such as the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven recording some of the greatest losses.

However, founder and director of Aus Property Professionals, Lloyd Edge says canny investors can still make money in regional areas if they know where to look, citing Gunnedah in NSW, Highton in Geelong and Sebastapol near Ballarat as areas tipped for growth.

He shares his regional property insights here with Kanebridge News.

What should investors look for in an investment in a regional area, given the post pandemic price drops so many areas have experienced?

I would recommend looking for a 5%+ rental yield, as the extra cashflow will improve your serviceability with lenders. I would also look for a location with multiple growth drivers, as well as Government spending on infrastructure, close to schools, hospitals and so on. A history of growth pre-pandemic is also important, as pretty much all locations experienced growth during the pandemic, but to ensure you’re buying a good long-term investment you need to look for a long history of growth in the area.

It’s also important to ensure you’re buying a property below the median house price in that area, and that you understand the demographic you’re buying for. For example, many regional areas are popular with young families who want to live in a house, therefore buying an apartment might not be the best choice of investment.  

Are rental yields performing better in regional markets than capital cities right now?

Yes, in general rental yields in regional markets are performing better than in capital cities right now, especially those regional areas where the median house price is below $500,000. Of course, there are still capital cities like Darwin that are doing very well in terms of rental yields.  

What about rental yields versus capital growth?

After the pandemic property boom, growth in many places has slowed down considerably, and rental yields are performing well in areas where the median house price is still below $500,000. However, this doesn’t mean that you should buy only for rental yields right now. It’s important to always look for a balance between rental yields and capital growth. A high rental yield will improve your serviceability with lenders and help you to keep growing your portfolio, however without capital growth you won’t be able to leverage the equity down the track to keep growing your portfolio and reach your financial goals.  

Why would investors be advised to look beyond the usual regional suspects?

Once a location becomes popular with investors everyone rushes to buy there, causing prices to rise and putting a downwards pressure on rental yields. It’s therefore important to look beyond the usual regional suspects when choosing a place to invest. I would advise staying up to date with the current supply and demand data, so instead of following the trend and buying where everyone else is you can be aware of the next location that is set to see some growth.



MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

35 North Street Windsor

Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.

Related Stories
Property
Australia’s top 10 most affordable regional property markets investors should watch
By Bronwyn Allen 19/04/2024
Property
They Love Their $14.95 Million Hamptons House. The Problem? Their Dog Hates It
By E.B. SOLOMONT 18/04/2024
Property
Big Tech Is Downsizing Workspace in Another Blow to Office Real Estate
By KONRAD PUTZIER 17/04/2024
Australia’s top 10 most affordable regional property markets investors should watch

Whether you prefer the country or the coast, there are plenty of east coast options for cashed up buyers

By Bronwyn Allen
Fri, Apr 19, 2024 3 min

There are 10 local council areas scattered along the East Coast of Australia that offer both affordability and solid fundamentals for sustainable future growth, according to the research team at residential property network, PRD. The areas have been selected based on five criterion. They are affordability – defined as a median house price below $600,000, rising house values, strong rental yields to encourage investment, a strong pipeline of residential, commercial and infrastructure projects to facilitate local economic development, and low unemployment.

Here are Australia’s 10 most affordable regional property markets with great future potential.

Mackay, QLD

Mackay is a tropical coastal area located in north Queensland. It’s known for its closeconnection to the Great Barrier Reef. The median house price is $462,750, up 8.9 percent in 2023. Mackay attracts a lot of interstate migrants and is home to more than 120,000 people. It has a healthy economy with an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent and $1.7 billion worth of projects due to commence this year.

Toowoomba, QLD

The Toowoomba median house price was up 10.9 percent in 2023.

Toowoomba is located west of Brisbane and is known for its Victorian buildings, street artand surrounding national parks. The median house price is $560,000, up 10.9 percent in 2023. The city has a population of more than 180,000. The unemployment rate is 4 percentand there is $6.1 billion in projects commencing in 2024.

Townsville, QLD

Townsville is a coastal city in north-eastern Queensland. The median house price is $420,000, up 5 percent in 2023. It is home to more than 200,000 people. Unemployment is very low at 2.5 percent and there is $3.2 billion of projects commencing this year.

Dubbo, NSW

Dubbo is located west of Newcastle in the Orana Region and is home to the Western Plains Zoo. The median house price is $530,000, up 11.6 percent in 2023. The population has exploded in recent years to more than 56,000 people. The unemployment rate is just 2.2percent and the economy is thriving. There is a pipeline of $4.7 billion in projects commencing this year.

Tamworth, NSW

Located in north-east NSW, Tamworth is known for its popular annual Country Music Festival. It’s also the largest retail centre for the New England and Northwest Slopes regions. The median house price is $490,000, up 14 percent in 2023. With a population of more than 65,000 people, the economy is strong with unemployment of just 2 percent and $112.4million worth of projects commencing this year.

Griffith, NSW

Located west of Sydney and northwest of Canberra, Griffith is known for its prime produce production and wine cultivation. The median house price is $531,000, up 2.1 percent in 2023. Griffith’s population is about 27,000 people. The city boasts high economic resilience with a 2 percent unemployment rate and $258.7 million in projects in the pipeline.

Ballarat, VIC

Ballarat, Victoria

Ballarat is a 1.5hour drive west of Melbourne. It’s popular with city commuters who move here for housing affordability and a relaxed lifestyle with easy access to the city via train. The median house price is $570,000, down 4.2 percent in 2023 but up 92.9 percent over the past decade. The city has the third highest population in Victoria at about 118,000. Ballarat has an unemployment rate of 3 percent and a total projects pipeline worth $2.3 billion for 2024.

Shepparton, VIC

Shepparton is a rural area about two hours north of Melbourne. It is popularly referred to as the food bowl of Australia. The median house price is $475,000, up 4.4 percent in 2023. The population is about 70,000. The unemployment rate is just 2 percent and there is $1.8 billion in projects for 2024.

Wodonga, VIC

Wodonga is located on the border of NSW on the southern side of the Murray River. It is approximately 320km from Melbourne and 345km from Canberra. The median house price is $567,250, up 4.7 percent in 2023. With a population of about 44,000, the city’s jobless rate is 3 percent and there is $388.2 million in development set to commence in 2024, primarily new infrastructure.

Burnie, TAS

Burnie is a bustling port city located in Emu Bay in Tasmania’s north-west. Overlooking beaches and parklands, the area is known for its rich agriculture and mining projects. The median house price is $435,000, up 3.6 percent. Despite a rising population, the unemployment rate is falling and is currently 5.6 percent. In 2024, Burnie’s project pipeline is valued at approximately $1.6 billion. A significant portion is commercial development, primarily renewable energy projects.

MOST POPULAR
11 ACRES ROAD, KELLYVILLE, NSW

This stylish family home combines a classic palette and finishes with a flexible floorplan

Consumers are going to gravitate toward applications powered by the buzzy new technology, analyst Michael Wolf predicts

Related Stories
Geelong Grammar
Local
The Ten Best Co-ed Schools in Melbourne
By Josh Bozin 13/03/2024
Property
How Buying a New Home Could Save You Money
By ALY J. YALE 20/11/2023
Lifestyle
The ‘Meatball Test’ and Other Tips for Pet-Proofing Your Decor
By NINA MOLINA 20/02/2024
0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop