Expert Advice with Simon Pressley 23/07/2018

If you thought that Australian property markets were all doom and gloom, think again. Double-digit price growth was produced for one in every eight locations across Australia over the last 12 months.

Our research shows that the median house price increased by 10 per cent or better in 12 per cent of Australia over the year ending April 2018.

The property markets of 550 city councils spread across our 8 states and territories is akin to the stock exchange for Australia’s property markets. 67 out of 550 had double-digit growth.

The property markets of 16 out of Greater-Melbourne’s 31 city councils produced double-digit price growth. These were predominantly in the outer parts of Melbourne where housing is more affordable. Hume (25%), Whittlesea (23%), Cardinia (21%), Nillumbik and Casey (both 19 per cent) were the biggest winners.

Interestingly, 45 of the 67 locations that produced double-digit price growth are located outside of Australia’s 8 capital cities.

24 of the 27 locations in New South Wales where the median house price grew by more than 10 per cent last year are in the regions.

The median house price in Uralla in regional New South Wales increased by 24.1 per cent last year. A typical house in the New England region is still an affordable $367,000.

We’ve been saying for quite some time that the outlook for many parts of regional Australia is increasingly better than most capital city markets.

Employment growth in some of Australia’s regions is strong, especially in tourism, health, agriculture and specialised manufacturing. The mining sector is also showing a strong recovery.

Victoria had the biggest representation of double-digit price growth with 28 locations, of which 12 were regional locations.

Tasmania had 7 locations; 4 of these are within Greater-Hobart, currently Australia’s hottest property market.

South Australia was also well represented with 3 of its 4 locations also in the regions.

The median house price in Roebourne (Karratha) in Western Australia increased by 13.5 per cent while Queensland didn’t have any locations on the list of double-digit growth.

Locations don’t produce double-digit growth very often. Several capital cities still haven’t seen it since before the GFC. The strongest growth cycle unfolding right now is in strategically-chosen regional locations.

The Asian Century is real, it’s having a positive impact in key industries and this is flowing through to certain property markets, including regional Australia. The opportunities are significant, and we are only nineteen years in to it.

Local confidence and job growth increases demand for housing. Our buyer’s agents have already seen the positivity within regional communities flow through to property prices.

The research also shows that 45 of the 67 city councils with double-digit price growth still have a median house price below $600,000.

Regional Australia has housing affordability in spades. The median house price is still under $350,000 in strong growth locations such as Berri, Cooma-Monaro, Coffs Harbour, Forbes, Lithgow, Launceston, and Muswellbrook.

Double-Digit Price Growth [YE April 2018]

Hume VIC *

$ 566,000

25.0%

Newcastle NSW

$ 640,000

12.6%

Uralla NSW

$ 367,000

24.1%

Glenelg VIC

$ 195,000

12.5%

Whittlesea VIC *

$ 625,000

23.0%

Wentworth NSW

$ 272,500

12.5%

Cardinia VIC *

$ 535,000

20.9%

Berri & Barmera SA

$ 191,500

12.3%

Dorset TAS

$ 220,000

20.0%

Eurobodalla NSW

$ 510,000

12.2%

Nillumbik VIC *

$ 780,000

19.3%

Launceston TAS

$ 307,000

12.0%

Casey VIC *

$ 620,000

19.0%

Kyogle NSW

$ 300,000

11.8%

Snowy River NSW

$ 495,000

18.9%

Bega Valley NSW

$ 470,000

11.8%

Melton VIC *

$ 505,000

18.4%

Burnside SA *

$ 960,000

11.7%

Cooma-Monaro NSW

$ 320,500

18.4%

Lithgow NSW

$ 342,000

11.7%

Grant SA

$ 275,000

18.0%

Glamorgan TAS

$ 411,000

11.6%

Berrigan NSW

$ 238,750

17.7%

Port Augusta SA

$ 195,000

11.4%

Glenorchy TAS *

$ 376,000

17.3%

Bass Coast VIC

$ 418,000

11.3%

Wyndham VIC *

$ 560,000

17.2%

Macedon Ranges VIC

$ 550,000

11.2%

Mitchell VIC

$ 430,000

15.9%

Mornington Peninsula VIC *

$ 781,000

11.2%

Kingborough TAS *

$ 576,600

15.7%

Golden Plains VIC

$ 445,000

11.2%

Palerang NSW

$ 727,500

15.6%

Queanbeyan NSW

$ 665,000

11.2%

Gloucester NSW

$ 286,000

15.5%

Knox VIC *

$ 801,000

11.1%

Dungog NSW

$ 420,000

15.5%

Tweed NSW

$ 650,000

11.1%

Wellington NSW

$ 193,750

15.4%

Dandenong VIC *

$ 700,000

11.1%

Auburn NSW *

$ 985,000

15.0%

Murrindindi VIC

$ 980,000

11.0%

Forbes NSW

$ 260,000

14.8%

Coffs Harbour NSW

$ 342,500

11.1%

Sorrell TAS *

$ 357,500

14.8%

Inverell NSW

$ 270,000

11.0%

Moreland VIC *

$ 887,500

14.7%

Colac-Otway VIC

$ 325,000

10.9%

Baw Baw VIC

$ 405,500

14.7%

Darebin VIC *

$ 997,500

10.9%

Melbourne VIC *

$1,180,000

14.6%

Muswellbrook NSW

$ 300,000

10.7%

Yarra Ranges VIC *

$ 685,227

14.2%

Indigo NSW

$ 307,000

10.5%

Brimbank VIC *

$ 654,000

14.1%

Moorabool VIC

$ 432,250

10.5%

Frankston VIC *

$ 625,000

13.9%

Taree NSW

$ 396,000

10.5%

Roebourne WA

$ 353,000

13.5%

Wyong NSW *

$ 590,000

10.2%

Hobart TAS *

$ 690,000

13.3%

Strathbogie VIC

$ 307,500

10.1%

Shoalhaven NSW

$ 575,000

13.2%

Corangamite VIC

$ 191,250

10.1%

Kiama NSW

$ 991,000

13.1%

Gosford NSW *

$ 800,000

10.0%

Geelong VIC

$ 522,000

13.0%

 

 

 

SOURCE: CoreLogic. Analysis of Australia’s 550 city councils as at end of April 2018 (more than 100 dwellings sold over 12 months)

Propertyology research shows that, in addition to significantly improved economic conditions, regional locations are attracting migration from people moving away from capital cities.

The population of regional Australia increased by 7,740 people over the 2017 financial year. That’s comparable to a city the size of Port Macquarie - Australia’s 29th largest city – in just one year.

In addition to the 67 city councils where the median house price increased by at least 10 per cent, another 64 locations increased by 7.2 per cent or more. 7.2 per cent is the average growth rate required for an asset to double in value over 10 years.

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Simon Pressley is Head of Property Market Research and Managing Director at Propertyology.

Propertyology is a national property market researcher and buyer’s agency, helping everyday people to invest in strategically-chosen locations all over Australia. The multi-award-winning firm’s success includes being a finalist in the 2017 Telstra Business Awards and 2018 winner of Buyer’s Agency of the Year in REIQ Awards For Excellence.

 

Disclaimer: while due care is taken, the viewpoints expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Your Investment Property.