Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Regional Nsw

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The pre-election negativity that hit real estate in the first half of 2019 impacted previously busy Regional NSW markets, with the lowest number of growth markets in two years. It nevertheless remains one of the nation’s busiest market jurisdictions. 
And price performance has been good in many locations, with 60% of Regional NSW markets delivering median price growth in the past 12 months.
Regional NSW continues to provide a stark contrast to Sydney. While many sectors of the Sydney market have been in decline, the cities and towns of Regional NSW have proved resilient – even though not as strong as in 2018.
Last year Hotspotting’s Spring 2018 survey found 70 locations with rising demand in Regional NSW and the Autumn 2019 identified 61 growth markets. But this latest Winter 2019 found only 40 growth markets – still solid by national standards but well down on the levels of the past year or two.
The sales data on which this survey is based pre-dates the Federal Election in mid-May and the subsequent positive events such as interest rate reductions, easier finance (the APRA changes) and the tax cuts.
So any locations that delivered rising sales activity in that pre-election climate have strong claims to being regarded as growth markets.
There are still growth markets in and around Newcastle (pictured above), although this market overall appears well past its peak. The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs both have suburbs with growing sales demand, but they are outnumbered by plateau markets.
But locations near Newcastle, such as the Port Stephens LGA, remain buoyant, led by Anna Bay, Medowie and Salamander Bay. Some sections of the Hunter Valley still have momentum, including Cessnock and Muswellbrook.
The same cannot be said for the Central Coast. Two years ago, this was the strongest market in NSW but it’s now well past its peak. Bateau Bay and Budgewoi still have some forward momentum, but the Central Coast now has 19 plateau markets and seven we classify as declining markets (including Toukley, Gwandalan, North Gosford, Point Frederick, San Remo and The Entrance). We note also the decline in median prices in many Central Coast locations.
Similarly, other regional centres close to Sydney have passed their peaks and started to decline, including Wollongong, the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains (although Katoomba remains busy). The Byron Bay market is another to have lost its mojo.
The growth markets in Regional NSW are now found further afield. The Tweed LGA at the Queensland border is particularly busy at the moment, headed by Casuarina, Kingscliff and Terranora. Quarterly sales in Kingscliff have been 59, 61, 67 and 70 – and its median house price has risen 19% to $1,025,000.
At the other end of the state, Wagga Wagga continues to be a market leader, led by upwardly mobile suburbs like Gobbagombalin, Kooringal and Lake Albert. Quarterly sales in Wagga Wagga (the suburb) have been 37, 39, 48 and 50 in the past 12 months – and its median price has started to rise, up 4% in the past 12 months.
And the Eurobodalla LGA in the South Coast region has some busy markets, notably Catalina and Malua Bay.
A large number of smaller and distant regional centres have growth markets, including Grafton, Forbes, Griffith, Wingham, Mudgee and Gulgong in the Mid Western LGA, Leeton, Lismore, Nambucca Heads and Young.
There has been plenty of price growth in Regional NSW markets, though not as prolific as in our previous survey.
Three months in our Autumn 2019 report we commented: “The vast majority of NSW Regional markets have price levels higher than 12 months ago – 85% of the locations in our survey have recorded growth in the past year.”
This Winter 2019 survey finds that 61% of house markets and 53% of unit markets have median prices higher than a year ago. 
Locations with strong price growth include three locations in the Tweed LGA – Casuarina (up 21% to $1,150,000), Kingscliff (up 19% to $1,025,000) and Tweed Heads South (up 15% to $585,000).
But the biggest growth has been recorded by Berry in the Shoalhaven region, up 25% to $1,300,000.
A number of apartment markets have recorded median price growth above 20%, including Nambucca Heads, Ballina, Sawtell and Taree.
At the other end of the scale, many Central Coast locations have recorded declines in their median prices. House markets to fall include those in Wyoming (8%), Woy Woy (5%), Umina Beach (6%), North Gosford (7%), Long Jetty (9%), Wyong (6%) and Gorokan (8%). 
Among the apartment markets, those to drop include Woy Woy (6%), Toukley (9%), Umina Beach (9%), East Gosford (12%), Gorokan (8%), Terrigal (6%) and Berkeley Vale (19%).
Some of key markets in Wingecarribee LGA in the Southern Highlands region have dropped also, including Bowral (6%) and Mittagong (10%).
Suffolk Park at Byron Bay has recorded a 17% fall in its median house price to $1,050,000.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

2019 property price growth markets in Regional NSW are now found further afield: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The vast majority of NSW Regional markets have price levels higher than 12 months ago – 85% of the locations in our latest survey have recorded growth in the past year.
Hotspotting has surveyed 303 significant markets across the state outside of Sydney (we exclude small markets with fewer than 30 sales in a year, as small sales samples provided distorted medians and unreliable figures on growth or decline). 
Of these, 171 (56%) have recorded median price growth above 5% and a further 88 (29%) have had growth between 1% and 5%.
The 171 locations with growth above 5% included 78 places which had double-digit price growth in the past 12 months.
It provides quite a stark contrast to the trends in Sydney.
Our survey reveals only 11 Regional NSW locations where prices have dropped by more than 5% and another 33 where prices have fallen marginally (between 1% and 5%).
The regional growth has been led by 14 markets with growth of 20% or more: 
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Ballina units (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Berry houses (up 36%), </li>
<li class="li1">Broken Hill houses (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Casino units (up 31%), </li>
<li class="li1">Casuarina houses (up 20%), </li>
<li class="li1">Crestwood houses (up 25%),</li>
<li class="li1">Moruya houses (up 23%), </li>
<li class="li1">Sawtell units (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Catalina houses (up 20%), </li>
<li class="li1">Shelly Beach houses (up 29%), </li>
<li class="li1">Wangi Wangi houses (up 40%), </li>
<li class="li1">Uranga houses (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Tura Beach units (up 26%), and </li>
<li class="li1">Taree units (up 20%).</li>
</ul>
The Newcastle region (above) continues to be strong on price growth. The LGAs of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens all have multiple suburbs with solid to strong median price growth in the past year.
Lake Macquarie markets with rising prices include Belmont, Belmont North, Cardiff, Cardiff South, Caves Beach, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Speers Point, Swansea, Wangi Wangi and Warners Bay.
Other precincts with significant numbers of locations with solid-to-strong price growth include the Central Coast, the Tweed region, Byron Bay and Ballina.
In terms of locations with rising demand, as measured by quarterly sales activity, this Autumn 2019 survey has found 61 Regional NSW locations with markets trending upwards, up from 53 in the Summer 2019 survey but down on the 70 rising markets identified in the Spring 2018 analysis.
There are new growth leaders revealed in this survey: the Lake Macquarie LGA beside Newcastle has six rising markets while the Wagga Wagga LGA has five.
As we have recorded in previous reports, the Hunter Region is a growth market – the LGAs of Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter (Scone) all present markets where buyer demand is trending higher.
Other centres where markets are busy include the municipalities of Queanbeyan-Palerang, Albury, Ballina, Bathurst, Tamworth and Armidale. Smaller centres with momentum include Parkes, Kyogle, Kempsey, Mudgee, Griffith, Glen Innes, Forbes, Cootamundra , Young and Broken Hill.
A number of major markets that were previously leaders in Regional NSW are now showing signs of having passed their peaks in terms of sales demand, although several of these continue to deliver good price growth.
The Central Coast still has a small number of growth suburbs, but a much greater number of plateau markets – and now there are four we have classified as declining markets. 
This market is perhaps more influenced by Sydney than most in the Regional NSW and the level of sales activity has declined recently – although some locations still have price levels well above those of a year ago, including Shelly Beach (29%), Ettalong Beach (17%), Halekulani (11%), Saratoga (11%) and Wamberal (13%).
Newcastle still has four suburbs classified as rising markets, but many more than are plateau or consistency markets. There are similar trends with Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains – notably, most of them places quite close to Sydney.
While our survey found only 11 Regional NSW markets with median prices down more than 5% in the past year, five of them were in the Wollongong LGA, providing further evidence that this previously strong market is now past its peak.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Regional New South Wales continues to see property price growth: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Markets in Regional NSW continue to head in the opposite direction to Sydney. While the Sydney market is showing increasing signs of decline (generally speaking – there are exceptions), the cities and towns of Regional NSW are delivering growth markets right across the state.
This is particularly evident in the price data. Hotspotting’s location-by-location analysis has revealed 150 Regional NSW locations where median prices have grown 5% or more in the past year, of which 65 locations have increased more than 10%.
In addition to the 150 places with 5%-plus price growth, there are another 67 locations with annual price growth between 1% and 5%.
The growth has been led by seven locations with growth of 20% or more: Crestwood (up 26%) Evans Head (up 23%), Kiama (up 22%), Catalina (up 21%), Berry (up 20%), Soldiers Point (up 23%) and the Shoal Bay unit market (up 31%).
The Newcastle region has been particularly strong on price growth in the past year. The LGAs of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens all have multiple suburbs with solid to strong median price growth.
The Central Coast is another standout, with 13 suburbs with median price growth above 5%, including Ettalong Beach (up 17%), Kincumber (up 10%) and Wamberai (up 13%).
In terms of locations with rising demand, as measured by quarterly sales activity, our Summer survey has found 53 Regional NSW locations with markets trending upwards. This is slightly below the average of the past two years and is down on the 70 rising markets identified in the Spring 2018 sales survey.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA just outside Canberra is the leading precinct, with five locations with rising demand. Leading locations include Crestwood and Queanbeyan East, where quarterly sales activity has been trending steadily upwards over the past 1-2 years. Crestwood’s median house price has risen 26% in the past 12 months.
The Newcastle region continues to stand out, although Newcastle itself is past the peak in terms of sales activity. There are only two Newcastle suburbs with rising demand but many with plateau markets. The previous strong demand is still delivering significant price growth and a number of suburbs (including Hamilton, Hamilton South, Mayfield, Wallsend and North Lambton) have risen more than 10% in the past year.
Outside Newcastle in neighbouring LGAs, Lake Macquarie and Maitland both have four suburbs with rising demand, while nearby Port Stephens has two. Out in the Hunter Region, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone all have increasing buyer activity. Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have been 41, 52, 57, 74, 60 and 78 in the past 18 months – and its median house price has risen 8% to $305,000 in the past year.
Tamworth is one of the emerging markets. It now has four suburbs with rising demand, including North Tamworth where quarterly sales have been 17, 30, 34, 39, 34, 41 and 45 – with its median house price up 11.5% to $430,000 in the past 12 months.
There are towns with growth markets right across Regional NSW, including Casino, Kyogle, Cooma, Griffith, Parkes, Gunnedah, Cowra, Glen Innes, Inverell, Gloucester, Lithgow, Mudgee, Tuncurry and Broken Hill.
Some significant markets have passed their peaks in terms of sales activity, but still have strong prices. They include the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, the towns of the Wingecarribee LGA and the Tweed region near the Queensland border.
In the Tweed area, prices have risen strongly in the past 12 months in Bogangar (11%), Casuarina (19%) and Kingscliff (14%).
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au, ryder@hotspotting.com.au, twitter.com/hotspotting
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Regional NSW rising as Sydney falls: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Regional NSW is now one of the most compelling growth markets in Australia. There are locations right across the state with growing sales activity and many places are delivering double-digit annual price growth.
Regional NSW continues to move in the opposite direction to Sydney. While there are now few rising markets in the state capital, there are growth locations spread across the regions of NSW: a record 39 local government areas have rising markets.
Queanbeyan on the ACT border (above) is the leading precinct, as it continues to stand out as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. The LGA of Queanbeyan-Palerang has seven Rising Steadily suburbs/towns. Quarterly sales in Queanbeyan (the suburb) have been 39, 40, 50, 59, 38 and 62 in the past 18 months. Many locations in this precinct have had double-digit annual price growth, headed by Crestwood (up 18%).
Newcastle and nearby LGAs also form a compelling growth precinct. Suburbs in the City of Newcastle have had very strong price growth (many have risen between 10% and 20% in the past 12 months).
Now the momentum has shifted to neighbouring Lake Macquarie (which has five suburbs with strongly rising demand) and locations in the nearby Hunter Region (including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook) and neighbouring Port Stephens. Jointly the Newcastle/Hunter region has 19 suburbs with rising markets.
The Maitland LGA has five of them, including Rutherford (median $400,000) where quarterly sales have been 64, 75, 70, 91, 83, 99, 96, 81 and 102 in the past two years, while Aberglasslyn (median $470,000) has recorded 27, 37, 41 and 48 sales in the past year. Both locations have recorded 6% rises in their median prices, with further growth expected. 
Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry. Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have risen from 41 to 52 to 57 to 74 to 83– and its median price has risen 11% over 12 months to $305,000.
Many suburbs in the Lake Macquarie LGA have had strong annual price growth, including Belmont (up 13%), Edgeworth (up 12.5%), Warners Bay (12.5%) and Swansea (15.5%).
Port Stephens just outside Newcastle is also producing growth markets, with demand rising in Medowie, Corlette and Shoal Bay, and solid markets also in Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay and Raymond Terrace. Many of these locations have had double-digit annual price growth, including Nelson Bay (up 17%) and Medowie (up 12%).
Others to stand out as above-average markets in Regional NSW include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Gunnedah, Lismore, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. Sales in Casino in the Richmond Valley area have been 62, 65, 63, 71, 74 and 91 in recent quarters, with the median price up 14% to $285,000.
A number of regional towns that would normally not attract much attention from investors are rising, including Broken Hill, Glen Innes, Gloucester, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Leeton, Malua Bay, Mudgee and Tumut.
Quarterly sales in Inverell have been 52, 56, 56, 69, 69, 60 and 81, with the median price rising 16% to $275,000 in the past 12 months.
Areas which were among the Regional NSW growth stars previously, but have now levelled out with plateau markets, include locations close to Sydney which caught a ripple effect from the city boom, such as the Blue Mountains, the lifestyle towns of Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands) as well as Wollongong and nearby locations. 
Other previous growth stars now past their peaks include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and the Tweed region – but all remain solid markets with prices rising.
The Central Coast LGA, which has been busy for 2-3 years, is still producing growth markets, although it has a greater number of plateau markets. Many Central Coast locations have recorded strong price growth in the past 12 months – including Point Frederick (up 15%), Kincumber (15%), Wamberal (17%) and Gwandalan (13%).
Other regions delivering big price movements include Ballina in the north-east of the state, where Ballina, East Ballina, Lennox Head and West Ballina (up 28%) have lifted significantly the past year. 
Other north-eastern areas with rising prices include Kyogle (up 15%), Lismore (12%) and Casino (14%).
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Queanbeyan leads the 39 rising growth areas in regional New South Wales: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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With large areas of New South Wales still in an extended drought, buyers are looking for opportunities to purchase property in higher, more reliable rainfall areas, according to a report released by Herron Todd White (HTW).
The valuation firm noted that areas with average annual rainfall in excess of 1,000 millimetres are continuing to attract buyers with a number of recent sales 75 kilometres south of Walcha in the Nowendoc area.
Some key sales in the Nowendoc area include: Emu Tops (pictured above) which sold in June 2018 for $2.85 million, reflecting $3,562 per acre for the 800 acre holding; Fernleigh which sold for $3.8 million in May 2018 reflecting $2,205 per acre for the 1,723 acre holding; and The Two Mile which achieved a sale price of $9.9 million in May 2018 for the 2,910 acre holding, reflecting $3,400 per acre.
To the east of Walcha, in a 1,000 millimetre average rainfall area, the sale of Enfield North for $10.1 million in March 2018 confirms that "buyers are willing to look past the current drought to secure properties that have the added rainfall security". Enfield North is a 3,774 acre holding with an estimated carrying capacity of 1,000 cows, reflecting $2,676 per acre or $10,100 per cow area improved.
The report noted: "in the New England, demand continues for medium to large scale grazing properties."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/3/Emu%202.jpg" alt="">
Maiden Creek (pictured above) in the Wollomombi area 60 kilometres east of Armidale sold in March 2018 for $8.85 million. This 4,510 acre holding was located in a 900 millimetre average annual rainfall area and had an estimated longer term carrying capacity of 800 cows, reflecting $1,962 per acre or $11,063 per cow area improved.
Other sales include Yonda at Guyra which sold in April 2018 for $3.97 million. This is a 1,237 acre holding located 16 kilometres from Guyra in a 900 millimetre average annual rainfall area with a reported carrying capacity of 400 cows, reflecting $3,209 per acre or $9,925 per cow area improved. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rural NSW regions with more reliable rainfall attracting buyers: HTW

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Most of the strongest markets in the nation are now in regional Australia. And regional NSW is the strongest market jurisdiction in the nation.
The key point is that regional New South Wales is moving in the opposite direction to Sydney. While there are now few rising markets in the state capital, there are growth locations spread across the regions of NSW.
Hotspotting’s Winter 2018 survey for The Price Predictor Index reveals that a record 38 local government areas have growth markets – a total of 60 suburbs or towns with rising sales activity.
1. Newcastle and the Hunter Region form a compelling growth precinct. Suburbs in the City of Newcastle have had very strong price growth (most have had double-digit growth and some have risen 20% or more) in the 12 months.
Now the momentum has shifted to neighbouring Lake Macquarie and locations in the nearby Hunter Region near Newcastle (including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook).
Sales in the suburb of Rutherford in the Maitland LGA have been 64, 75, 70, 91, 86, 99 and 102 in the past seven quarters, while Medowie in the Port Stephens LGA have risen from around 40 a year ago to 55 in the latest quarter.
2. Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry.
Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have risen from 41 to 52 to 57 to 75 over 12 months. Singleton and Singleton Heights combined previously had 35 to 45 sales per quarter but in the past 12 months quarterly sales have been 55, 58, 88 and 86.
Following the merger of the Wyong and Gosford LGAs to form the Central Coast LGA, this municipality is now a significant market in regional NSW. The sales patterns suggest this market has probably passed its peak – there are a large number of Plateau markets, places where sales activity has tapered off at levels below the peak.
But sales growth in the recent past has created strong growth in median house prices in the last 12 months, including in Narara (13%), North Gosford (16%), Terrigal (10%), Toukley (15%), Umina Beach (17%) and Wyoming (16%).
3. Queanbeyan on the ACT border continues to stand out as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. The LGA of Queanbeyan-Palerang has multiple suburbs/towns with upwardly-mobile sales activity. Quarterly sales in Queanbeyan (the suburb) have been 38, 40, 50 and 59 in the past year.
Queanbeyan is closer to central Canberra than many parts of the ACT, has more affordable prices than most Canberra suburbs and benefits from first-home-buyer incentives available in NSW.
Other regional centres to stand out as above-average markets in regional NSW include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Grafton Gunnedah, Lismore, Orange, Parkes, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
A number of regional towns that would normally not attract much attention from investors are also rising, including Griffith, Inverell, Kempsey, Leeton and Tumut.
A standout is Merimbula on the far south coast of NSW. Quarterly sales have been 36, 46, 47, 56, 55 and 60 in the past 18 months and the median price has risen 18% in the past year.4
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
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The three strongest property markets in NSW: Terry Ryder

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As the property cycle currently sits, regional NSW is a stronger property market than Sydney, but beware it has more pitfalls.
The last financial year saw regional NSW values up 3.2 percent, while metropolitan Sydney was down 4.5 percent.
There'd been strong price growth in the 2016-17 financial year too when regional growth was up 11.9 percent, on the coat tail of the stellar 16 percent growth in Sydney, according to CoreLogic.
But scratch below the headline statistics, and the regions are rife with loss taking.
Yes Sydney is now feeling the pinch with some vendors selling their properties at less than they originally paid.
But not at anywhere near the levels experienced in the regions.
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Over the first quarter of 2018, the proportion of resales at a loss across Sydney was 2.4 percent. 
Botany Bay, Hunters Hill, Mosman and Willoughby had no resales at a loss over the quarter while Burwood, Canterbury and Hurstville had the highest proportion of losses.
The proportion of resales at a loss across the NSW regional markets sat at 4.2 percent.
So even in times of continued regional strength, its loss taking was almost double; and at a time when the share of resales at a loss in regional NSW was at its lowest since 2005.
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The resales at a loss were up in the Illawarra, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, but down on the Mid North Coast.
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CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher forecasts the price decline in Sydney was now resulting in a significant deceleration in growth in regional markets. 
"These regions may see values fall on an annual basis over the coming months," he anticipates.
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Loss taking remained higher among regional investors than owner occupiers. 
Investors, because of taxation rules, are more prepared to incur a loss because they can offset loses against future capital gains.
As declines set in, CoreLogic noted investors, who have been increasingly active in the housing market, may make for the exits which in turn could result in much more supply becoming available for purchase at a time when demand for housing falls because values are declining.
The key demographic backdrop remains unchanged, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures. They show around two-thirds or 15.8 million of all 24.6 million Australians live in Sydney, then Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide prompting Simon Kuestenmacher, the director of research at The Demographics Group, to note Australia's fortunes depended heavily on a handful of cities.
"We built one big city with one big central business district in each state, gave each a few satellite cities (for example Wollongong) and also threw in some small towns to manage farming and mining … and, voila, that’s the Australian urban landscape," he suggested.
The silliest thing for cashed up investors to do at this point in the cycle is speculative regional buying which seeks to time the market.
The best risk mitigator is a long-term strategy.... and don't for one moment think we are seeing any permanent passing of the baton from Sydney to the regions.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Regional NSW remains a riskier property investment than Sydney

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Most of regional NSW had positive annual growth for houses, except in Dubbo and Wingecarribee, where prices fell year on year.
In terms of affordability, Albury had a median house price of $310,000 as of September 2017, according to Domain data. A year back, the median price was $305,000.
Other affordable regional NSW centres where first home buyers can get their foot on the property ladder include Richmond Valley, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Tamworth regional. The range of median prices in these areas is from $275,000 to $350,000.
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<table class="igc-table __dynamic">
<thead><tr>
<th class="igc-table-header igc-hidden-cell igicon-sort"> </th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Sept. 2017</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">June 2017</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Sept. 2016</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Quarter growth</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Annual growth</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Albury</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$310,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$299,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$305,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Armidale Dumaresq </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$356,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$356,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-0.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Ballina</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$621,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$577,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$545,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">14.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Bathurst</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$429,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$417,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$390,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.80%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">9.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Byron</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$820,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$850,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$757,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-3.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Clarence Valley</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$380,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$360,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$338,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">5.30%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Coffs Harbour</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$485,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$485,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$431,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">0.00%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Dubbo</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$365,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.90%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-4.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Eurobodalla</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$455,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$450,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$420,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Great Lakes</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$492,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$515,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$438,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-4.60%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Lismore</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$370,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$375,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Newcastle</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$595,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$610,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$525,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-2.50%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">13.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Orange</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$366,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$370,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$348,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.00%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">5.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Port Macquarie- Hastings </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$520,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$500,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$465,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.80%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">11.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Richmond Valley</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$275,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$271,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$250,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.20%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">10.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Shellharbour</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$650,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$635,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$557,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.30%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">16.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Shoalhaven</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$545,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$525,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$456,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">19.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Tamworth Regional</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$349,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$325,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.60%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Tweed</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$573,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$579,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$519,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">10.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wagga Wagga</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$345,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$322,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wingecarribee </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$750,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$800,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$765,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-6.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-2.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wollongong</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$740,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$754,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$649,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.90%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">13.90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">Source: Domain Group</div>
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<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bourkelands-125948290" target="_blank">2/27 Osterley Place, Bourkelands</a> in Wagga Wagga (picture above) has sold for $359,500 through Ray White’s Cassie Sheahan. The house is leased at $375 per week.</div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""> </div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-126171606" target="_blank">427 Schubach Street, Albury</a> recently sold for $315,000. The 664 sqm block was sold through Tom Sanderson of Wodonga Real Estate.</div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/19/FHBAlbury.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""> </div>
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Regional NSW offers affordable options to first home buyers

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In what is one of the largest regional New South Wales pub transactions for 2017, the Belmore Hotel in Maitland has been sold to a local businessman for $9 million.
The Belmore Hotel is in the Hunter Valley Tourism Precinct, and at the 2011 Census was determined New South Wales’ fastest growing inland Urban Centre. 
The hotel has several bars, a bistro, gaming room with 19 EGMs, 18 pub rooms and a large outdoor beer garden with diversified weekly revenue of approximately $100,000 per week.
The selling agents were Ray White’s Blake Edwards, Andrew Jolliffe and Xavier Plunkett, who sold it on behalf of long-time owners the Murphy family. 
Having indicated that their investment focus is shifting, and after 14 years in the hospitality industry, the Murphy family felt like it was the right time to divest the asset. 
"We've owned the hotel since 2003, and since then we have all grown older and want to do a bit more of our own thing" said Luke Murphy. 
"We still have development interests in the area, which we will now shift our focus onto.” 
Last year too, Ray White sold a hotel in Maitland to a Sydney hotel group for a record Hunter Region price of around $11 million.
"Particularly given the quality of the offerings we are showcasing at our May 31 auctions in the form of Maitland CBD's outstanding Belmore Hotel.
Commenting upon the various demand drivers for the high level of interest in the sale process for the Belmore Hotel, Edwards said the property benefited from a number of business and property positives. 
"Strategically, the well-structured nature of the hotel operation on offer at the Belmore Hotel made sense for our purchaser," Edwards said.
"Although it may sound cliché, it all comes back to the basic investment fundamentals, including strong population growth, a familiarity with the local area, close proximity to a large base of both white and blue collar industries and a distinct absence of large scale competition in the immediate area." 
Jolliffe said he expects the regional market to maintain its current trajectory, and market depth, given the limited opportunity in metro areas; as well as the growth of commercial and residential markets in regional centres. 
 
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Belmore Hotel in regional NSW sells for $9 million

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The slow and inevitable fade of the Sydney market is happening in concert with a rise in New South Wales regional markets.
Hotspotting’s monitoring of sales activity shows there are growth markets across the state – indeed Regional NSW now has more upwardly-mobile markets than Sydney does.
The Newcastle region and the Central Coast stand out, as markets a little north of Sydney head a strong NSW Regional sector.
While the Sydney market is past its peak and has relatively few growth markets compared to 2015/2016, Regional New South Wales has risen.
Our Spring survey has identified almost 50 regional towns or suburbs with rising markets – a little down on the number revealed in the Winter report, but still very strong.
I’ve observed previously that Newcastle and the regions surrounding it have provided the stand-out precinct in Regional NSW.
This remains the case, but with a new market leader - the Lake Macquarie LGA on the fringe of Newcastle.
This municipality has five suburbs where sales activity is rising steadily and six others with steady sales performance. Growth suburbs include Belmont North, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Toronto and Warners Bay.
Nearby LGAs (including the municipalities of Port Stephens, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook) all have busy sales activity. 
Jointly the Newcastle/Hunter region has 19 growth markets (up from 17 three months ago).
To illustrate what some of these markets look like, dwelling sales in Cessnock have been 65, 67, 84, 90, 96 and 101 in the past six consecutive quarters. This kind of pattern inevitably delivers price growth – and the median house price for Cessnock has increased 13% in the past 12 months.
Hunter Valley locations like Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry.
Following the merger of the Wyong and Gosford LGAs to form the Central Coast council area, this municipality is now a significant market in Regional NSW.
It has four rising locations, but 24 with steady sales performance (many of them what we called “plateau” markets, where sales have levelled off a little below the peak), which indicates this market overall is strong but past its best.
On the south coast of NSW, both Batehaven and Tuross Head in the Eurobodalla LGA have growth markets.
Queanbeyan on the ACT border continues to excel as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. Others to stand out as above-average growth markets in Regional NSW include Bathurst, Dubbo, Taree, Tuncurry and Gunnedah.
Tamworth, Orange, Goulburn, Ballina and Wagga Wagga all have solid markets with steady sales activity.
Areas which were among the Regional NSW growth stars previously, but have now levelled out with plateau markets, include locations close to Sydney which caught a ripple effect from the capital city boom: Wollongong, Blue Mountains and the lifestyle towns of Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands).
Other previous growth stars now past their peaks include Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy38821%20=%20'ryder'%20+%20'@';%20addy38821%20=%20addy38821%20+%20'hotspotting'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'au';%20document.write('%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'/''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy38821%20+%20'/'%3E');%20document.write(addy38821);%20document.write('%3C//a%3E');%20//--%3E/n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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