Property market in Canberra strong with suburbs recording median price growth: HTW

Property market in Canberra strong with suburbs recording median price growth: HTW
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

This year has been a strong period for the ACT property market with most Canberra suburbs recording a median price growth, according to Herron Todd White’s latest monthly market report.

The property advisory firm says that active sections of the market include standard housing at the entry level price points in some Canberra fringe and outer suburban locations.

Generally purchasers are looking for large blocks within established suburbs that provide access to good education and employment services.

Entry level price point for this style of housing ranges between $450,000 and $550,000. Most homes within this section of the market provide three and four bedroom accommodation, generally built circa 1975 and in many cases are ready for some renovation and upgrading. An example would be a three bedroom home at 34 Brereton Street (pictured above) that is for sale for $549,000.

Inner suburban locations in Canberra’s north and south set a higher price point at generally $1 million plus. This section of the market is also relatively buoyant with families looking to move up the property ladder with their second or third purchases.

Again block size, location and proximity to schools and other services are the main drivers. This section of the market ranges from $1 million to around $2.5 million. Market activity for property in the $3 million plus price point is slower, although transactions have still been recorded at the higher levels throughout 2016.

Herron Todd White noted that property prices in medium density areas is impacted by strong supplies.

"Price points in the medium density market range from $250,000 to $300,00 for a one bedroom unit recently constructed in a fringe Town Centre location, to $400,000 to $500,000 for a centrally located unit in Canberra’s inner north or inner south," said the report. "Both investors and owner occupiers are active, however strong supply within the medium density market has had an impact on activity."

With similar results expected for next year, this year’s hottest suburbs include entry level areas on the fringe of the ACT right through to prestige suburbs in Canberra’s inner south.

Domain senior economist Andrew Wilson says that pinpointing the strongest suburbs is trickier in Canberra than it is in other cities.

The nation’s capital is home to a compressed market, with a higher entry point in affordable suburbs and a lower entry point in prestige suburbs, when compared to Sydney and Melbourne, Dr Wilson says.

“When the market rises, it rises as a whole. Most suburbs will record price growth in 2016.”

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