Port Macquarie market remains strong on back of Pacific Highway construction: HTW

The NSW mid north coast region centred around the regional hub of Port Macquarie is still experiencing increasing values but at slower sale rates mainly due to a lack of available stock on the market, according to HTW's February 2017 update.

The valuation firm says in Port Macquarie, the rapidly developing and outlying subdivisions, both to the west and along the coastal strip to the south (Bonny Hills and Lake Cathie) are continuing to see rapid expansion with the high demand for residential land.

The other coastal towns and villages all along the mid north coast are also experiencing strong demand for land and modern dwellings and this is expected to remain strong and continue to grow in the coming months.

However there is a significant amount of vacant land and recently completed dwellings available for sale within these rapidly developing smaller towns and HTW consider that this expanding market may not be sustainable over the long term and anticipate that the growth may slow later in 2017.

“This current construction boom in some of these smaller towns may result in an oversupply of dwellings and land if demand were to lessen,” the report says.

During 2017, HTW expect that Port Macquarie will continue to remain one of the fastest growing regional centres in NSW for property investment.

New housing development continues to be based around the continuing growth of the Charles Sturt University campus, with an increase in the number of house and granny flats being built especially within the adjoining areas to cater for student accommodation.

The construction of the new Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Kempsey continues and is expected to be completed in late 2017.

“Last year demand from construction workers boosted the rental market in Port Macquarie, however we have noticed that rental demand and rates have plateaued and this is expected to continue for the next few months, although the continuing influx of university students will assist the rental market to remain strong,” the report says.

“The higher value, prestige properties and rural residential property markets in the region remain slow but steady, with slow demand combining to produce slowly increasing values.

“We have been quite optimistic for the region over the past two years and our optimism continues for the coming year.”

At the median price of $517,000 for houses a house such as the one at 20 Merinda Drive, Port Macquarie (above) is available for $535,000.

Similarly at $340,000 a unit such as the one at 22/48 Pacific Drive, Port Macquarie (below) is available for $340,000.