Under $500,000, close to the beach or with a view the best “opportunities” for investors on the Sunshine Coast: HTW

Predicting future growth in property values on the Sunshine coast remains “difficult enough” and “even harder” over the next fiver years, says Herron Todd White in its June market review.

However, it says finding properties with the attributes that cause any type of growth in the property market will most certainly work for both the short and long term on the Sunshine Coast.

In the case of this market, HTW says the market fundamentals of “being close to the beach and/or providing views are always solid components for capital growth opportunities”.

“While properties with these attributes felt some of the pain as the market came ‘off’, the fact that these properties are difficult to replicate helps to ‘underpin’ values to a certain extent,” says the valuation firm.

It picks areas such as the Kawana stretch east of the Nicklin Way, elevated areas of Buderim with views and coastal areas east of the David Low Way up to Noosa as some spots to look out for.

HTW says owner-occupiers and investors are both typically active in these areas with opportunities around the $400,000 to $500,000 range.

"The unit market is a little bit of a tougher market to predict. essentially the coastal areas remain the pick.

"Owner-occupiers and investors are wary of large holiday let complexes with high body corporate levies.

"The 1980s high-rise version is OK, if the building has undergone a refurbishment. otherwise check out the 10 year plan for future upgrade levies. Your ranges here are $450,000 to $600,000.

"Well located 1980s walk-ups with low body corporate fees in the $300,000 to $400,000 range close to beach are being seen as an alternative option by buyers.

HTW notes that existing units are more competitively priced than new one so so offers better future upside for capital growth.

"The unit market is much more thinly traded than homes and values have risen only marginally, so future capital gain potential is better than for houses," says the firm.