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Living in Sydney has its many (many) perks, but an affordable property market is not one of them. If you’re keen to cash in on a coastal lifestyle without needing to sell an organ, we’re here to help. While Australia's “prestige” coastal markets (aka Byron Bay) continue to command eye-watering price tags, there are a handful of lesser-known beachside towns across NSW where buying a home is actually an achievable dream.
RELATED READ: The price gap between renting and buying in Sydney has been revealed
According to new realestate.com.au reporting, based on PropTrack data measuring enquiries per listing on realestate.com.au, a solid handful of NSW coastal suburbs have seen a significant jump in demand from buyers over the past year. According to the report, the figures track “high-intent actions” such as emailing agents, making phone calls and downloading property documents – strong indicators of buyers getting serious.
Leading the charge is Sunshine Bay, near Batemans Bay on the beautiful South Coast, where buyer enquiries for houses have surged by 82 per cent year-on-year. Despite the spike in interest, the suburb's median house value sits at $854,000, making it one of several sought-after seaside spots where buyers can still get into the market for under $1 million, according to the report. Also attracting growing attention down south are Surfside (up 68 per cent, with a still relatively achievable median house price of $719,000), Narooma (up 67 per cent, median $841,000) and Manyana (up 71 per cent, median $919,000).
Further north, demand is also climbing in Urunga on the Mid North Coast, where enquiries have increased by 74 per cent and the median house value sits at $858,000. The coastal village of Valla Beach also cracked the national top 25, with enquiries rising 66 per cent and a median value of $947,000. If you've got a little more room in the budget, Crescent Head recorded a 79 per cent jump in buyer demand, although its median house value now sits at $1.318 million. realestate.com.au reports that buyer demand has stayed resilient in many of these coastal markets despite the broader slowdown in Australian property.
The trend isn't limited to houses, either. realestate.com.au reports buyer demand for coastal units is also rising in NSW, with Fairy Meadow in the Illawarra recording a 55 per cent increase in enquiries. Other hotspots include Tweed Heads West (55 per cent), Nambucca Heads (49 per cent), Batemans Bay (39 per cent) and Tuncurry (38 per cent), suggesting buyers are widening their search for more affordable ways to secure a slice of the coast.
The in-demand NSW coastal suburbs where homes are actually affordable
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Surfside – $719,000
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Narooma – $841,000
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Booragul – $852,000
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Sunshine Bay – $854,000
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Urunga – $858,000
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Manyana – $919,000
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Valla Beach – $947,000
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Crescent Head – $1,318,000
You can check out the full report over here.
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