{"id":796580,"date":"2026-07-13T01:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/796580\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T01:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:48:18","slug":"property-expert-reveals-australian-regional-hotspots-amid-capital-city-downturn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/796580\/","title":{"rendered":"Property expert reveals Australian regional hotspots amid capital city downturn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144629\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144629\" data-capiid=\"ed364fc79938be43266c28753d9afd6f\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144629\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kane Dury, principal of Discover Buyers Agency, says regional cities are outperforming the capitals on almost every measure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">A leading property expert says the wave of gloomy headlines about Australia\u2019s softening property market is masking one of the strongest regional growth runs in years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Kane Dury, principal of Discover Buyers Agency, said the national numbers driving the \u2018downturn\u2019 narrative were really a \u201cSydney and Melbourne story\u201d, with plenty of regional centres quietly strengthening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cBuyers are being told the market has turned, and they\u2019re sitting on their hands,\u201d Mr Dury said.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144616\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144616\" data-capiid=\"af955e464d02d795b686ec84de3bb20b\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"an aerial of a city and a lake with trees in the foreground, Wagga Wagga\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Wagga Wagga.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144617\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144617\" data-capiid=\"96819869b0db5d75a4111dba5a01179a\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Townsville.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cBut that\u2019s not what the data actually says about locations beyond the capitals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cOverall values fell in June because Sydney and Melbourne prices softened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cStrip out the biggest cities, however, and you\u2019ll find regional Australia not just holding up, it\u2019s outperforming the capitals on almost every measure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">The PropTrack home price index for June showed nationally, the capital cities were down 0.4 per cent, with Sydney leading, (-0.5 per cent), followed by Melbourne (-0.4 per cent) and Brisbane (-0.2 per cent).<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">The data showed regional areas across the country recorded no change, while regional NSW was up 0.1 per cent. Melbourne showed no change while regional Queensland recorded a 0.1 per cent drop.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144618\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144618\" data-capiid=\"a419cbd05101f66000f7b22270d5a7d0\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144618\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144619\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144619\" data-capiid=\"90c8db83971ffce7a27c968ed9df2d2e\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144619\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Toowoomba looking towards the CBD.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThe strongest performing parts of the market continue to be those offering the greatest<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">affordability,\u201d said REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cRegional markets outperformed capitals over both the month and the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Dury said the data showed a \u201ccomplete reversal of the old assumption that the regions lag the cities\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cRight now, it\u2019s the capitals lagging the regions,\u201d Mr Dury said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cWhen people hear \u2018the Australian market fell last month\u2019, what they\u2019re really hearing is that Sydney and Melbourne fell. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThose two cities alone carry so much weight in the national figures that they can drag the headline number down even while dozens of other markets are doing well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/gold-coast-buyers-snap-up-dualkey-apartments-amid-housing-crisis\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=the_courier_mail&amp;campaignPlacement=realestatemodule\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MORE NEWS: Housing crisis fuels demand for \u2018dual key\u2019 apartments<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/green-light-for-360m-residential-tower-in-budds-beach\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=the_courier_mail&amp;campaignPlacement=realestatemodule\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Green light for $360m 32-level residential tower<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realestate.com.au\/news\/gold-coast-penthouse-with-rooftop-pool-going-under-the-hammer\/?campaignType=external&amp;campaignChannel=syndication&amp;campaignName=ncacont&amp;campaignContent=&amp;campaignSource=the_courier_mail&amp;campaignPlacement=realestatemodule\" title=\"www.realestate.com.au\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u2018Like a cruise ship\u2019: Penthouse with rooftop pool listed<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144620\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144620\" data-capiid=\"57d1815ba7f0ff43c5c454abe9318f26\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144620\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Mackay. Picture: Heidi Petith<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144621\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144621\" data-capiid=\"e2d0c9d98c0e878f6c063bcbe4be2f30\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144621\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">8\/88 Mitchell Street, North Ward in Townsville is for sale at offers over $2.55m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThere is no such thing as \u2018the Australian property market\u2019. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cThere are hundreds of markets, and right now many are moving in opposite directions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Dury picked the regional cities he believed offered the strongest combination of value, rental demand and economic diversity for buyers in the $700,000 to $1 million bracket, with one golden rule being to buy established homes, not house-and-land packages.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144622\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144622\" data-capiid=\"cb96b47cdcda5645681283a6226dff3d\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144622\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Townsville.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144623\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144623\" data-capiid=\"5c7a5cb4cdcdddb664a6305d5b5b5ef4\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144623\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">99\/58 Euro Blvd, Kirwan is for sale at offers over $599,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">In Queensland, he picked Toowoomba, Townsville and Mackay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cToowoomba is the standout inland performer, with double-digit annual growth, an economy spanning health, education, agribusiness and the Wellcamp airport and logistics precinct, and established homes on big blocks still available under $800,000,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cTownsville has been one of the fastest-growing markets in the country over the past year,<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">underpinned by defence, the port, health, education and major energy projects. Its median house price is still around the mid-$700,000s, delivering extraordinary value for northern Australia\u2019s capital.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144624\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144624\" data-capiid=\"aa22a4e3395c20567a8d85e8eb2df32c\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"Kane Headshots\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144624\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Discover Buyers Agency principal Kane Dury.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144625\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144625\" data-capiid=\"acd0f9c0bc22b4e99c7ea7b8ecb7b2fd\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144625\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aerial view of Mackay. Picture: Heidi Petith<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cMackay has matured well beyond a resources town, with health, marine, agriculture and services jobs supporting a market where vacancy rates are razor thin and established housing remains firmly in the sweet-spot price band.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">For Victoria, his top picks were Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cWhile Melbourne corrects, Geelong offers a diversified economy across health, education,<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">advanced manufacturing and the port, plus genuine lifestyle appeal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cQuality established homes remain accessible around the $700,000 to $900,000 mark \u2013 something Melbourne buyers can only dream about within 10 kilometres of their CBD.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144626\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144626\" data-capiid=\"bde2b8c153561e0a9c9d3f5a244b5d8e\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">For Bendigo and Ballarat, he said both cities had hospitals, universities, government employment and strong commuter links, with established period homes still available in the $600,000s and $700,000s. <\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cAs Melbourne softens, value hunters are already looking up the highway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">His only pick in NSW was Wagga Wagga.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cWagga is the classic multi-engine regional city with defence, health, education, agriculture, and transport all driving the local economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cIt also has a tight rental market driving rents and prices higher.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144627\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144627\" data-capiid=\"bb66e52d8bcfeda1fe6ff8c7220c3a9b\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"View over Bendigo CBD\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Dury said local-level indicators that revealed opportunity included vacancy rates, days on market, the ratio of owner-occupiers to renters, listing volumes, local population growth and the diversity of the employment base, none of which appear in the headline index.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cA suburb with a vacancy rate under one per cent, homes selling in a fortnight and seven in ten homes owned by the people living in them tells you far more than any national number ever will,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"styles__StyledImage-sc-17n6uwl-1 hlcJVa size-full wp-post-1144631 wp-image-1144628\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1144628\" data-capiid=\"17cbf71b3a617e726f6576f20509b134\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 1280 720&quot;%3E%3C\/svg%3E\"  alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-1144628\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kane Dury says higher interest rates and the new investor tax settings have knocked confidence in the big cities, but they haven\u2019t changed the fundamentals in the regions<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">Mr Dury says the regional surge is being driven by structural forces, not sentiment \u2014 severe rental shortages with regional vacancy rates around 1.5 per cent, affordability refugees priced out of the capitals, sustained internal migration, and chronically constrained new housing supply.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Text__Typography-sc-1103tao-0 bjGYxJ StyledP-sc-cebixd-0 bzEerj\">\u201cHigher interest rates and the new investor tax settings have knocked confidence in the big cities, but they haven\u2019t changed the fundamentals in the regions with too many people chasing too few homes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kane Dury, principal of Discover Buyers Agency, says regional cities are outperforming the capitals on almost every measure.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":796581,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99],"class_list":["post-796580","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=796580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796580\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/796581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=796580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=796580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=796580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}