Bunbury: A bright star in regional Australia’s housing market

In the world of housing markets, regional areas are shining like a diamond, and a recent report by a national property analytics firm confirms it. In fact, Bunbury came out on top among the major regional towns that were shortlisted, leaving big names like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mandurah, Geelong, and Newcastle in its wake.

At WA Country Builders, we build across WA in regions and we see the appeal of the South West. With areas including Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River, Augusta, and Prevelly, these regions offer the best in coastal lifestyles, affordable living, strong communities, and stunning landscapes.

According to the annual Regional Market Showdown Report from Suburbtrends, Bunbury’s housing market and economy have made it one of the most promising regional towns in Australia.

The report evaluates a range of factors, including location, proximity to the state capital, rental returns, socio-economic status, price trends, housing supply, vacancy rates, and distinctive attributes that enhance a town’s appeal for both business and real estate prospects.

Why did Bunbury score so high? Well, it’s not just one thing; it’s a combination of factors. Bunbury boasts a diversified economy with its port, tourism, fantastic lifestyle, and amenities. It’s also super close to tourist hotspots like the South West wine region and Perth. Plus, when it comes to rental yield and property market, Bunbury is hitting all the right notes.

Julie Broad, the CEO of the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is thrilled with the way the business scene is thriving in Bunbury. She says, “Business owners are busy across the sector, jobs are plentiful however costs and labor remain front of mind. Businesses are experienced operators and are well-placed to pivot to accommodate.”

But what’s truly sizzling in Bunbury’s real estate market is housing. Homes in Bunbury are selling faster than in any other regional town in the nation. This high demand is largely due to the abundance of work available in the town. Julie Broad explains, “Without a doubt the housing market is hotly contested.”

One interesting observation from the report is Bunbury’s unique position between tourist areas. While it’s great for individual housing settlement, it also presents an opportunity for Bunbury to focus more on its own tourism rather than being a mere stopover on the way to other tourist towns. As Julie Broad puts it, “We feel we have so much to offer in our region, however compared to a big global brand like Margaret River, we are not as mature, of course. Tourism is about optimism and delivering what visitors are looking for; they want experiences, they want something unique.”

The report also highlighted Bunbury’s commitment to the environment, with places like the Dolphin Discovery Centre and its wetlands preservation contributing to the town’s appeal.

So, there you have it, Bunbury is not just a regional town; it’s a rising star in the world of real estate and business, with a dash of natural charm thrown in for good measure.

WA’s South West region offers an unrivalled lifestyle, with stunning beaches, picturesque vineyards, calming forests, a gourmet food scene, a booming employment market, and a strong community focus.

We have offices in Bunbury and Busselton with specialised staff that know the areas well. We have 70 designs – with more being added soon! Meaning we can give you the biggest choice of new home designs by a country mile.

Maybe you already have a design and a block of land in mind? Or maybe you are on the hunt for the perfect site? We would love to help. Contact us today.

Original source: The West Australian