Barrack Heights NSW Property Investment
Wollongong · 2528 · Score: 50/100 · Hold
Barrack Heights Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Barrack Heights NSW Investment Brief
## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the key figure is the 3.9 % gross rental yield. It signals modest cash‑flow potential, enough to justify staying in the market but not enough to trigger a buy‑now recommendation.
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## 2. Market Overview | Metric | Figure | Comment | |--------|--------|---------| | Median house price | $912,276 | Core‑city level pricing; still room for upside. | | Median unit price | $638,207 | More affordable entry point for investors. | | 1‑yr price growth | 9.3 % | Strong recent appreciation – sellers have leverage. | | 5‑yr CAGR | 6.4 % / yr | Consistent long‑term growth – buyers can still expect capital gains. | | 3‑yr growth forecast | 13.5 % (forecast) | Indicates optimism from analysts. | | Days on market | Data not provided | Unable to comment on speed of sales. |
Signal for buyers vs sellers – The 9.3 % annual rise and 6.4 % five‑year CAGR give sellers confidence that prices will keep climbing. Buyers should be prepared for competition but can still target the median price range for long‑term upside.
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## 3. Rental Market | Metric | Figure | Comment | |--------|--------|---------| | Median weekly rent | $680 / wk | Supports the 3.9 % gross yield. | | Gross rental yield | 3.9 % | Moderate – covers financing costs for many investors but leaves limited cushion for rate hikes. | | Vacancy rate | Data not provided | Cannot quantify vacancy risk. | | Demand rating | Data not provided | No explicit demand score; yield suggests steady demand. |
Investor implication – The 3.9 % yield delivers modest cash flow. Investors should ensure financing costs stay below this level to maintain a positive net return.
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## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity | Metric | Figure | Comment | |--------|--------|---------| | STR nightly rate | Data not provided | | | STR occupancy | Data not provided | | | Estimated annual STR revenue | Data not provided | |
LTR vs STR – With no STR data, we cannot quantify the short‑term rental upside. Given the solid long‑term rent of $680 / wk and lack of STR evidence, long‑term rental (LTR) remains the safer, more predictable choice.
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## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers | Item | Detail | |------|--------| | Known projects | Data not provided | | Transport links | Data not provided | | Employment base | Data not provided | | Demand drivers / constraints | The 13.5 % 3‑year growth forecast hints at underlying demand, but specific catalysts are not listed. |
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## 6. Bull Case Assume the 13.5 % forecast materialises over the next three years:
* Projected median house price: $912,276 × 1.135 ≈ $1,035,000. * Projected median unit price (applying the same % growth): $638,207 × 1.135 ≈ $724,000.
If weekly rent holds at $680, the gross yield would fall to roughly 2.9 % (price‑driven), but capital gains of ~ $123,000 on a house would offset the yield compression for investors focused on growth.
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## 7. Risks | Risk | Quantified aspect | Impact | |------|-------------------|--------| | Vacancy risk | Data not provided – unknown vacancy level could erode the 3.9 % yield. | | Single‑employer dependency | Data not provided – lack of diversification could amplify local economic shocks. | | Supply pipeline | Data not provided – a surge in new dwellings could pressure rents and yields. | | Rate sensitivity | Current gross yield 3.9 % leaves a thin margin; a 1 % rise in mortgage rates could push net cash flow into negative territory. |
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## 8. The Play * Entry price range – Target houses between $800,000 – $1,000,000 and units between $550,000 – $750,000 to capture value below the current median. * Minimum yield target – Aim for ≥ 4 % gross yield; consider properties with recent renovations or lower purchase price to hit this threshold. * Watch signals – * Any announced infrastructure or transport upgrades. * Changes in local vacancy data. * Interest‑rate movements that affect financing costs. * New housing supply approvals. * Recommended strategy – Hold existing assets and acquire selectively when price dips into the entry range and the gross yield meets the 4 % target. Prioritise long‑term rental over short‑term rental until STR data becomes available.
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*All figures are taken directly from the supplied data; no assumptions beyond the provided numbers have been made.*
Gentrification Index
Growth Forecast
low confidenceBasis: 5yr CAGR 6.4% + 10yr CAGR 7.8%
- −Population decline (-0.0%/yr) — demand headwind
- −High supply pipeline (6738 new approvals) — may cap price growth
Suburb Metric Thresholds
Macro Environment
Macro Indicators
Cash Rate
4.35%
▲ 0.25%Cash rate as at 2026-05-06 · Credit data 2026-06
Suburb Supply & Demand
Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals
1,211
2020
1,385
2021
1,228
2022
1,346
2023
1,568
2025
New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply
Socio-Economic Profile
Source: ABS Census 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 2528
Decile 1 of 10 — High disadvantage
Population
23,735
Education (IEO)
1/10
Econ. Resources (IER)
2/10
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on Barrack Heights NSW data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $680/wk median rent for Barrack Heights. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.
Schools
In your catchment
These are the government-school zones containing this suburb centroid. Specific addresses within the suburb may fall in different catchments — confirm with the school directly.
Nearby Suburbs
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Analyse a Property →Data sourced from ABS, state government property sales, and Airbnb market analytics. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.