Darlinghurst NSW Property Investment

City of Sydney · 2010 · Score: 67/100 · Buy

Median House Price
$3.04M
Rental Yield
2.6%
Vacancy Rate
1.6%
Median Weekly Rent
$1225/wk
Median Unit Price
$1.06M
Population
10,615
Days on Market
44 days
Annual Growth
3.7%

Darlinghurst Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market

Avg Nightly Rate
$467/night
Occupancy Rate
40%
Est. Annual Revenue
$68K
AI Investment Analysis

Darlinghurst NSW Investment Brief

## 1. Investment Verdict Buy – the suburb scores 67.0 / 100 on the Estait Investment Scorecard, the highest single figure that justifies the recommendation.

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## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $2,444,964 - Median unit price: $1,061,738 - 1‑yr price growth: +3.7% - 5‑yr CAGR: +5.6% per annum - 3‑yr growth forecast: +10.4%

*Days on market* is not supplied in the data set, so we cannot quantify how quickly properties are selling.

Signal: Positive price growth (3.7% YoY) and a strong 5‑yr CAGR (5.6%) indicate a seller‑friendly environment, but the modest 1‑yr increase suggests the market is not overheated. Buyers should expect modest price appreciation while sellers can still command premium prices.

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## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $1,225 - Gross rental yield: 2.6%

*Vacancy rate* and *demand rating* are not provided.

Implication: A 2.6% gross yield is below the 3‑4% benchmark many investors target, meaning cash‑flow pressure is higher. However, the high rent level ($1,225 pw) reflects strong tenant demand and can support capital‑growth strategies rather than pure income‑focused investing.

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## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity No data are supplied for STR nightly rates, occupancy percentages, or estimated annual revenue. Consequently we cannot calculate an STR yield or compare it to the long‑term rental (LTR) return.

Conclusion: With only LTR data available, investors should treat Darlinghurst as a conventional rental market until STR metrics become known.

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## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers The data set does not list specific projects, transport upgrades, or major employers. The suburb’s proximity to the Sydney CBD (within 5 km) is a built‑in advantage that typically underpins demand, but we cannot quantify additional drivers from the supplied information.

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## 6. Bull Case If the 3‑year forecast of +10.4% materialises:

  • Median house price could rise from $2,444,964 to $2,698,000 (10.4% uplift).
  • Median unit price could rise from $1,061,738 to $1,172,000 (same percentage).

Capital growth of this magnitude would lift total asset values by roughly $250k$300k per typical property, delivering strong upside for owners who lock in today’s prices.

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## 7. Risks | Risk | Quantified Concern | |------|--------------------| | Rate sensitivity | Gross yield of 2.6% leaves little margin if interest rates rise; higher borrowing costs could turn cash‑flow negative. | | Vacancy risk | Vacancy rate is not provided – an unexpected rise could further erode the thin yield. | | Supply pipeline | No data on upcoming developments; a surge in new units could increase competition and push rents down. | | Single‑employer dependency | No employment‑base data – if the local job market contracts, rental demand could weaken. |

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## 8. The Play - Entry range: Target purchases near the median unit price of $1,060k$1,100k or median house price of $2.4m$2.5m, depending on asset class. - Minimum yield target: Aim for ≥ 3.0% gross yield to provide a buffer above the current 2.6% level. - Watch signals: 1. Changes in days on market (once data become available). 2. Emerging vacancy statistics. 3. Interest‑rate movements that affect borrowing costs. 4. Any announced new residential projects that could add supply.

Recommended strategy: Acquire a unit or house at current median prices, hold for 3‑5 years to capture the forecast 10.4% capital gain, and monitor rental market data closely. Prioritise properties with strong finishes and easy tenant appeal to mitigate potential vacancy risk while the yield improves through price appreciation.

Gentrification Index

Early gentrification signals4.0/10
High SEIFA decile — already upgraded or established affluent area
Moderate capital growth (5.6% CAGR)
Inner city location — already gentrified or premium
High renter base (64%) — room for tenure upgrade as area improves
Active development pipeline (6957 approvals) — supply attracting new residents
Strong public transport infrastructure — supports walkable gentrification

Growth Forecast

low confidence
1yr Forecast
5.3%
p.a.
2yr Forecast
4.9%
p.a.
5yr Forecast
4.2%
p.a.

Basis: 5yr CAGR 5.6% + 10yr CAGR 7.4%

Growth drivers
  • +Low rental vacancy (1.6%) — constrained supply
  • +Premium transport infrastructure — supports long-term capital growth
Headwinds
  • Population decline (-0.9%/yr) — demand headwind
  • High supply pipeline (6957 new approvals) — may cap price growth

Suburb Metric Thresholds

7 green5 yellow4 red
Rental Vacancy Rate
1.6 high impact
Days on Market
44 high impact
Weekly Rent (house)
1225 medium impact
5yr Price CAGR
5.56 high impact
10yr Price CAGR
7.42 high impact
1yr Price Growth
3.7 medium impact
Population Growth
-0.95 high impact
Median Household Income
2297 medium impact
Unemployment Rate
4.6 medium impact
Public Transport Score
10 medium impact
School Zone Quality
6.8 medium impact
Distance to CBD
1.5 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
10 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
33.8 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
2.61 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
1.11 high impact

Macro Environment

Macro Indicators

Cash Rate

4.35%

0.25%

Cash rate as at 2026-05-06 · Credit data 2026-03

Suburb Supply & Demand

Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals

753

2020

2,161

2021

1,184

2022

1,108

2023

1,751

2025

New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 2010

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 8 of 10 — Low disadvantage

Population

26,443

Education (IEO)

10/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

1/10

10-Year Investment Projection

Modelled on Darlinghurst NSW data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.

Pre-filled: $1225/wk median rent for Darlinghurst. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.

Schools

In your catchment

Darlinghurst PS
PrimaryGovernment
9/10
Inner Sydney HS
SecondaryGovernment
8/10

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.

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Data sourced from ABS, state government property sales, and Airbnb market analytics. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.

Darlinghurst NSW Property Market — Median, Growth, Yield · Estait | Estait