Macquarie Hills NSW Property Investment

Lake Macquarie · 2285

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Median House Price
$1.00M
As of 8 Nov 2026.
Rental Yield
4.0%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Median Weekly Rent
$780/wk
Source: NSW Fair Trading, Residential Rental Bond Lodgements (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026). As of Sept 2026.
Median Unit Price
$804K
As of 8 Nov 2026.
Population (Census 2021)
3,605

Macquarie Hills Short-Term Rental Market

Short-stay estimate: run a brief
Past price growth
Median house sale price growth, postcode 2285 (all suburbs in it): 8.2% a year, Mar qtr 2021 to Mar qtr 2026. Source: NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Rent and Sales Report – Sales tables, March quarter 2021 and March quarter 2026 (accessed 24 Oct 2026). © State of New South Wales (Department of Communities and Justice), CC BY 4.0, dcj.nsw.gov.au/statements/copyright-and-disclaimer.html. Postcode figures mapped to suburb and growth calculated by Estait. Past growth doesn't predict future prices.
New dwellings approved
New dwellings approved, Lake Macquarie council area, 12 months to Aug 2026: 1,217. Source: ABS Building Approvals, Australia (cat. 8731.0). This is the whole council area, not just Macquarie Hills.
AI Investment Analysis

Macquarie Hills NSW Investment Brief

2. Market Overview

Median unit prices sit at $804,039. Current listings remain modest, and the median days listed stand at 42 days as of 18 Oct 2026. These figures signal a market that is neither over‑heated nor sluggish. Buyers find a reasonable window to negotiate, while sellers face a stable demand that keeps inventory turnover moderate. The 42‑day median listing period indicates that properties typically stay on the market for just over a month, suggesting that sellers can expect a timely sale without excessive price concessions.

3. Rental Market

Vacancy rates sit at 2.8 %, reflecting a tight rental supply. Weekly rents average $780. The demand rating is moderate, meaning that while rental demand remains steady, it does not yet exhibit the explosive growth seen in high‑density inner‑city suburbs. For investors, this translates into predictable cash flow and a low likelihood of prolonged vacancies.

4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity

Short-stay estimate: run a brief

5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers

No major development projects appear on file for Macquarie Hills. The suburb benefits from proximity to Cardiff station, located 1.7 km away, which provides rail access to the Sydney CBD. The population of 3,605 residents, combined with an owner‑occupier rate of 73 %, suggests a stable community that supports long‑term rental demand. These factors collectively underpin a resilient rental market and moderate capital appreciation.

6. Bull Case

An increase in the owner‑occupier rate to 75 % would further tighten rental supply, potentially boosting vacancy rates below 2 %. In this scenario, investors could capture both capital growth and enhanced cash flow, delivering a total return exceeding 9 % per annum when combining price appreciation and yield.

7. Risks

  • Vacancy risk: The current vacancy rate of 2.8 % remains stable, but any sudden uptick could erode cash flow.
  • Rate sensitivity: Rising interest rates would increase borrowing costs, squeezing net returns.
  • Distance from CBD: The scorecard lists “Distance from CBD may limit long‑term capital growth potential” as a key risk.
  • Flood risk: *Flood risk: not on record for this suburb in the state or council planning overlays (check with council). Order an independent flood certificate before commit.*
  • Bushfire risk: *Bushfire risk: not on record for this suburb in the state or council planning overlays (check with council). Order an independent BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) assessment before commit.*
  • Heritage status: *heritage status is not on record — confirm with the council duty planner / a Section 10.7 (NSW) or equivalent certificate.*

8. The Play

Watch signals: Monitor median days listed (currently 42 days) and vacancy rates (currently 2.8 %). A sudden rise in either indicator may signal market softening. Recommended strategy: Acquire undervalued single‑family homes or units within the median price range, hold for long‑term rental, and consider modest renovations to increase rentability. Avoid properties that require extensive heritage or flood‑risk compliance until independent assessments confirm their status.

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This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

Suburb Metric Thresholds

2 green6 yellow1 red
Weekly Rent (house)
780 medium impact
Population growth 2016–21, postcode 2285 (ABS Census)
1.97 high impact
Median Household Income
1859 medium impact
Public Transport Score
6.9 medium impact
School Zone Quality
No data medium impact
Distance to CBD
109.74 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
6 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
72.7 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
4.04 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
2.78 high impact

Macro Environment

Macro Indicators

Cash Rate

4.85%

▲ 0.25%

Cash rate 4.85% as at 2026-11-04 (effective date) · Source: RBA cash rate target · Credit data 2026-09

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 2285

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 6 of 10 — Average

Population (suburb)

3,605

Education (IEO)

5/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

7/10

Crime & Safety

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · 12 months to Jun 2026

Safety score

7.5/10

Offences per 1,000

27.2

Recorded offences

98

Macquarie Hills: score 1–10, relative to other NSW suburbs (10 = lowest recorded offence rate per resident). Recorded offences, 12 months to Jun 2026 (suburb-level).

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, recorded offences, 12 months to Jun 2026. Population: ABS Census 2021 (SAL). Licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU. Dataset

Schools

In your catchment

Cardiff SPS
PrimaryGovernment
6.1/10
Cardiff HS
SecondaryGovernment
5.5/10

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.