South West Rocks NSW Property Investment

Kempsey · 2431 · Score: 51/100 · Hold

Median House Price
$773K
Rental Yield
3.4%
Vacancy Rate
3.0%
Median Weekly Rent
$508/wk
Median Unit Price
$607K
Population
5,058
Days on Market
42 days
Annual Growth
-2.9%

South West Rocks Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market

Avg Nightly Rate
$238.11/night
Occupancy Rate
%
Est. Annual Revenue
$56K
AI Investment Analysis

South West Rocks NSW Investment Brief

## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the median house price of $772,561 anchors the analysis; at that price the current gross rental yield is only 3.4%, indicating modest cash‑flow upside and limited price‑growth momentum.

## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $772,561 - Median unit price: $606,875 - 1‑year price change:2.9% (price fell over the last 12 months) - 5‑year CAGR: 3.5% per year (steady long‑term growth) - 3‑year forecasted growth: 13.5% (projected upside)

*Signal:* The recent –2.9% dip gives buyers some negotiating power, while the 5‑year CAGR of 3.5% and 13.5% forecast keep sellers optimistic about future appreciation. Days on market data were not supplied, so we cannot comment on sale speed.

## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $508 - Gross rental yield: 3.4%

*Vacancy rate, demand rating and other rental metrics were not provided.* *Interpretation:* A 3.4% yield is modest for an investor; it covers financing costs in a low‑interest environment but leaves little buffer if vacancy rises or rent growth stalls.

## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity No STR data (nightly rate, occupancy, or revenue) were supplied. With only long‑term rental figures available, LTR remains the clearer investment path for now.

## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers The data set does not list any specific projects, transport upgrades, or major employers. The 13.5% three‑year growth forecast suggests underlying demand drivers—likely tourism and lifestyle appeal—but we cannot quantify them without further information.

## 6. Bull Case If the 13.5% growth forecast materialises over the next three years and rental demand improves:

  • Property value: $772,561 × 1.135 ≈ $877,000 (median house price)
  • Potential rent uplift: Assuming rent rises in line with price growth, weekly rent could climb to roughly $578 (508 × 1.135).
  • Yield impact: With a higher rent and the same price, gross yield could edge toward 4.0% (578 × 52 ÷ 877,000).

## 7. Risks | Risk | Numerical Indicator | Impact | |------|---------------------|--------| | Price decline | –2.9% over the past year | Reduces equity and may pressure yields if rents stay flat | | Low yield | 3.4% gross | Small cash‑flow cushion; sensitive to vacancy or interest‑rate rises | | Vacancy uncertainty | Data not supplied | Unknown exposure; a rise above 5% could erode returns | | Supply pipeline | No data on new dwellings | If significant new stock enters the market, price and rent growth could stall | | Rate sensitivity | Not quantified | Higher borrowing costs would further compress the thin 3.4% yield |

## 8. The Play - Entry price range: $700,000 – $800,000 (around the median house price of $772,561) - Target minimum yield: ≈ 3.5% (slightly above the current 3.4% to provide a modest safety margin) - Watch signals: * Any published vacancy rate for the suburb * Updates on local infrastructure or tourism projects * Changes in the 1‑year price trend (e.g., a shift from –2.9% to positive) * Interest‑rate movements that affect financing costs

Recommended strategy: Acquire a well‑maintained house or unit within the $700k$800k band, aim for a gross yield of at least 3.5%, and hold for 3–5 years to capture the forecast 13.5% price upside while monitoring rental market data for any signs of yield improvement or emerging vacancy pressure.

Gentrification Index

Pre-gentrification3.5/10
Low socioeconomic base — classic gentrification precondition
Active development pipeline (685 approvals) — supply attracting new residents

Growth Forecast

high confidence
1yr Forecast
3.6%
p.a.
2yr Forecast
3.3%
p.a.
5yr Forecast
2.9%
p.a.

Basis: 5yr CAGR 3.5% + 10yr CAGR 5.1%

Growth drivers
  • +Above-average population growth (1.9%/yr)
Headwinds
  • High supply pipeline (685 new approvals) — may cap price growth

Suburb Metric Thresholds

2 green5 yellow9 red
Rental Vacancy Rate
3 high impact
Days on Market
42 high impact
Weekly Rent (house)
508 medium impact
5yr Price CAGR
3.46 high impact
10yr Price CAGR
5.09 high impact
1yr Price Growth
-2.9 medium impact
Population Growth
1.86 high impact
Median Household Income
997 medium impact
Unemployment Rate
6.2 medium impact
Public Transport Score
1.3 medium impact
School Zone Quality
5.2 medium impact
Distance to CBD
373.75 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
2 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
74.5 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
3.42 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
1.92 high impact

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

93

2020

122

2021

174

2022

161

2023

135

2025

New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 2431

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 3 of 10 — High disadvantage

Population

5,628

Education (IEO)

2/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

3/10

10-Year Investment Projection

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

Pre-filled: $508/wk median rent for South West Rocks. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.

Schools

In your catchment

Sth West Rocks PS
PrimaryGovernment
5.2/10
Melville HS
SecondaryGovernment
3.3/10

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.