Tennant Creek Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Tennant Creek NT Investment Analysis
BUY
— vacancy at 1.8% and $550/wk rent puts this in the top tier of NT yield suburbs.
THE MARKET
Median house price in Tennant Creek sits at $255,000 with 81 days on market and a 1.8% vacancy rate. This is a tight rental market right now.
- **Median house:** $255,000 | **Units:** $102,430 - **Gross yield:** 11.2% | **Net yield:** 9.7% - **5yr price CAGR:** -0.6%/yr | **3yr forecast:** -0.7%/yr - **Population:** 10,703 | **Owner-occupier rate:** 30% | **Affluence:** Low
- **Supply pipeline:** Moderate — Development activity consistent with long-term averages
RENTAL SNAPSHOT
- **Vacancy:** 1.8% (worsening) | **Rental demand:** High - **Median weekly rent:** $550/wk | **Days on market:** 81 (worsening) - Landlord market — rents likely to keep rising.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
- **Median nightly rate:** $160/night | **Occupancy:** 62% - **Estimated annual STR gross:** ~$36,208/yr - **vs long-term rent:** $28,600/yr (+27% STR premium — factor in higher management costs)
INFRASTRUCTURE & CATALYSTS
- **Tennant Creek Hospital Emergency Department** (completed) - **Tennant Creek Youth Accommodation Facility** (under construction) - **Transport:** Well-connected inner-city location
BULL CASE
If Tennant Creek maintains 3%+ annual growth and vacancy stays below 1.3%, median prices could reach $293,250 within 3 years with yields compressing slightly as capital values rise.
BEAR CASE
A market correction or interest rate shock could see prices in Tennant Creek pull back 10-15% from $255,000, with vacancy rising to 3.2% and rental yields softening as tenants gain leverage.
KEY RISKS
- Negative price growth suggests a softening market
COMPARABLE MARKETS
- **Alice Springs** (NT): $315,942 median, 6.2% yield, 9.8% 1yr growth - **Berry Springs** (NT): $325,282 median, 7.2% yield, -1.2% 1yr growth - **Jabiru** (NT): $178,732 median, 10.2% yield, 0.1% 1yr growth
THE PLAY
Tennant Creek presents a compelling investment opportunity. The combination of solid fundamentals and high rental demand supports entry at current price levels. Proceed with due diligence on specific properties. Target gross yields above 11.2% and prioritise properties with value-add potential. Consider timing entry around the current correction phase of the market cycle.
- Entry range: $229,500 – $280,500 - Minimum gross yield to target: 11.5% - Watch signal: vacancy staying below 2% and days on market falling below 35
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Seek professional advice before making investment decisions.
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on Tennant Creek NT data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $550/wk median rent for Tennant Creek. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.
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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.