East Mackay QLD Property Investment

Mackay · 4740 · Score: 54/100 · Hold

Median House Price
$678K
Rental Yield
5.3%
Vacancy Rate
3.0%
Median Weekly Rent
$695/wk
Median Unit Price
$432K
Population
3,725
Days on Market
52 days
Annual Growth
18.3%

East Mackay Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market

Avg Nightly Rate
$419/night
Occupancy Rate
44%
Est. Annual Revenue
$67K

Estimated revenue assumes year-round availability. Non-hosted short-stays are night-capped in some councils (e.g. 60 nights across most of Byron Shire, 180 in Ballina, Muswellbrook and parts of Greater Sydney) and levied in Victoria — the legal cap can cut achievable income well below this figure. Run STR Check for the rules on a specific address.

AI Investment Analysis

East Mackay QLD Investment Brief

## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the suburb delivers a 5.3 % gross rental yield, the strongest single metric supporting a neutral stance.

## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $678,106 - Median unit price: $431,761 - 1‑year price growth: 18.2 % - 5‑year CAGR: 0.8 % per year - 3‑year growth forecast: 13.5 %

The 18.2 % jump over the past 12 months shows strong short‑term upside, but the 0.8 % long‑term CAGR signals a relatively flat longer‑term trend. Days on market data is not provided, so we cannot comment on market speed. The mix of rapid recent growth and modest long‑run growth suggests buyers should negotiate carefully, while sellers can still command premium prices but should temper expectations about sustained price acceleration.

## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $695 / wk - Gross rental yield: 5.3 %

Vacancy rate and demand rating are not supplied. With a 5.3 % yield, the rental market currently offers a respectable income stream for investors, assuming vacancy remains low.

## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity No STR data (nightly rate, occupancy, or revenue) are provided. In the absence of evidence that short‑term rentals outperform the 5.3 % long‑term yield, Long‑Term Rental (LTR) appears the safer choice for most investors.

## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers Specific infrastructure projects, transport upgrades, or major employment hubs are not listed. The 13.5 % 3‑year growth forecast hints at underlying demand drivers, but without concrete project details we cannot pinpoint the exact catalysts.

## 6. Bull Case If the 3‑year forecast of 13.5 % materialises:

  • Projected median house price in 3 years:
  • Projected median unit price (same growth rate):

Combined with the existing 5.3 % yield, capital growth plus rental income could lift total returns well above the current baseline.

## 7. Risks - Vacancy risk: No vacancy figure is supplied; a rise could erode the 5.3 % yield. - Employer concentration: No employment data are provided; reliance on a single large employer would increase risk if that employer contracts. - Supply pipeline: No information on new dwellings entering the market; a surge in supply could pressure rents and yields. - Interest‑rate sensitivity: With a high 1‑year price growth (18.2 %), any tightening of financing conditions could dampen price momentum and buyer appetite.

## 8. The Play - Entry price range: Target purchases around the median house price of $678,106 (or median unit price of $431,761 for lower‑cost entry). - Minimum yield target: Aim for at least the current 5.3 % gross yield to meet the hold rationale. - Watch signals: - Changes in days‑on‑market or price growth rates. - Emerging vacancy data. - Announcements of new infrastructure or major employer activity. - Shifts in the Reserve Bank’s cash‑rate outlook.

Strategy: Acquire a property at or below the median price, confirm the 5.3 % yield (or higher) through rent‑to‑price calculations, and hold while monitoring the above signals for any move toward a buy or avoid recommendation.

Gentrification Index

Pre-gentrification3.5/10
▲Low socioeconomic base — classic gentrification precondition
▲Active development pipeline (2359 approvals) — supply attracting new residents

Growth Forecast

high confidence
1yr Forecast
1.0%
p.a.
2yr Forecast
0.9%
p.a.
5yr Forecast
0.8%
p.a.

Basis: 5yr CAGR 0.8% + 10yr CAGR 2.0%

Headwinds
  • −High supply pipeline (2359 new approvals) — may cap price growth

Suburb Metric Thresholds

2 green8 yellow6 red
Rental Vacancy Rate
3 high impact
Days on Market
52 high impact
Weekly Rent (house)
695 medium impact
5yr Price CAGR
0.82 high impact
10yr Price CAGR
2 high impact
1yr Price Growth
18.25 medium impact
Population Growth
1.32 high impact
Median Household Income
1839 medium impact
Unemployment Rate
4.1 medium impact
Public Transport Score
0 medium impact
School Zone Quality
4.6 medium impact
Distance to CBD
802.33 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
4 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
64.1 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
5.33 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
3.83 high impact

Macro Environment

Macro Indicators

Cash Rate

4.35%

▲ 0.25%

Cash rate as at 2026-05-06 · Credit data 2026-07

Suburb Supply & Demand

Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals

350

2020

667

2021

468

2022

324

2023

550

2025

New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 4740

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 5 of 10 — Average

Population

85,500

Education (IEO)

3/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

5/10

10-Year Investment Projection

Modelled on East Mackay QLD data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.

Pre-filled: $695/wk median rent for East Mackay. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.

Schools

In your catchment

Victoria Park SS
PrimaryGovernment
4.6/10
Mackay SHS
SecondaryGovernment
4.9/10

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.