East Mackay QLD Property Investment
Mackay · 4740 · Score: 54/100 · Hold
East Mackay Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
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.
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
Growth Forecast
high confidenceBasis: 5yr CAGR 0.8% + 10yr CAGR 2.0%
- −High supply pipeline (2359 new approvals) — may cap price growth
Suburb Metric Thresholds
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 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 4740
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
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.
Nearby Suburbs
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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.