Highfields QLD Property Investment

Goondiwindi · 4352 · Score: 58/100 · Hold

Median House Price
$1.16M
Rental Yield
3.2%
Vacancy Rate
2.8%
Median Weekly Rent
$710/wk
Median Unit Price
$755K
Population
8,568
Days on Market
32 days
Annual Growth
17.0%

Highfields 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

Highfields QLD Investment Brief

## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the 1‑year price growth of 17.0 % makes the suburb attractive for capital‑gain investors, but the modest 3.2 % gross yield tempers the case for a pure income play.

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## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $1,159,911 - Median unit price: $755,209 - 1‑yr price growth: 17.0 % (strong upside) - 5‑yr CAGR: 3.2 % per annum (steady long‑term growth) - 3‑yr forecast growth: 13.5 % (expected continuation)

*Days on market* is not supplied in the data set, so we cannot comment on how quickly properties are selling.

Signal: The combination of a high recent price surge (17 %) and a solid forward‑looking forecast (13.5 % over three years) suggests sellers have momentum, while buyers can still enter if they secure a price below the median and target a yield above the current 3.2 %.

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## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $710 / wk - Gross rental yield: 3.2 %

*Vacancy rate* and *demand rating* are not provided, so we cannot quantify rental pressure.

Implication: At a 3.2 % yield, rental income covers a portion of financing costs but leaves limited buffer for vacancy or interest‑rate spikes. Investors should aim for properties that can push the yield above this baseline (e.g., through lower purchase price or higher rent).

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## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity No data on nightly STR rates, occupancy, or estimated annual revenue are available. Consequently we cannot calculate an STR gross yield or compare LTR vs. STR profitability for Highfields.

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## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers The supplied data does not list any specific infrastructure projects, transport upgrades, or major employment hubs. The strong 1‑yr growth (17 %) and 3‑yr forecast (13.5 %) imply underlying demand drivers, but we cannot name them.

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## 6. Bull Case If the 3‑year forecast of 13.5 % materialises, the median house price could rise from $1,159,911 to roughly $1,319,111 (13.5 % increase).

  • Capital upside: +$159,200 on a median house.
  • Yield upside: Should rent keep pace with price growth, the gross yield would stay near 3.2 %; however, if rent outpaces price (e.g., rent rises 5 % while price rises 13.5 % over three years), the yield could improve to around 3.5 %.

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## 7. Risks | Risk | Quantified Concern | |------|--------------------| | Vacancy risk | Vacancy rate not disclosed; a 3.2 % yield leaves little margin if vacancy exceeds a few weeks per year. | | Interest‑rate sensitivity | With a 3.2 % gross yield, any rise in borrowing costs directly erodes net cash flow. | | Supply pipeline | No data on upcoming housing supply; rapid price growth could attract new builds, increasing competition for tenants. | | Economic concentration | No information on major employers; reliance on a single industry would heighten downside if that sector contracts. |

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## 8. The Play - Entry price range: Aim for $1.05 M – $1.15 M (10–15 % below the median house price) to achieve a yield above the current 3.2 %. - Minimum yield target: ≥ 3.5 % gross (provides a cushion for vacancy and rate hikes). - Watch signals: 1. Any slowdown in the 1‑yr price growth rate (e.g., dropping below 10 %). 2. Emerging data on days on market or vacancy that show rising tenant turnover. 3. New infrastructure announcements that could accelerate supply. - Recommended strategy: Acquire a house or unit below the median price, lock in a competitive loan rate, and monitor rental market data closely. Hold for 3–5 years to capture the forecasted 13.5 % price appreciation while managing cash flow through disciplined yield targets.

Gentrification Index

Stable / established1.5/10
▼High SEIFA decile — already upgraded or established affluent area
▲Active development pipeline (93 approvals) — supply attracting new residents

Growth Forecast

high confidence
1yr Forecast
3.7%
p.a.
2yr Forecast
3.4%
p.a.
5yr Forecast
2.9%
p.a.

Basis: 5yr CAGR 3.2% + 10yr CAGR 4.3%

Growth drivers
  • +Above-average population growth (1.7%/yr)
Headwinds
  • −Moderate supply pipeline (93 approvals)

Suburb Metric Thresholds

6 green5 yellow4 red
Rental Vacancy Rate
2.8 high impact
Days on Market
32 high impact
Weekly Rent (house)
710 medium impact
5yr Price CAGR
3.23 high impact
10yr Price CAGR
4.3 high impact
1yr Price Growth
16.98 medium impact
Population Growth
1.74 high impact
Median Household Income
2001 medium impact
Unemployment Rate
3.2 medium impact
Public Transport Score
No data medium impact
School Zone Quality
6.6 medium impact
Distance to CBD
106.33 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
8 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
83.9 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
3.18 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
1.68 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

13

2020

33

2021

11

2022

28

2023

8

2025

New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 4352

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 9 of 10 — Low disadvantage

Population

31,026

Education (IEO)

6/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

9/10

10-Year Investment Projection

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

Pre-filled: $710/wk median rent for Highfields. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.

Schools

In your catchment

Highfields SS
PrimaryGovernment
6.6/10
Highfields State Secondary College
SecondaryGovernment
6.2/10

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.