Nelly Bay QLD Property Investment
Townsville · 4819 · Score: 47/100 · Caution
Nelly Bay Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Nelly Bay QLD Investment Brief
## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the 3.5% gross rental yield is the key figure. It shows a modest cash‑flow return that, combined with strong recent price growth, makes the suburb more suitable for a hold‑and‑wait strategy rather than a fresh buy or an outright avoid.
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## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $802,987 - Median unit price: $504,387 - 1‑year price growth: 13.0% - 5‑year CAGR: 2.7% per year - 3‑year growth forecast: 13.5%
*Signal:* The 13.0% price rise over the past year and the 13.5% forecast for the next three years indicate a seller‑friendly market at present. Buyers will face upward price pressure, while owners can expect capital appreciation if they stay invested. (Days on market data is not supplied, so we cannot comment on market speed.)
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## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $535 / wk - Gross rental yield: 3.5% - Vacancy rate: *Data not provided* - Demand rating: *Data not provided*
*Interpretation:* A 3.5% yield sits near the lower‑mid range for Queensland regional suburbs, suggesting cash‑flow is modest but not negative. Without vacancy data we cannot quantify risk, but the yield implies that rental income currently covers a reasonable portion of financing costs for most investors.
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## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity - STR nightly rate: *Data not provided* - STR occupancy: *Data not provided* - Estimated annual STR revenue: *Data not provided*
*Conclusion:* Because STR metrics are unavailable, we cannot calculate an annualised STR return. With only the long‑term rental yield (3.5%) known, LTR remains the clearer investment path until STR data emerges.
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## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers - Known projects / transport / employment base: *Data not provided*
*Drivers:* The 13.5% three‑year growth forecast suggests market confidence, likely stemming from Nelly Bay’s tourism appeal and its position on Magnetic Island. In the absence of specific infrastructure or employer information, we must rely on the growth outlook as the primary demand indicator.
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## 6. Bull Case Assume the 13.5% three‑year growth forecast materialises and rental yields stay at 3.5%:
| Metric | Current | After 3 yr (Bull) |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $802,987 | $911,119 (13.5% rise) |
| Median unit price | $504,387 | $572,923 (13.5% rise) |
| Annual rent (house) | $27,820 (≈$535 wk) | $27,820 (yield unchanged) |
| Gross yield (house) | 3.5% | 3.0% (price rise outpaces rent) |
Even if rent stays flat, capital growth would lift total returns above the current 3.5% yield, delivering a combined return of roughly 6–7% per annum.
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## 7. Risks | Risk | Quantified Concern | |------|--------------------| | Vacancy risk | No vacancy figure supplied; a rise above a typical 3–4% vacancy would erode the 3.5% yield. | | Interest‑rate sensitivity | Higher rates increase financing costs; with a 3.5% yield, a 2% rate rise could push net cash flow into negative territory. | | Supply pipeline | No data on upcoming dwellings; a surge in new units could lift vacancy and suppress rents. | | Reliance on growth forecast | The 13.5% forecast is forward‑looking; if actual growth falls below 5% p.a., capital gains would diminish. |
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## 8. The Play - Entry price range: - Houses: $750,000 – $850,000 (around the median) - Units: $450,000 – $550,000
- Minimum yield target: ≥ 3.5% gross (to match the suburb’s current benchmark).
- Watch signals:
- Recommended strategy: Acquire a property at the lower end of the entry range, lock in a competitive loan, and hold for 3–5 years to capture the forecasted 13.5% capital growth while collecting a stable 3.5% rental yield. Re‑assess annually against vacancy data and any new supply to decide whether to stay the course or exit.
Gentrification Index
Growth Forecast
low confidenceBasis: 5yr CAGR 2.7% + 10yr CAGR 2.6%
- −Slow market (74 days avg) — buyer hesitancy
- −High supply pipeline (4124 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 2026-03
Suburb Supply & Demand
Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals
516
2020
1,107
2021
826
2022
727
2023
948
2025
New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply
Socio-Economic Profile
Source: ABS Census 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 4819
Decile 4 of 10 — Average
Population
2,475
Education (IEO)
6/10
Econ. Resources (IER)
2/10
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on Nelly Bay QLD data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $535/wk median rent for Nelly Bay. 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.