Kununurra WA Property Investment

Derby-West Kimberley · 6743 · Score: 59/100 · Hold

Median House Price
$500K
Rental Yield
8.1%
Vacancy Rate
3.0%
Median Weekly Rent
$780/wk
Median Unit Price
$425K
Population
5,494
Days on Market
169 days
Annual Growth
8.6%

Kununurra Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market

Avg Nightly Rate
$239/night
Occupancy Rate
%
Est. Annual Revenue
$57K

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

Kununurra WA Investment Brief

## 1. Investment Verdict Hold – the decisive figure is the 8.1 % gross rental yield, which is high enough to generate solid cash flow while the capital‑gain outlook remains modest.

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## 2. Market Overview - Median house price: $500,000 - Median unit price: $424,807 - 1‑year price growth: +8.6 % – recent price pressure favours sellers. - 5‑year CAGR: +1.3 % per year – long‑term growth is flat, giving buyers some negotiating power. - 3‑year growth forecast: +13.5 % – analysts expect a stronger upside over the next three years. - Days on market: data not supplied (N).

Signal: The 8.6 % 12‑month price rise suggests sellers can command premium prices today, but the low 5‑year CAGR indicates the market is not in a sustained boom, leaving room for buyers to negotiate on price and terms.

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## 3. Rental Market - Median weekly rent: $780 - Gross rental yield: 8.1 % - Vacancy rate: not provided. - Demand rating: not provided.

Implication: An 8.1 % yield is well above the national average, signalling a strong income stream for investors. The absence of vacancy data means investors should verify local occupancy before committing, but the high yield implies demand is currently sufficient to support rent levels.

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## 4. Short‑Term Rental Opportunity - STR nightly rate: not provided. - STR occupancy: not provided. - Estimated annual STR revenue: not provided.

Conclusion: With no STR metrics available, the safe assumption is that long‑term rental (LTR) is the better option at present, given the proven 8.1 % gross yield.

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## 5. Infrastructure & Growth Drivers - Known projects / transport / employment data: not supplied.

Context: Kununurra’s economy traditionally hinges on agriculture and tourism, but without specific project or employment figures we cannot quantify their impact. Investors should monitor any announced infrastructure or major employer activity that could shift demand.

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## 6. Bull Case If the 13.5 % 3‑year growth forecast materialises and the rental yield stays at 8.1 %:

  • Capital gain: $500,000 × 1.135 ≈ $567,500 (a $67,500 increase).
  • Annual rent at current yield: $500,000 × 8.1 % ≈ $40,500 per year (≈ $780 × 52 weeks).

Combined, an investor could see ≈ $108,000 of total return over three years (capital + rent), assuming no major cost spikes.

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## 7. Risks | Risk | Quantified Concern | |------|--------------------| | Vacancy risk | Vacancy rate not disclosed; a rise above a typical 5 % regional level could erode the 8.1 % yield. | | Single‑employer dependency | No employer data provided; if the local economy relies heavily on a few agribusinesses, a downturn could depress both rent and price growth. | | Supply pipeline | No data on new builds; a sudden influx of units could lift vacancy and push yields down. | | Rate sensitivity | Higher interest rates increase borrowing costs, which could dampen buyer demand and compress the 8.6 % recent price growth. |

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## 8. The Play - Entry price range: around the median house price of $500,000 (or slightly below if a discount can be negotiated). - Minimum yield target: ≥ 8 % gross to maintain a robust cash flow buffer. - Watch signals: 1. Confirmation of the 3‑year growth forecast (e.g., quarterly price data). 2. Any announced infrastructure or major employer projects. 3. Emerging vacancy statistics from local agents. 4. Reserve‑bank rate movements. - Recommended strategy: Acquire a property at or under $500k, lock in a mortgage with a fixed rate to mitigate interest‑rate risk, and let the property sit as a long‑term rental to capture the 8.1 % yield while monitoring the market for the projected 13.5 % capital‑gain upside. If STR data later emerges showing strong nightly rates and occupancy, re‑evaluate the rental model.

Gentrification Index

Pre-gentrification3.8/10
▲Low socioeconomic base — classic gentrification precondition
▲High renter base (60%) — room for tenure upgrade as area improves
—Moderate development activity (49 approvals)

Growth Forecast

high confidence
1yr Forecast
1.6%
p.a.
2yr Forecast
1.5%
p.a.
5yr Forecast
1.3%
p.a.

Basis: 5yr CAGR 1.3% + 10yr CAGR 3.3%

Headwinds
  • −Slow market (169 days avg) — buyer hesitancy

Suburb Metric Thresholds

4 green6 yellow6 red
Rental Vacancy Rate
3 high impact
Days on Market
169 high impact
Weekly Rent (house)
780 medium impact
5yr Price CAGR
1.28 high impact
10yr Price CAGR
3.32 high impact
1yr Price Growth
8.61 medium impact
Population Growth
0.71 high impact
Median Household Income
1971 medium impact
Unemployment Rate
4.1 medium impact
Public Transport Score
0 medium impact
School Zone Quality
7 medium impact
Distance to CBD
2237.87 medium impact
SEIFA Advantage/Disadvantage
3 medium impact
Owner Occupier Rate
29.7 medium impact
Gross Rental Yield (%)
8.11 high impact
Net Rental Yield (%)
6.61 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

10

2020

1

2021

3

2022

12

2023

23

2025

New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply

Socio-Economic Profile

Source: ABS Census 2021

SEIFA Index · Postcode 6743

Most disadvantagedLeast disadvantaged

Decile 2 of 10 — High disadvantage

Population

6,455

Education (IEO)

5/10

Econ. Resources (IER)

1/10

10-Year Investment Projection

Modelled on Kununurra WA data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.

Pre-filled: $780/wk median rent for Kununurra. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.

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Data sourced from ABS, state government property sales, and Airbnb market analytics. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.