Surprise in price figures from WA for regional areas

Over the quarter, Busselton experienced the highest median house price growth by 11.2 per cent to $555,000, followed by Port Hedland with 5 per cent growth to $210,000 and then Bunbury with 1.5 per cent growth to $392,000.

“The increase in price in Busselton, Port Hedland and Bunbury – three of the larger regional centres in the state – was a big driver behind why regional WA’s overall median house price improved during the quarter,” Mr Collins said.

Karratha was the top growing regional centre year-on-year with 8 per cent to $329,000, followed by Busselton with 5.7 per cent and then Albany with 3.3 per cent to $392,500.

Meanwhile, Broome experienced the largest decline for the quarter and the year, declining by 8.5 per cent and 13.1 per cent, respectively, to $430,000.

For the quarter, the next-largest growth decline was Esperance, down 4.4 per cent to $325,000, followed by Albany, down 1.7 per cent.

The combined Kalgoorlie-Boulder regional centre was the only one to record a stable median price for the quarter and the year, currently sitting on $305,000.

The median price growth in regional WA over the December quarter and the year to December 2018, according to the REIWA, was the following:

Sales activity subdued

Only Geraldton and the combined Kalgoorlie-Boulder regional centres recorded rises in sales activity for both the quarter and the year, with sales rising 36 per cent and 10 per cent in Geraldton and 10 per cent and 17 per cent for Kalgoorlie-Boulder, respectively.

Annually, Broome and Port Hedland also recorded rises in sales activity, rising 12 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively.

“The local resurgence in mining projects has had a positive impact on sales in these regions, especially in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Port Hedland, where renewed support in mining has created more local jobs and helped to boost population growth,” Mr Collins said.

“With mining projects in these regions expected to continue to grow, this should have a positive impact on the regions’ property markets and aid in their recovery.”

The declines elsewhere were not surprising to the president, claiming property purchases typically experience declines over the Christmas to New Year period.