NT hinterland: Darwin’s ‘best-kept secret’

While city homes have basked in the spotlight, Glenn Grantham, general manager and sales director at Raine & Horne Darwin, believes that rural suburbs on the outskirts of Darwin have gone under the radar for too long.

“Areas such as Virginia, Humpty Doo and Noonamah are very popular with buyers as they all lie within 40 minutes of the Darwin CBD, so it’s possible to have a city job and a rural home life for under $1 million,” said Grantham.

“Try ticking off this work/life balance quinella for such an affordable price in other major capitals around the country. It just won’t happen.”

Large family homes on generous blocks can be picked up for anywhere from $600,000 to $1.1 million, with properties on acreage commanding higher prices.

The growing popularity of these markets is contributing to a notable surge in sales, with Raine & Horne Darwin recording as many property sales in the second week of May as they did in the entire month of May last year.

High-end rural properties in towns like Virginia and Humpty Doo are proving popular with Darwin-based executives and business owners, with Grantham describing these suburbs as “an often-overlooked gem”.

As work-from-home options become more prevalent, outbuildings like sheds “tick many boxes for those executives or small business owners who need a separate space away from the family for work requirements,” Grantham explained.

Alternatively, some property owners are choosing to rent converted outbuildings out for additional income.

For example, one home currently listed by Grantham’s team comes with a one-bedroom granny flat that “can accommodate extended family or generate rental income of $450 a week”.

For those seeking to attract high-end buyers, quality renovations and indoor-outdoor living are must-haves to achieve top dollar.