Region. Two tier housing market

Mortgage-belt markets such as outer-Western Sydney, Blacktown and the central coast have seen house values increase by less than 9 per cent, whereas values in the lower north shore, inner Sydney and the eastern suburbs have recorded capital gains of more than 20 per cent over the past year. Tim Lawless, research director, of RP Data, said in the Sun-Herald the release of housing finance data from the ABS this month had driven the divide even further in Sydney’s two-tier market.

Region. Housing market activity

The housing market in south-west Sydney has seen significant activity following a prolonged period of relatively no sales activity in new housing estate, said Curtis Field, national director, of site development, at Colliers International. “We expect the volume of activity for development sites to increase over 2009, ” he said. Mr Field and Fab Dalfonso, executive of industrial, in the Liverpool office, negotiated the sale of a 75-hectare parcel of land, at 1075 Camden Valley Way, for $11 million. “There has been interest from developers who have traditionally only dealt in the more pricey north-west markets, an indication that experienced developers are keen to get into affordable projects,” Mr Field said.

Region. Housing market picks up

After five years the housing market in Western Sydney is showing signs of life. Ray White Real Estate had a record January, in NSW, backed by a surge of sales in the region, according to The Weekend Australia Financial Review. Figures supplied by the Office of State revenue and Australian Property Monitors showed that of the top 20 postcodes, for first-homeowner’s grants, 14 were in Western Sydney,