REAL estate experts are urging people to look outside the metro area to score some property bargains.
Although regional WA out-performed metropolitan Perth in terms of house price growth in the March quarter, there are still some great bargains to be had.
Perth’s median house price is $520,000, a good deal higher than Bunbury’s $395,000 and Mandurah-Murray’s $390,000.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWAnd that number is more than double Northam’s median house price of $245,000.
But those figures are climbing.
Bunbury’s median house price rose by a whopping 5.6 per cent in the March quarter, and Northam’s was up by 4.3 per cent compared with stagnant Perth prices.
Jim Sangalli, state manager of Elders Real Estate, said regional centres were becoming increasingly attractive for investors and those seeking a sea or tree change.
“Esperance, Bunbury, Northam, Merredin, Geraldton – these bigger centres where there’s lots of infrastructure, in particular, are attractive,” Mr Sangalli said.
So here are our picks for the five regional centres to look for a housing bargain.
Northam
This four-bedroom home is a stone’s throw from the Avon River, Northam Hospital and the train station. All for the less-than princely sum of $238,000.
Esperance
A five-bedroom, two-storey residence with water views for a touch over half a million dollars? Yep.
Moora
This beautifully renovated character home in Moora could be yours for between $230,000 and $260,000.
Bunbury
A townhouse with an ocean view for $369,000. Where do we sign?
Albany
This well appointed 2010 home in McKail, just north of Albany, has an asking price of $468,000.