Hunter Valley Property Market Update 1st Half 2025
Hunter Valley is nestled in the heart of New South Wales about 2 hours north of Sydney and is a premier wine-growing region. Hunter Valley is also home to many art galleries, boutique shops, and charming small towns. With its unique blend of modern facilities and relaxed atmosphere, Hunter Valley is a wonderful place to call home.
Property Trends
In Q4 2024, Hunter Valley recorded a median house price of $741,500 and a median unit price of $535,000. This is a 12-month (Q4 2023 - Q4 2024) median price growth of 6.7% for houses and a softening of -4.6% for units. Comparing Q4 2023 and Q4 2024, house sales remained stable (at 222 sales in Q4 2024) but unit sales grew by 2.9% (to 36 sales in Q4 2024). This confirms there is a highly demanded house market and an ideal time for owners to capitalise on their investments. Units have become slightly more affordable in Q4 2024, creating an opportunity for first home buyers. That said, with little new ready-to-sell houses planned, buyers should act fast.
Project Development
Hunter Valley will see approximately $137.4M of new projects commencing in 2025. Symrise Pet Food Manufacturing Facility ($28.5M) is a key commercial project planned. Whilst there is new residential stock coming onto the market in 2025 (15 townhouses, 16 dwellings, and 39 units), it will not be enough to satisfy current demand. This will cause an undersupply in the market and continue to push property prices up.
Rental Market & Growth
House rental yields in Hunter Valley were 3.6% as of December 2024, slightly below Maitland LGA (3.9%) but higher than Sydney Metro (2.7%). That said, the median house rental price increased by 6.9% in the past 12 months to Q4 2024, to sit at $620 per week. The number of houses rented increased as well, by 5.4% (to 216 houses in Q4 2024). This indicates a highly demanded and competitive house rental market in Hunter Valley, which is beneficial to investors.
Vacancy Rates & Property Investment
Hunter Valley recorded a vacancy rate of 1.2% in December 2024, below the Maitland LGA average of 1.5% and Sydney Metro’s 2.1%. Vacancy rates have fluctuated in the past 12 months but have ultimately declined slightly, which indicates a tighter rental market. Furthermore, a 1.2% vacancy rate is well below the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3.0%, indicating quicker occupancy of rental properties in the Hunter Valley market. This creates a conducive environment for investors, especially with a more affordable unit market in Q4 2024.
