Affordable Cairns homes: 11 of the best
Owning a first home might seem like an impossible dream with rapidly rising prices across the Far North but there are affordable options for prepared buyers who get in fast – here’s our pick of newly-listed properties.
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THE demographic of first home buyers in the Far North is changing to slightly older people who have saved more toward a deposit, according to Ray White Cairns South agent Patrick Kenny.
He said Cairns remained very affordable for first home buyers compared with capital cities.
The median in Cairns is an attractive $455,000 compared with $678,000 in Brisbane – with the capital’s figure expected to triple to $1.7m ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
The median in Melbourne is $1.022m and in Sydney, $1.5m.
“In Cairns, you can still get houses for $350,000,” Mr Kenny said.
“It is cheaper to buy than rent, depending how much deposit you inject into the loan.
“A tenant could be paying $450 rent per week for a four-bedroom house, but they could buy similar for around $400,000 and come in with loan payments of $370 or $380 per week.”
Mr Kenny estimated 20 per cent of buyers in the southern corridor were first home buyers.
“I do notice a lot of them have pretty good deposits, they have been saving well, but they are a different age to the traditional 21-year-old buyer, they are in their late 20s or early 30s,” he said.
“They have been satisfied renting, not knowing they could put themselves in a position to buy, and because of their age, they have saved a bit more.
“There’s not many who have finance declined.”
He said another trend was parents buying property for adult children to rent back from them.
And he believes the southern suburbs will increase in popularity, with homes typically on bigger blocks than offered in new housing estates.
“The old area of Edmonton and Gordonvale is popular because there are 1012sq m blocks – the perfect quarter of an acre,” Mr Kenny said.
The median at Edmonton is just $370,000 and at Gordonvale it is $385,000.
At Mt Sheridan the median is $395,000, at Bentley Park it is $380,000 and at the fast-growing suburb of Mt Peter it is $400,000, according to CoreLogic data.
Land at Mt Peter is selling for a median of $166,000 – less than the Cairns regional median land price of $215,750.
Here’s our pick of newly-listed properties ideal for first homeowners.
10 Halloran Close, Gordonvale
Price: offers of more than $349,000 considered
This neat three-bedroom home on a slightly elevated 761sq m block has a big bathroom with a large corner bath and covered patio. There’s airconditioning to the kitchen, lounge and dining areas, a new hot water system and a garden shed and greenhouse. It is listed with Therese Plath of Ray White Cairns South.
13 Brutus Close, Edmonton
Price: $399,000
Heading south invariably means much more space and this three bedroom house is on an 832sq m block in a quiet cul-de-sac in an older part of Edmonton.
The block has a council reserve at the rear, there’s a two bay shed and an extra wide carport. The house was built in 1990.
6 Caper Street, Mt Sheridan
Price: $385,000 - $430,000
Freshly painted outside, this three bedroom house is airconditioned throughout with tiled floors. The master bedroom has a walk-in robe and other bedrooms have sizeable built-in robes. There’s an enclosed patio and the home is in a peaceful spot. It is being marketed by Nicole Bragg of Explore Property.
49 Wiltshire Drive, Gordonvale
Price: $447,000
This four bedroom, two bathroom home in an elevated position with mountain views on an 828sq m block looks great value. The large master bedroom has a walk-in robe and ensuite and the other bedrooms are queen-sized with built-in robes. All bedrooms are airconditioned. The yard has double gate access on the left and a single gate access to the right and there’s a sizeable two car lockup garage.
3 Humbolt Close, Edmonton
Price: $389,000
A large tiled undercover patio adjoining the pool is a feature of this neat three bedroom home in the McKinnon Glen Estate. It has an attractive street presence, a renovated kitchen, and a powered 6.2m x 6m shed that could be converted to a granny flat. There’s even a chicken run.
4 Mulindie Close, Edmonton
Price: $410,000 negotiable
An intriguing four bedroom home set back from the street on an 870sq m block in a cul-de-sac, this looks like an ideal family home. There’s side access to a powered shed and established fruit trees including lemon and custard apple.
27 Otto Close, Edmonton
Price: Offers over $389,000
There’s plenty of room for a caravan, boat or pool on this 739sq m block with a solid four bedroom home with no right hand side neighbours and a large park and playground next door. The kitchen has a big pantry and dishwasher and the huge master bedroom has patio access. There’s a spa bath in the main bathroom at this low maintenance home.
29 Cheviot Street, Smithfield
Price: offers over $439,000
Timber floorboards and raked ceilings are a feature of this three bedroom, two bathroom cottage on a whopping 998sq m block close to Campus Shopping Centre and schools. There’s plenty of space for a boat, caravan, shed or pool in a large backyard. The home has a great rear deck and double carport.
3 Tallow Wood Close, Redlynch
Price: buyers in the $400,000s
Set on an elevated and fenced allotment of 1,128sq m in a sought after suburb, this home has three light, bright and airconditioned bedrooms each with garden access, a modern kitchen with bespoke cabinets and crisp white walls, and undercover patio with views of the MacAlister Ranges. It has LED lighting and three skylights.
10 Annan Bend, Mt Peter
Price: offers more than $449,000
This house on a corner block with side and rear access is less than four years old. It has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an upgraded kitchen with stone bench tops, a walk-in pantry and stainless steel appliances. It has a security camera system, double garage, automated irrigation and airconditioning.
43 Boyce Street, Bentley Park
Price: offers over $349,000
An ideal first home with a big backyard, this neatly-maintained three bedroom, two bathroom home could be transformed with a simple update. There’s parking for three cars, big bedrooms with airconditioning, and playgrounds and parklands across the road.
Southern corridor suburbs median house prices July 2021 (source: CoreLogic)
Mt Sheridan $395,000
Bentley Park $380,000
Bayview Heights $437,100
Edmonton $370,000
Mt Peter $400,000
Gordonvale $385,000
Goldsborough $620,000
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Originally published as Affordable Cairns homes: 11 of the best
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