Bargain hunt: 80 homes for less than $400k

On the hunt for your first home? What about a place to retire? These affordable homes are ticking all the beachside boxes.

A four-bedroom, one-bathroom family home at 328 Main Rd, Kuluin, sold for $370,000 to a West Australian man.

FIRST home buyers are ditching beachside rentals and stepping into a growing, family-friendly market expected to boom in the not too distant future.

Real estate agents say Nambour, once seen as a doom and gloom suburb, has emerged as one of the most affordable suburbs for first home buyers.

CoreLogic data backs it up too, with a median sale price of $400,000, up 22.7 per cent compared to five years ago.

Ray White Nambour sales specialist Peter Chant said his agency was on track to eclipse annual sale figures of $150 million a year, largely driven by first home buyers.

Of the buyers to come through the agency, Mr Chant estimated four out of six to be first home buyers.

He said they chose Nambour over estate-style options closer to the Bruce Highway for the "affordability factor".

"The buyers want land, room for kids, or a dog and ability to expand and work on the property," Mr Chant said.

"Then use it as a stepping stone to go for something closer to the beach."

Mr Chant said Nambour was the community centre driving the sales but pointed to "satellite" suburbs Palmwoods, Yandina, Rosemount and Woombye that fed into the town.

"In the near future, you want to be in the Nambour hub, for what it's going to be," he said.

"Already residents don't have to leave.

"Everything is already here."

Ray White Mooloolaba and Kawana director James Goldsworthy said value for money was constant throughout the Coast if buyers were prepared to research and wait.

Mr Goldsworthy said too many buyers rushed in and bought the first home or unit they viewed.

One of his properties, a four-bedroom, one-bathroom family home at 328 Main Rd, Kuluin, sold for $370,000 to a West Australian man. It was part of Ray White's annual auction event, where hundreds of bidders were present to bid on 57 properties going under the hammer.

"It's an older, entry-level home which needs a bit of work, but it's so liveable and very affordable," Mr Goldsworthy said.

"It's quite incredible. You only see homes like this maybe once a year or so.

"There are plenty of good little homes out there if people spend time and properly scour the market."

Mr Goldsworthy advised first home buyers to spend about a month researching and to physically inspect properties before deciding.

After a searching online, Mr Goldsworthy counted 80 properties on the market on the Sunshine Coast for less than $400,000 - from Kenilworth, to Beerwah, Nambour and Caloundra.

"I see too many buyers who have only looked at the one property," he said.

"Buyers should fill up their Saturdays with open homes.

"Buyers need to be open to all areas, not be specific to one suburb.

"Be willing to sacrifice maybe a brand-new home and be willing to do some TLC.

"Just get in."

Originally published as Bargain hunt: 80 homes for less than $400k