Coffs Coast suburbs to buy property in before prices rise
A couple of out-of-the-box suburbs on the Coffs Coast have been identified as the places to buy. Find out what it’s like to live there and why they are now on the radar.
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Property experts have lifted the lid on the next suburbs on the Coffs Coast to be “discovered” and surge in price.
They say there is still plenty of value to be had despite a steep rise in property prices in the past year.
The trick is to pick the areas that are primed to be the next wave.
While a number of locations were thrown up as the next big things - two suburbs in particular gained plenty of mentions.
Jot them down - Park Beach and Sandy Beach.
Park Beach move proves a winner
TAFE teacher Stephen Miller and his partner Peter Stock upped stumps from Fernmount to Park Beach 10 years ago.
“The prices were affordable and everything is within walking distance,” Mr Miller said.
“I swim a lot throughout the year and the beach is quiet except when they run the surf carnivals.”
He said the perception that Park Beach could be a rough area was misplaced.
“The people are friendly and the neighbourhood is quiet,” he said.
“There are a lot of refugees in the area but a friend told me ‘It’s the Surry Hills of Coffs’.
“I don’t miss the humidity of Bellingen, the mozzies and the ticks.”
Mr Miller said the infrastructure - built and natural - at Park Beach was irresistible.
“I can walk to the shopping centre, the bike trails are fantastic and we have the estuary. It’s a healthier lifestyle,” he said.
Sandy Beach has plenty of allure
Gary and Rachel Phillips moved to Sandy Beach three years back after deciding Sawtell had become too hectic.
“It’s (Sandy Beach) within work-range, there’s no railway, no hotel, no caravan park and just one little shop - it’s quiet and relaxed,” Mr Phillips said.
“It’s a lifestyle choice and it reminds me of Sawtell in the ’70s having grown up there.”
Mr Phillips said the friendly nature of Sandy Beach was unsurpassed.
“This whole street is basically all retired people,” he said.
“The first week I was here I put the wrong bin out and a neighbour just wheeled the right one out for me.”
Coffs Coast real estate agents are also stuck on Sandy and Park Beach - and identified a few other smokies to boot.
Adam Cross, The Edge Coffs Harbour
“Park Beach has still got legs on it,” Mr Cross said.
“You can still buy a property there right on the beach for less than $400,000.”
He believes Sandy Beach is also in pole position for lift-off.
“Sandy Beach is underrated,” he said.
“It reminds me of Suffolk Park which they used to call Suffering Park.”
Suffolk Park on the southern flank of Byron Bay is now expensive.
“(Sandy Beach) is the last bastion of the Northern Beaches,” he said.
“Coffs itself is still cheaper than the surrounding areas.
“Bottom of the market is always reliable for finding a tenant.”
Aleta Stephens, Cardow & Partners Property Coffs Harbour
Despite house prices supplanting sport and the cost of childcare as the staple conversation at weekend barbecues, Ms Stephens believes the Coffs Harbour market will continue to be robust.
“With the bypass, the airport upgrade, the Cex holding big events and the major upgrade of the Coffs Hospital - there’s a lot happening,” she said.
“The hospital I think has been earmarked to take the pressure off the hospitals in Brisbane and Sydney so we are going to see continued growth.
“Sawtell is a hotspot, while Boambee and Toormina are affordable areas.
“The areas north of Coffs are starting to become unreachable.
“I’ve just sold a three-bedroom home for $1.295 (million) at Sapphire.”
Craig Gardner, Nolan Partners
“Anything beachside will continue to grow. Land’s scarce,” Mr Gardner said.
He said the Covid experience had demonstrated that people could work effectively from home - driving a flight from the major population centres to regional areas where the living was easier.
Mr Gardner said the pending highway bypass of Coffs Harbour, the expansion plans of the Ex-Services Club and Russell Crowe’s film studio vision would stoke the property market.
The beaches and the arrival of “better restaurants” is also a plus.
“The whole of the Coffs Coast is a real growth area,” he said.
“It’s a desirable place to live.”
Avi Aronsen, First National Real Estate Coffs Harbour
“Park Beach is interesting as there’s a lot of development in that area, plus it is so close to the beach,” Ms Aronsen said.
“All over the Coffs Coast it is booming.
“Personally I like Boambee East, Sawtell and Korora.
“The last 12 months has seen massive growth - we are very lucky to live here.
“Coronavirus has been really positive for Coffs Harbour if you want to sell here, and hopefully looking ahead there will be more opportunities for buyers.”
Brett Finnie, The Edge Coffs Harbour
“Everywhere has really taken off and the beachside suburbs are always in demand like Sawtell, The Jetty and Park Beach,” Mr Finnie said.
New developments and changing demographics at Park Beach made it one in particular to watch.
“It’s finally coming into its own and has the potential for the most growth,” he said.
“There’s also a lot of interest in those lifestyle properties - one to 10-acre lots.
“There’s extremely high demand for them from Urunga to Nana Glen and right up to Corindi.”
Tammy Blundell, Excel Property Agency
“Sandy Beach would be my number one as there’s still room for development there,” Ms Blundell said.
“It has the beach and it’s not that far out of town, it’s not as far as Woolgoolga.
“Moonee has had it’s little boom - so I think Sandy Beach is the one.”
Michelle Olsen, LJ Hooker Coffs Harbour
“There are big opportunities everywhere in Coffs - and definitely in Bonville and Boambee, which is really going ahead,” Ms Olsen said.
“Those larger parcels of land are very much in demand.
“I would say Moonee too where there’s a new subdivision, plus Valla and Urunga where there are some big land developments.
“People are already getting good prices in these locations.
“The whole area has just gone crazy.”
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