Territory’s most in-demand suburbs revealed

The property market is running hot in the Darwin rural area with five of its bush ‘burbs placing in the top six of the Territory’s most sought after suburbs list.

Homes for sale in the Darwin rural area, such as this one at 420 Virginia Road, Virginia, are attracting strong interest from buyers. Picture: Supplied

The property market is running hot in the Darwin rural area with five of its bush ‘burbs placing in the top six of the Territory’s most sought after suburbs list.

New analysis from PropTrack scrutinised Northern Territory listings on realestate.com.au to find the suburbs attracting the most enquiries.

Howard Springs topped the list with an average of 18 enquiries per listing in the past 12 months.

Coming in at number two was Virginia, with 17 enquiries per listing, followed by Wagaman, with 13 interactions per advertised property.

Girraween, Berry Springs and Humpty Doo came next, all with an average of 11 enquiries per listing.

Rounding out the top 10 were Anula and Leanyer, with 10 interactions on average, and Alawa and Moulden, with nine.

Howard Springs listings, such as this one at 502 Whitewood Rd, are attracting the highest number of enquiries in the NT. Picture: Supplied

Local real estate agent Darren Hunt, of Real Estate Central Projects, said it was no surprise rural suburbs featured so heavily on the list.

“The rural market hasn’t soften this year,” he said.

“It has certainly maintained, if not increased.

“The demand is still there.”

Mr Hunt said enquiry numbers across the rural market were driven up by buyers chasing high end properties.

“These buyers are not in the mortgage belt,” he said.

“They’re not driven by interest rate fluctuations.

“They’re more mature, financially, and looking for space and privacy.”

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Mr Hunt said in this segment of the market, demand was outstripping supply, which also helped push up enquiry numbers.

“That’s not just for the high end, turnkey properties either, it’s also the mid-range properties with work to be done,” he said.

The experienced agent said two years ago the in-demand suburbs were places like Parap and Fannie Bay.

“Now there has been that significant shift to high end rural properties,” he said.

“We’re seeing it with suburbs like Humpty Doo, where we’re achieving record prices.”

Real Estate Central Projects agent Darren Hunt. Picture: Supplied

As vendors sell for top dollar, neighbours are taking note and some are choosing to list their properties as well, Mr Hunt said.

“Especially with premium properties, people are testing the market,” he said.

“We’ve got plenty of listings coming in through the new year, both rural and suburban.”

Mr Hunt said even with records falling in some streets and suburbs, the rural area was still affordable compared with much of Australia.

According to PropTrack data, the median house price is $750,000 in Howard Springs, $720,000 in Virginia, $830,000 in Girraween, $675,000 in Berry Springs and $613,500 in Humpty Doo.

In Wagaman, the only non-rural suburb in the top six in-demand suburbs, the median house price is $538,000.

“Wagaman is a sleeper suburb,” Mr Hunt said.

“It’s central to everything and represents very good value.”

NT TOP 10 MOST IN-DEMAND SUBURBS BY ENQUIRY

1. Howard Springs – 18

2. Virginia – 17

3. Wagaman – 13

4. Girraween – 11

5. Berry Springs – 11

6. Humpty Doo – 11

7. Anula – 10

8. Leanyer – 10

9. Alawa – 9

10. Moulden – 9

Originally published as Territory’s most in-demand suburbs revealed