The most pleasant place to live is high and dry

Mt Pleasant is Mackay's favourite suburb, with people hanging on to houses for an average of 15 years.

GOOD LOCALITY: Homeowner Margaret Scott with her dog Benji. Picture: Stuart Quinn

REAL ESTATE: Mt Pleasant is Mackay's favourite suburb among places to live, with people hanging on to houses for an average of 15 years.

CoreLogic data shows the "high and dry” suburb has been popular for the past 30 years.

Explore Property agent Mark Daniels, who has recently sold several properties in the area, said: "People like it mostly for the convenience, it's close to the north side and it's close to the south side.

"There's a few reasons why people love the MtPleasant area, it's high and dry and its proximity to the shopping centre, which is literally around the corner, and you're only five minutes from the CBD.

"It's a long-standing location, people have been there, houses have been there for a long time, that gives people confidence in that it's a good area and houses are still in good condition.”

The top end of the market there has some of Mackay's best views. When Mt Pleasant was first built it had a lot of grand homes in James Croker Drive and Annie Wood Ave.

"They were the leading homes of the time, built high on the hill 20-30 years ago and they're great houses that are still very high in demand,” Mr Daniels said.

Long-term resident Margaret Scott has brought her kids up in Mt Pleasant and couldn't sing the hilltop suburb's praises enough. Her four-bedroom home at 13 Northview Tce is up for auction on Monday but she is looking to buy something smaller in the same area.

She said the family-friendly suburb was a big hit with families thanks to the proliferation of schools and also shopping.

"We wanted to be near the schools when we moved here because we had school children,” she said.

"We wanted the kids to be able to walk to school if possible, that trail along the Gooseponds is a handy thing.

"It does have a high hold because people like the area and it's a steady area for jobs.

"I am looking to downsize because there's only the two of us at home, the area is so convenient for me,” she said.

The data indicates that Mt Pleasant has seen a small growth in median house price in the past year, increasing 2.1 per cent up to $337,000.

About 35 per cent of properties are owned outright, 32 per cent under mortgage and 24 per cent are being leased out.

Ms Scott's property will go under the hammer on Monday at 6pm.

Longest hold periods:

Mt Pleasant 15.3 years,

East Mackay 14.6 years,

Bakers Creek 14.3 years,

South Mackay 14.2 years,

Mirani 14 years,

Sarina 17.3 years

Originally published as The most pleasant place to live is high and dry