Best NSW beaches for property, December 2004

BEST NSW BEACH PROPERTY, originally published in the Sun Herald in December 2004

What’s in a name? Well, a few million dollars if you pick the right beach.
Byron Bay, Hyams Beach and Pearl Beach are three examples of NSW beaches that achieve property values worth up to double their sandy neighbours.
Take Pearl Beach on the Central Coast, where a beachfront property is worth more than $4 million, while a beachfront house at neighbouring Patonga or Umina beach can be had for around $2 million, according to PRDnationwide Ettalong Beach agent Stuart Gan.
And let’s not forget Byron Bay, the far north coast mecca of hippies, health and hot property prices.
A beachfront in the prestigious Wategos area of Byron Bay will probably cost more than $4 million – if you can get your hands on one - while a beachfront in Lennox Head sold earlier this year for $2.83 million, according to Elders Lennox Head principal Michael King.
Then there is the increasingly popular hamlet of Hyams Beach on Jervis Bay south of Sydney, where a beachfront house passed in at auction for more than $2 million while the record price for a beachfront in neighbouring Vincentia is $1.71 million.
“Don’t ask me why people pay so much more to be on the same stretch of water, in the same area as cheaper properties – it’s just the name that makes people pay,” says Ray White Jervis Bay principal Pamela Smith.
THE PEARL OF THE CENTRAL COAST
Pearl Beach – median house price $935,000*
Umina – median house price $385,000
Patonga – average house price $546,000 (NOTE TO ED: no median house prive available for Patonga – too few sales to get a stat)

Nestled at the bottom of a bushy hill with just one road in and out is the sleepy beachside village of Pearl Beach, which has around 470 houses all within a 500 metre walk of the beach and less than two hours drive from Sydney.
“Pearl Beach is more like Fiji than anything on the east coast of Australia – as soon as you get down the hill, you feel like you are on holidays,” says Mr Gan.
Neighbouring Patonga has a similar sleepy feel to Pearl Beach – there are less than 500 houses and there is only one road in - but the prices are cheaper because Patonga has tidal mud flats rather than a white stretch of beach.
Wilsons Estate Agency agent Rod Dillon says Pearl Beach has capitalised on the value of celebrities who have holiday houses in the village.
“A few well known identities like Andrew Denton have had places there, so then other celebrities decide they should live there as well,” he says.
“Then it becomes the ‘I live in Pearl Beach’ factor, and that’s what makes prices out of kilter with where it should be.”
RISING JEWEL OF THE SOUTH COAST
Hyams Beach – median house price $795,000
Vincentia - median house price $470,000
Huskisson - median house price $490,000

Just 10 years ago, Hyams Beach was known mostly for having the whitest sand in the world.
“In the last seven or eight years, it’s gone off – it’s full of Porsches in the summer,” says Ms Jervis.
Hyams Beach Real Estate principal Chris Alison says the high property prices are driven by the lack of houses available for sale, as the village is surrounded by national park and there is no further subdivision.
“This is a genuine village with no commercial development except this shop, so it’s unspoilt and it has natural beauty,” he explains.
“It is twice the price of Vincentia, but it’s more than twice as nice.”
Hyams has a mix of old beach cottages and newer townhouse style developments, the majority of which are second homes to people based in Sydney or Canberra.
Ms Jervis says 90 per cent of people interested in buying the beachfront she auctioned last week were from the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
“It’s one of those things where a professional person buys a house, and then brings their friends down and they want to buy a house there as well,” she says.

FAR NORTH COAST MECCA
Byron Bay – median house price $605,000
Lennox Head – median house price $502,000
Brunswick Heads – median house price $432,000

Byron Bay has a mystique all of its own, but even the immediate beachside neighbours can’t catch up to the hot property prices of this north coast town.
Lennox Head is about 15-minutes drive south of Byron, and it has its own lakes and rugged surf beach, while Brunswick Heads is about 15-minutes drive north of Byron with a river and beach and a sleepier fishing town atmosphere.
Elders Real Estate Byron Bay agent Michael Gudgeon says Byron Bay has one of the safest north-facing beaches on the east coast, as well as a lively town with a night life.
“We have artists, we have movie stars, we have people from all walks of life who can afford to live anywhere they want to but choose to come here for the natural beauty,” he says.

*all statistics supplies by Australian Property Monitors, publishers of the Home Price Guide, for the period to September 2004.

PEARL BEACH
26 Diamond Rd
$995,000
This two-storey house has a self-contained apartment in the backyard and a lovely bushy outlook.
House 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Land 675 sq m
Position One street back from the beach.
Agent PRDnationwide Ettalong Beach 4344 5580

UMINA BEACH
6 Abelia Pl
$449,000
This two-storey house has a self-contained apartment downstairs and four bedrooms upstairs.
House 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Land 500 sq m
Position Less than a kilometre to the beach with an elevated bushy outlook.
Agent Wilsons Estate Agency 4344 2511


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BEST NSW BEACH PROPERTY, originally published in the Sun Herald in December 2004 What’s in a name? Well, a few million dollars if you pick the right beach. Byron Bay, Hyams Beach and Pearl Beach are three examples of NSW beaches that achieve property values worth up to double their sandy neighbours. Take Pearl Beach on the Central Coast, where a beachfront property is worth more than $4 million, while a beachfront house at neighbouring Patonga or Umina beach can be had for around $2 million, according to PRDnationwide Ettalong Beach agent Stuart Gan. And let’s not forget Byron Bay, the far north coast mecca of hippies, health and hot property prices. A beachfront in the prestigious Wategos area of Byron Bay will probably cost more than $4 million – if you can get your hands on one - while a beachfront in Lennox Head sold earlier this year for $2.83 million, according to Elders Lennox Head principal Michael King. Then there is the increasingly popular hamlet of Hyams Beach on Jervis Bay south of Sydney, where a beachfront house passed in at auction for more than $2 million while the record price for a beachfront in neighbouring Vincentia is $1.71 million. “Don’t ask me why people pay so much more to be on the same stretch of water, in the same area as cheaper properties – it’s just the name that makes people pay,” says Ray White Jervis Bay principal Pamela Smith. THE PEARL OF THE CENTRAL COAST Pearl Beach – median house price $935,000* Umina – median house price $385,000 Patonga – average house price $546,000 (NOTE TO ED: no median house prive available for Patonga – too few sales to get a stat) Nestled at the bottom of a bushy hill with just one road in and out is the sleepy beachside village of Pearl Beach, which has around 470 houses all within a 500 metre walk of the beach and less than two hours drive from Sydney. “Pearl Beach is more like Fiji than anything on the east coast of Australia – as soon as you get down the hill, you feel like you are on holidays,” says Mr Gan. Neighbouring Patonga has a similar sleepy feel to Pearl Beach – there are less than 500 houses and there is only one road in - but the prices are cheaper because Patonga has tidal mud flats rather than a white stretch of beach. Wilsons Estate Agency agent Rod Dillon says Pearl Beach has capitalised on the value of celebrities who have holiday houses in the village. “A few well known identities like Andrew Denton have had places there, so then other celebrities decide they should live there as well,” he says. “Then it becomes the ‘I live in Pearl Beach’ factor, and that’s what makes prices out of kilter with where it should be.” RISING JEWEL OF THE SOUTH COAST Hyams Beach – median house price $795,000 Vincentia - median house price $470,000 Huskisson - median house price $490,000 Just 10 years ago, Hyams Beach was known mostly for having the whitest sand in the world. “In the last seven or eight years, it’s gone off – it’s full of Porsches in the summer,” says Ms Jervis. Hyams Beach Real Estate principal Chris Alison says the high property prices are driven by the lack of houses available for sale, as the village is surrounded by national park and there is no further subdivision. “This is a genuine village with no commercial development except this shop, so it’s unspoilt and it has natural beauty,” he explains. “It is twice the price of Vincentia, but it’s more than twice as nice.” Hyams has a mix of old beach cottages and newer townhouse style developments, the majority of which are second homes to people based in Sydney or Canberra. Ms Jervis says 90 per cent of people interested in buying the beachfront she auctioned last week were from the eastern suburbs of Sydney. “It’s one of those things where a professional person buys a house, and then brings their friends down and they want to buy a house there as well,” she says. FAR NORTH COAST MECCA Byron Bay – median house price $605,000 Lennox Head – median house price $502,000 Brunswick Heads – median house price $432,000 Byron Bay has a mystique all of its own, but even the immediate beachside neighbours can’t catch up to the hot property prices of this north coast town. Lennox Head is about 15-minutes drive south of Byron, and it has its own lakes and rugged surf beach, while Brunswick Heads is about 15-minutes drive north of Byron with a river and beach and a sleepier fishing town atmosphere. Elders Real Estate Byron Bay agent Michael Gudgeon says Byron Bay has one of the safest north-facing beaches on the east coast, as well as a lively town with a night life. “We have artists, we have movie stars, we have people from all walks of life who can afford to live anywhere they want to but choose to come here for the natural beauty,” he says. *all statistics supplies by Australian Property Monitors, publishers of the Home Price Guide, for the period to September 2004. PEARL BEACH 26 Diamond Rd $995,000 This two-storey house has a self-contained apartment in the backyard and a lovely bushy outlook. House 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Land 675 sq m Position One street back from the beach. Agent PRDnationwide Ettalong Beach 4344 5580 UMINA BEACH 6 Abelia Pl $449,000 This two-storey house has a self-contained apartment downstairs and four bedrooms upstairs. House 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Land 500 sq m Position Less than a kilometre to the beach with an elevated bushy outlook. Agent Wilsons Estate Agency 4344 2511