CAMDEN Haven has emerged as one of the Mid North Coast’s strongest post-pandemic property hotspots, with dwelling values rising nearly 60 percent since December 2019, outpacing Sydney and the national market.
Cotality’s latest figures show buyers have increasingly turned to the local area for lifestyle, affordability and hybrid-work flexibility.
The Port Macquarie Hastings LGA’s result outpaces the national average (50.4 percent) and sits well above Greater Sydney’s 38.9 percent property growth over the same six-year period.
House values in the LGA have climbed 62.2 percent since December 2019, while units are up 50.9 percent, reflecting strong buyer demand in Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills and Laurieton.
Cotality’s 20-year data shows dwelling values across the Port Macquarie LGA have risen 113 percent, with houses up 124.3 percent and units up 71.9 percent.
This places the region among NSW’s most consistently performing coastal markets.
Cotality executive research director Tim Lawless said the uplift since 2019 reflects broader lifestyle and affordability trends across regional NSW.
“Across regional NSW, dwelling values have risen 61 percent since 2019,” he said.
“Almost half of regional NSW’s 20-year growth has been realised in the past six years.
“Camden Haven, like many coastal markets, benefited from internal migration and the rise of hybrid work.
“The markets started from a relatively low base in 2019, which helped fuel substantial growth.”
He said Sydney’s affordability premium over regional NSW had narrowed sharply.
“That premium has fallen from 86 percent in 2019 to 59 percent today,” Lawless said.
“It highlights the strength of regional lifestyle markets.”
While the market has cooled from its pandemic-era peak, Lawless said growth had stabilised to a more sustainable level
Annual increases across major north coast hubs – from Port Stephens up to Coffs Harbour – now range from 4.7 to 6.4 percent, according to Cotality.
“Growth has moderated, but the trend remains positive,” Lawless said.
In the coastal LGAs examined north of Newcastle to Coffs Harbour, Port Stephens posted the strongest result since 2019, with dwelling values rising 73.6 percent.
Coffs Harbour has risen 57 percent, slightly below Camden Haven’s uplift.
By Matt TAYLOR
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
