THE post-pandemic property boom in Camden Haven has been no surprise to Wayne Heilman, who has spent 44 years in real estate and the past decade selling homes across the district.
When he first arrived, he studied the demographics and growth projections closely and could see the region was primed to increase in popularity.
An ageing population signalled a steady turnover of homes, but a new wave of younger families has since accelerated that shift.
“Schools are growing, new subdivisions are opening around Lake Cathie, and the demographic is changing,” the Harcourts Laurieton agent said.
He said Camden Haven’s growth curve has always moved in cycles – spurts, plateaus and the occasional dip – but the long-term trend has remained consistently upward.
That trajectory only strengthened during COVID, defying early fears of a downturn.
“People took stock and said, ‘Let’s get out of Sydney and enjoy a better lifestyle’. They didn’t want that rat race anymore,” he said.
Strong spring results in local market
Spring brought one of the busiest selling seasons in years for local agents.
“Homes in the $800,000s and above moved quickly,” Heilman said.
“About 60 percent of our buyers are coming from Sydney or the Central Coast, but local interest is still strong.”
Debbi Phillips, from Lake Cathie Bonny Hills Real Estate, said demand was “crazy” during spring, with many homes selling off-market and above asking price.
“I’d say buyers are 50 percent from Greater Sydney and 50 percent from around Port Macquarie,” she said.
Harking back to the area’s first big boom
One Agency North Haven director Gaven Whalley says the local property data from the past 20 years missed a key lead-in period.
“Between 2002 and 2004, homes doubled in price here. It was our first big boom,” he said.
“Homes went from $160,000 to just over $300,000 in two years.”
He said that after two softer years post-COVID, the market is now at a “healthier equilibrium”.
“The government’s five percent deposit scheme is bringing first-home buyers back, something we rarely see in this region,” Whalley said.
Population growth outpacing infrastructure
Across Camden Haven and the broader Mid North Coast, one issue stands out: infrastructure hasn’t kept up with population growth.
“Sewerage, water, roads – they are all behind. The Cowarra Dam isn’t even a natural catchment. In drought, it struggles,” Heilman said.
Whalley is equally blunt.
“I used to live in Lake Cathie and we had brownouts because the power grid couldn’t cope,” he said.
“Now there are even more houses there. And places like Kew have waited years for sewer and water upgrades. “Development is happening faster than services can support.
“Planners were caught out years ago. They approved subdivisions before the infrastructure was ready, now the region is paying for it, whether it’s on basic services or roads.”
Phillips said even with a new supermarket and other services on the way to help support the release of the Rainbow Beach Estate in Lake Cathie, the Camden Haven area has been under the pump for years.
“Infrastructure has not kept pace,” she said. “Not with the pace of growth we’re seeing.”
2026 outlook: Strong, competitive and busy
Heilman expects a “super strong local market in 2026, just the way it’s ending in 2025”.
Whalley predicts a “flat but high-volume year” with interest rates steadying.
And Phillips believes demand will stay high due to chronic low stock.
By Matt TAYLOR
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