Mackay’s Northern Beaches booming

IT’S still a wise move to invest in Mackay’s housing market and the Northern Beaches will be a buyers’ hot spot.

This is the opinion of Xcel Properties managing director developer Kim Clarke.

Xcel Properties released more house and land packages to market at its popular master-planned estate Plantation Palms recently.

“The city is struggling to keep up with its growing population – 1500 new homes needed to fill the demand every year,” Mr Clarke said.

“With all the uncertainty the market did slow down for a couple of weeks, but that was Australia-wide.

“In the last few weeks we have seen it pick up again, particularly in Mackay.”

Despite a drop in consumer confidence, Mackay was still a worthy choice for investment, Mr Clarke said.

“I think one of the things that impressed in the most about the Mackay city, is its strong economy.

“It has strong agriculture, strong manufacturing in Paget, and then the businesses that are servicing the surrounding mines.”

Northern Beaches is one of the fastest-growing areas in Mackay and Mr Clarke said that was about to ramp up as major projects came online.

“There is the new school, it’s close to the shops and eventually there will be bus routes and cycle ways that link up to the shops and beaches,” he said.

“People living in Plantation Palms will be able to walk, or cycle if they prefer, to school and to the shops.”

Mr Clarke said the area was unique because the majority of the land was bought off a sole owner.

“The Symons family owned the whole area years ago… we are able to work with the Mackay Regional Council to think about the planning of the estate and the area.”

The new packages are part of the Stage 3B and comprise 46 lots from 535 to 881sq m. They are priced between $199,000 and $285,000.

Mr Clarke said the range of people looking to buy the packages was broad, but he noticed a strong trend in buying smaller lot sizes.

“There seems to be a lot of older couples who are looking to downsize,” he said.

“But the first-home buyers, which are generally your young married couples, are looking that to go that way as well.

“First-home buyers usually want to invest between $380,000-$440,000 mark.

“But in saying that, there will always be people wanting to buy the bigger blocks with the larger manor homes as well.”

What’s available?

 Stage 3B comprises 46 lots from 535 to 881sqm,

  Prices range between $199,000 and 285,000