While a report has noted investors leaving the Hobart market, new data shows the suburbs that could catch their eye.
NEW realestate.com.au data has revealed some potential investment hot spots in a market that investors are neglecting.
Throughout greater Hobart, the website found three suburbs where houses offered rental yields above 6 or 7 per cent and five more (units) with yields of about 6 per cent.
While not a hard and fast rule, the Commonwealth Bank has pointed to a yield of 5 per cent and upward as being the sweet spot that investors look for.
Meanwhile, in its June Quarterly Report, the REIT revealed a near 50 per cent drop off in investor numbers throughout Tasmania in the three-month period. So, if there are suburbs with good potential and fewer investors in the current market, does that create opportunity?
Chief economist at realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee said it might.
Another consideration, she said, was that for established housing, money was “almost free” at the minute.
“Rates are so low, it is just incredibly cheap,” she said.
“If you have got a solid, stable job, now could be a good time to look at upgrading a home or making an investment.”
Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at realestate.com.au
In the houses sector, realestate.com.au placed Bridgewater at No.1 with a yield at 7.09 per cent followed by Risdon Vale 6.47 per cent and Rokeby 6.29 per cent.
Montrose, Rokeby, Hobart, Warrane and Howrah units recorded yields in the 12 months through June between 6.06 per cent and 6.38 per cent.
Nerida said investor activity had slowed down prior to COVID-19 with the financial services Royal Commission almost putting a stop to it.
“Limited capital growth can be a turn off for investors. They are not as active and engaged now as they were several years ago,” she said.
“Investors can find areas with good yields, often in affordable suburbs, but maybe capital growth does not come with these areas — they tend to be careful with that type of trade-off.
“Some places to watch could be those Howrah or Hobart units, areas that see value growth and currently have strong yields, too.”
The property website’s data also revealed Hobart’s most expensive and affordable rental suburbs.
Battery Point and Sandy Bay were the most expensive suburbs to rent a house at $620 and $600 per week.
Hobart and Battery Point again were the most expensive unit markets at $500 and $465.
The cheapest suburbs for houses were Bridgewater ($360), Dodges Ferry and Risdon Vale ($370 each).
At $320 per week, Midway Point and Montrose tied for the No.1 most affordable place to rent a unit.
PRD Hobart director Tony Collidge said 2020 had finally seen a rise in the number of properties available for rent following a long period of tight vacancy rates.
And yet, few Hobart homes make the grade for affordability, he said.
“There is still only 28.2 per cent of available properties that fall below the affordable line of $400 per week,” he said.
PRD Hobart director Tony Collidge.
“With a freeing up of supply, rents have decreased by up to $30 per week in Hobart through the past quarter.
“Launceston rents also decreased by $10 per week while those on the North-West Coast remained stable.”
Tony said rentals had perhaps experienced the local market’s most significant impact of COVID-19.
“With interstate and international students either returning home or unable to return because of COVID-19, the rental stress that we had experienced till now was alleviated,” he said.
“Any stress was further reduced when the tourism market came to a grinding halt and many Airbnb owners were forced to go to the medium or long-term rental markets to obtain income.”
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