Brighter Buying

Bizarre property phenomenon: Queensland houses cheaper than units

by Kate Watt, Marketing Manager 12 October 2016

Boasting Australia’s best known rum distillery, there is now another reason to love Bundaberg: it’s cheaper to buy a house than a unit in this regional Queensland town.

The latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) data shows Bundaberg’s quarterly median house price has fallen 5.5 per cent to $260,000 whereas units boasted a quarterly median price of $287,000.

What’s the deal?

“This is really unusual and it’s a little bit of a quirk of the market – we haven’t seen this in more than 20 years,” said REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella.

“It’s also a reflection of the buyers, who are largely pre-retirees and southern investors buying low-maintenance units that are easy to look after and very liveable.”

And if you think that’s quirky, here are some more bizarre facts from property markets around the world:

  • A glut of castles hitting the market in France last year saw some castle values dip below Sydney unit prices.
  • Half of all homes in Japan are demolished within 38 years, a phenomenon dubbed “disposable homes”.
  • The Greek debt crisis led to a Greek isle fire sale last year where a little over a million dollars could secure your island in the sun.

Got your fix of trivia for the day? Relax some more and browse our current listings for sale or check our listings for rent.

Bundaberg

Bargara has been a standout across the Bundaberg region.

Bundaberg

The Bundaberg floods haunted the real estate market for years.

Bundaberg

A number of infrastructure projects should strengthen the local market.

Japans disposable homes

In Japan, a home like a car, decreasing in value the minute you buy it.

Japans disposable homes

Japan has most architects per capita in the world, four times the US.

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