Hi guys, if there are any Nth Qld people on here or anyone who knows the area, we are looking at IP in townsville. Are there any suburbs in Townsville we should be avoiding? There seems to be good houses for low prices in Kelso for example.
Any advice is welcomed.
Thanks
Mark.Hi Mark
Lived in Townsville for 10 years now. Kelso is one of those suburbs that has a few socio-economic groups in it. There is a fair bit of acreage, as well as some expensive properties near the river, but a big part of it is made up of cheaper housing. It is also a fair way from anywhere (there is a primary school) but the new motorway has made it closer to the Uni and Hospital than it was. Just be wary.If you are looking for cheaper housing with good capital growth then I would suggest a suburb such as Deeragun/Mt Low. There is huge infrastructure growth in the pipeline for that side of town. Tried and true suburbs for rental properties include Kirwan, Riverside Gardens (Douglas), North Ward and Annandale. More expensive to get into but excellent capital gains and high rental demand. Oonoonba is also an up-and-coming area (older housing, but there is a new port access road to be built and property values are tipped to increase significantly).
Hope this helps.
Mark,
Have you bought yet? Where did you buy?
JLPRD Nationwide have recently done a research paper on Townsville – check it out on their website.
Mark,
I lived in Townsville back in end of 80 to early 90's. I still have a house rented in Kirwan , its an old type highset.
Growth in Townsville was very low for about 15 years, but is now going ahead well over last few years, mostly I think due to Townsville infrustructure expansion and reliable water supplies.
I liked the town but didn't like the hot and long summers……….I agree with JL on his suggestions.
I don't think you can really go wrong buying in Townsville, it has a long future, but I don't think it will every be a Gold Coast, its too far from Brisbane etc especially with the price of fuel rising, I think the tourist trade may drop off a lot. But rentals usually rent out well – never had any real problems over 20 years. Good place to go and visit in the winter time.
Best of luck.
WJ Hooker,
A lot will have changed since you last lived in Townsville. A lot of new development in Kirwan (on the flood plains) and outer suburbs, including Kelso. All the new homes have great airconditioning, that are relatively cheap to run during the wet. The whole of the hospital is now airconditioned. For those that aren't aware, the old hospital only had A/c in the heart ward and emergency until the late 90's. The hospital has now got a heart specialist again, so there is no need to travel to Brisbane for that anymore. The bridge that connects Douglas to Condon opened up last year and now allows great access through all of town. There is a 20 million + revamp and extension going on in the next few years for Stockland – and Myer is coming. the Willows is also expanding. The only thing the town will then be missing is more specialist shops, medical care and surf. The lifestyle is great, still with a country town focus. James Cook University seems to be expanding, and there has been a shortage of affordable rental accomodation for students at the start of the year.I spoke with a builder from Townsville last week and he said minimum build times are only getting longer, as demand is still quiet high and there is a worker shortage. The current prices are rising by about 1% each month on the new properties. This may have been all talk, because he was trying to sell me a place.
When I investing in Townsville I have always been a bit put off by the high rates charges and high maintenance (especially for the highset we owned). The tenants would not tighten the cyclone bolts, so I got handyman over every year to check them. Things like that, that have been annoying expenses.
From what I can gather there is also a lack of school places in the newer suburbs, with much of the public schools zoned. From what I have heard, the zoning can exclude you if you are less than 1km from a particular school, because it caters for some new outlying suburbs. This must be frustrating for those that live so close, and then have to travel to a school further away.
Be interested to hear if anyone has gained much out of Townville in the last 6 months, especially after the builder I talked too raved about it. I have seen an ad for a newish 3 bedroom place on the net for 6 months and still not sold. This would tell me things are slowing down heaps. Anyone experience this?
JLJL,
Thanks for info. I have been back to visit a few times – due for next trip ( good for tax claims ). Don't forget the strand , its fantastic. One downside along the coast near south townsville is the flooding on king tides – which should get worse as global warming sets in?WJ Hooker,
Remember Townsville is in a Tsunami warning area too. Some parts of Kirwan are included in the evacuation area, mostly the old parts, so maybe your place. When you go there again, make sure you go have a look at the development opposite the Willow's. They have put in lagoons, in all over 3 olympic pools worth, and it is free to go take a dip. I know if i want to take the family for a swim in Sydney or Melbourne it can cost $20, so this is definately a draw card for those that are on the outskirts of town. This was Les Tyrells answer to the Strand, so it is pretty good.
JL
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