investing in the hunter Valley

Hi Thommo

If you havn't done it yet, type in "muswellbrook" In search bar top right corner. A few threads will appear. I have a couple of properties there myself which are going well. The local council is proactive and aware that the rapidly expanding population will require increased services and amenities. They have purchased a large heritage building in the main street and are talking about a theatre and other facilities there. They are also upgrading the main street of town. There is a large council owned undeveloped area of prime real estate on the south-western entry to town which they have rezoned and plan to develop into a "light industrial" zone. Hungry Jacks have opened a new outlet, and KFC recently located to a new, bigger, and better facility. Of course, the impetus behind all the activity is created by new and expanding mines.

Regards

Hi Thommo,

We recently purchased in the Hunter Valley region, in Maitland. The vacancy rate is very low, properties are very solid and sound and there is a lot of government spend in the area in terms of new infrastructure. The town is well equipped with plenty of big name brand stores, hospitals and schools and good transport. Don’t let the doom and gloomers affect your decision making as there is always someone out there telling you to do otherwise.

Do you research and if the stats and numbers match up, then go for it. The worst mistake is to do nothing at all.
Good luck and let us know how you go!

P.s The Hunter Valley region is a marginal government seat so both parties take strongly to that area and will do a lot to keep it on side.

Hi Thommo,
Ive talked to a number of agents in Kurri Kurri and all have said rentals are as scarce as hens teeth and getting even tighter. The Hunter Expressway will have entry/exit interchange in both directions at Kurri, most of the other interchanges are only in one direction. The Eastern section (Kurri to F3) is 13km @ 110km/h = 7mins travel time. At present I think it takes roughly 20 minutes to do that trip so its a significant saving, due to finish end of 2013. Coles and Aldi have recently gone in, there is also a Mcdonalds and KFC. There are also a few mines close by (not as many as further up the valley).
Just my 2 cents

have been looking at regional towns of muswellbrook, maitland and singleton. Just wondering which town would be the best to invest in for capital growth?

Also, I've been having trouble finding data on new mines that are existing and proposed in the area showing workforce etc, nsw planning website is terrible unlike qld's department of mines!!

Can anyone provide any links of maps showing where the mines and projects will be located? the ones from nsw planning are useless

Thanks

Yes, have a fair few clients investing in these parts.

Cheers

Jamie

Hi,
I live and work in the Hunter Valley, I am a surveyor that has worked extensively in the coal industry for the last 10 years and unless the coal prices fall significantly the valley is an investors dream. But you must approach with caution, miners on large wages will pay massively inflated prices for homes, so I found buying the lower end freestanding houses, with my eye on tenants in the mine support industries that surround the area, the best option IE engineering workshops in industrial areas. These people are well paid but tend to not want the highend rents.
Look into Rutherford, Telarah that are in the Maitland area, also the "ripple" suburbs Greta, Branxton and North Rothury that will be affected by the Hunter Expressway. Singleton is experiencing some improvements including a new shopping centre which may boost the town but more people with families are choosing to travel to work from the Maitland area.
A quick look at the RTA website at the road improvements states that after completion the freeway may cut up-to half an hour off the travel from the upper hunter to Newcastle, as Maitland and Newcastle are the desired places of residence due to better Schools (private) and Beaches as well as other weekend activities I use this as a large decider in my choices. Workers travelling from Maitland and Newcastle will experience shorter travel times.
There are mines further up the Valley around Muswellbrook and proposed sites as far up as Scone, there is also huge potential but the market does become very competitive.

These are just my experiences in the area and my current opinions. The Hunter Valley so large with alot of surrounding industries including various agriculture and vineyards, with a very low vacancy rates. Happy hunting!!

Regards

A number of my highly sought after friends who are fitters have just had their hours drastically reduced / let go in the hunter valley due to lowering demand from China.

They say they have too much coal as is and don't know what to do with it.

Thoughts on property due to lowering demand of resources?