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UMINA Houses outperform Units | November 10th, 2025

Author: Michael Daniels

Umina Beach is showing good growth results across houses, units and townhouses (strata dwellings). We decided to compare the performance of Houses vs Units.

Houses: Premium Pricing, Sustained Demand

Houses dominate, accounting for 75% of Umina’s 7,652 dwellings (5,741 total). The median price is now $1,190,000, reflecting a solid 5.5% annual increase. Last month, 55 listings attracted 2,369 interested buyers—43 buyers per property—resulting in 237 sales at a median 59 days on market. Rental demand remains strong: 54 homes available, 1,329 interested renters (24.6 per listing), leasing in just 21 days at $650 weekly (up 10.2%). Gross yield is 3.0%, underpinned by 68% owner-occupancy and an average tenure of 24.2 years.

Units & Townhouses: Affordable Entry, Higher Yields

Representing 25% of stock (1,911 dwellings), units and townhouses hold a median price of $865,000, up 4.8% annually. Tighter supply—only 22 listings—drew 793 buyers (36 per listing), achieving 71 sales in 54 days. Rental scarcity drives performance: 20 units versus 628 interested renters (31.4 per listing), leasing in 22 days at $590 weekly (up 7.3%). Gross yield outperforms at 3.4%, with 128 leases over the past year.

Key Insights for Buyers & Investors

Houses attract stronger owner-occupier competition and faster rental growth; units deliver higher yields and quicker turnover but modest capital gains. Low stock across both segments signals continued upward price pressure.

Whether refinancing, upsizing or entering the market, contact us at Mortgage Choice Central Coast for tailored loan strategies.

UPDATE | Check Your Central Coast Suburb's House Price | September 13th, 2025

Author: Michael Daniels

The recent changes to the First Home Buyer Guarantee Scheme have resulted in our office receiving a large number of calls from people looking to buy their first home. At least 80% of these calls are from individuals seeking to purchase a house rather than a unit. The affordability test can sometimes change those plans, but I encourage people to view home ownership as a stepping-stone process.

Almost every person, for good reason, is worried about rising prices now that interest rates have reduced.

Mortgage Choice Central Coast has prepared a table to help answer some of your questions. We have ranked the 47 suburbs from the most affordable to the most expensive, based on their median house prices. We have also shown you the last 6 months to help you identify which direction your target suburb is trending.

We can generally prepare a loan application within a day or two, so if you are looking to own your own Central Coast home, we can provide you with a pre-approval in a short time.

🏡 Curious About Your Home’s Value? 💰

If you plan to use some of your home equity for an investment, knowing your home's value is crucial.

Let’s connect and find out what your home is worth with a FREE RP Data report.

#propertyvalue #realestate #mortgagebroker #centralcoast

UPDATE | Wamberal Ranks 5th out of 47 Central Coast Suburbs | August 22nd, 2025

Although Wamberal has suffered a 6.10% decline in its median house price over the last 12 months, I thought a bit of perspective was needed for this hotly sought-after Central Coast jewel.

We cut the growth numbers between July 2020 and July 2025, and the median house price grew from $1,000,000 to $1,550,000. A growth rate of 55% over 5 years. Sure, there was quite a lot of inflation during that time, but that would put Wamberal's July 2020 $1,000,000 at $1,212,400 according to the RBA's inflation calculator. So we have had REAL, after-inflation, growth of $337,600 in 5 years.

So, where to next for Wamberal? The indicators are mixed. The median days on market is relatively lengthy at 66 days, indicating a buyer's market, however, there were 2,342 "seriously interested buyers" searching for Wamberal houses on realestate.com.au last month. This is an above-average result for Wamberal.

UPDATE | TERRIGAL - Real Estate Agent Results | August 21st, 2025

We have prepared a table showing the disclosed house sales in Terrigal for the last 3 months. There were 44 sales according to the results reported by Cotality (Formerly RP Data). We have excluded the sales with undisclosed sales amounts.

Although there is a wide range of agents represented, McGrath Terrigal has a large share of the top 50% of the sale amounts, and LJ Hooker Terrigal dominates the lower half of the sale amounts.

We have added a column showing the $ amounts per square meter of land. This can serve as a helpful comparison to gauge the effectiveness of the sales agent's results.

UPDATE | Erina Growth Ranks 5th out of 47 Central Coast Suburbs | August 17th, 2025

Understanding Erina's Local Property Growth

Erina ranked 5th out of 47 Central Coast suburbs for median house price growth over the last 12 months. Erina's median house price growth reached $115,000 between July 24 and July 25, almost three times the Central Coast average of $41,723.

Erina's Nearby Suburb Performance

Surprisingly, Erina's nearby beachside neighbours of Forresters Beach, Wamberal and Terrigal ranked 47th, 46th and 39th respectively. The nearby Western Neighbours, East Gosford, and Springfield also performed well, finishing 4th and 13th.

Erina Mortgage Broker Analysis: Affordability Trends

My anecdotal theory for this East/West difference is that affordability pressure has hurt the more expensive suburbs under higher interest rates. That theory struggles a little when you see that Avoca Beach ranked 2nd, but Avoca Beach has always been a favourite of Sydney's North Shore holiday home buyers and often behaves differently from the rest of the Central Coast.

Why Erina’s Property Market Thrives

Erina, in particular, has always had its obvious advantages: Beach accessibility within 10 minutes, the largest shopping centre on the Coast, significant and growing health services, a large number of local job opportunities and a reasonable public transport hub. These features contribute to house demand and are all in the top 10 for property analysts looking for growth.

If you would like to talk with us about your property and mortgage plans, please call us at Mortgage Choice Central Coast or email us at [email protected] or

[email protected].

UPDATE | Kariong is 22 minutes further but $631,750 cheaper | August 16th, 2025

I've written about the Kariong and Berowra comparison before. They are both what I describe as Sydney commuter suburbs. Both have strong communities and are relatively affordable free-standing house options for people who work in Sydney. Both also have a very high percentage of houses (around 91%) compared to strata properties. I question the significant price difference, given that the freeway drive time is approximately only 22 minutes between the two.

The table below illustrates a wide range of property data points that help you to make a more informed decision.

Kariong Affordability for Buyers

The median house price in Kariong is $1,018,250, significantly lower than Berowra's $1,650,000—a difference of over $631,000. This lower entry point is ideal for first-time buyers or those with limited budgets. Additionally, Kariong’s median price growth over the past 12 months is 5.00%, outpacing Berowra's 1.20%, suggesting stronger potential for value appreciation.

Berowra Housing Costs

In contrast, Berowra presents a higher-cost housing market. The median house price of $1,650,000 is likely attracting higher-income buyers or those seeking long-term investment in a stable area. Berowra has two significant features that make it a stable housing market: 1,535 houses with a 92.69% house-to-total-dwelling ratio. Berowra’s market leans toward owner-occupancy (87%). However, its slower price growth (1.20%) indicates less dynamic value increase.

Kariong Rental Affordability

For renters, Kariong offers greater affordability with a median weekly rent of $650, compared to Berowra's $820—a $170 weekly savings. This aligns with Kariong’s higher renter occupancy rate of 22% versus Berowra’s 13%, catering to budget-conscious tenants. The gross rental yield of 3.80% further enhances Kariong’s appeal for investors seeking affordable rental returns, supported by 157 leases in the past 12 months and an extremely quick 14-day median lease-on-market period.

Berowra Rental Market

Berowra’s rental market, while offering higher rents at $820 per week, is relatively affordable for tenants as the rental yield is 2.70% which is lower than Kariong’s 3.8%, reflecting the lowest cost compared to the value of the property. With only 44 leases in the past 12 months and a 30-day median leasing period, rental turnover is slower, possibly causing the modest rent growth of 1.90%.

UPDATE | Tumbi Umbi Ranks 1st on Central Coast | August 9th, 2025

Author: Michael Daniels

Tumbi Umbi has secured the top spot for median house price growth over the past six months among the 47 largest suburbs on the Central Coast, according to data from realestate.com.au. This ranking highlights Tumbi Umbi as a key area for property investment and mortgage opportunities.

Median House Prices in Tumbi Umbi

In Tumbi Umbi, the median house price for 3-bedroom homes reached $830,000, while 4-bedroom homes commanded a significantly higher median of $1,150,000. This $320,000 gap underscores the value of additional space, making it an attractive consideration for homeowners and investors working with a mortgage broker in Tumbi Umbi.

Sustained High Prices in Recent Months

With approximately 62 house sales annually (around 5 per month), Tumbi Umbi’s data may reflect some influence from high-end sales. However, the last three months have consistently shown strong price performance, reinforcing its position as a standout suburb on the Central Coast.

Other Top Performers: East Gosford and Avoca Beach

East Gosford and Avoca Beach also demonstrated notable growth, achieving six-digit increases in median house prices. These suburbs, while distinct in their market dynamics, join Tumbi Umbi as strong contenders for property investment on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Market Trends

Among the 47 suburbs analysed, only 12 experienced a decline in median house prices over the six months. While short-term fluctuations are evident, long-term growth trends should be considered for a comprehensive view, particularly for those seeking mortgage broker services on the Central Coast.

Why choose a Mortgage Broker expert in Tumbi Umbi?

For homeowners and investors looking to capitalise on Tumbi Umbi’s booming property market, consulting a local mortgage broker can provide tailored financial solutions. Whether upgrading from a 3-bedroom to a 4-bedroom home or exploring investment opportunities, a Central Coast mortgage broker can guide you through the process.

If you would like to talk with us about your property and mortgage plans, please call us at Mortgage Choice Central Coast or email us at [email protected] or

[email protected].