Market Watch: Rockingham – quiet coastal enclave seeing serious growth – realestate.com.au
Rockingham may technically be a suburb of Perth, but the beach enclave feels far from the WA capital – in the best way.
The coastal town of Rockingham, about 40 minutes southwest of Perth's CBD, has seen dramatic change over the years.
The once sleepy seaside town is now a thriving coastal paradise with a population of over 130,000.
“I've lived in Rockingham since 1969,” says Laurie Smith OAM. “At that time, the population was 6,000 people.”
Despite its rapid growth, Rockingham still feels more like an empty haven than a suburb.
The area sits on the water and enjoys almost year-round sunshine, and the community is incredibly close-knit.
“The climate is beautiful and I love living here because I've met so many wonderful people,” said Carolyn Hubbard.
Of course, the beaches are the suburb's main attraction, offering plenty of activities both in and out of the water.
Residents enjoy everything from outdoor water sports to wildlife watching in the surrounding marine reserves, along with scenic walks and bike rides along the coast.
“We have won awards for the best beaches in Western Australia at least twice,” adds Laurie Smith OAM.
“My favorite place in Rockingham has to be Shoalwater Bay. “Shoalwater Bay is God's gift to this area.”
It's also very cosmopolitan, has a great drinking and dining scene and has services, amenities, schools, parks and more to rival the convenience of inner-city Perth.
The foreshore is a hive of activity, home to great cafes and restaurants overlooking the water and community events throughout the year.
“Rockingham is a great place to live – it offers a fantastic quality of life and has something for everyone,” said Shani Paget, Mobile Communications Manager.
“There's surfing, snorkelling, safe beaches for your kids to splash around in, plus great cafes and restaurants to enjoy great food.”
Due to its ideal balance of coastal charm and convenient amenities, Rockingham is becoming an increasingly popular destination for owner occupiers and investors alike.
The area has seen strong price growth over the past 12 months, with median house prices up 28% and apartment prices up 28.9%.
The market also moves very quickly as eager buyers compete to secure a property.
Ms Paget says: “Properties are snapped up with an average time on the market of 10 days.
“This is for both home buyers and investors, although with attractive property prices and higher rental yields, it is becoming more attractive to investors.”
Nikki De Rijcke, Director/Licensing at JW Residential, highlights the strong demand at the moment, noting that every open house is packed with buyers.
“Competition to buy a property is still very high at the moment,” he says.
“We see that even on a Monday evening, we get 36 groups through an open house with multiple offers submitted.”
He doesn't see that momentum slowing any time soon, expecting the warmer months to fuel the market even more.
“We believe activity will pick up over the next three months with a number of properties coming onto the market,” he said.
“A lot of people get their properties ready to sell in the spring, which is when it's usually busy.”
If you want to buy your own property, you can help make that vision a reality.
With engaging, helpful home buying tools, including free and a team of local experts, you can settle in Rockingham before you.
“At Bendigo Bank we can help shoppers in Rockingham by meeting you at a time and place that suits your busy schedule,” says Ms Paget.
“We'll discuss your current situation and explore your future aspirations to make sure you have a solid plan in place when your search begins.”
Ms Paget adds that a local agent on the ground can be a handy advantage.
“With local knowledge of the Rockingham area, we will be able to answer any questions and point you in the right direction.”
Carolyn Hubbard says if you shop in the suburbs, you'll be welcomed with open arms: “I just have wonderful neighbors and we're like a big family.”
