Even a South Pacific island costs less than a typical Aussie home

With Australia's average house price ever rising, it may surprise you what $775,000 buys in Australia and around the world. Click to find out.

It seems like there’s no stopping the property train. Every successive piece of research tracking real estate values, especially those in Sydney and Melbourne, indicates median home prices are on a non-stop express to Infinityville. The country’s median house price in 1995 was about $150,000, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia. In December 2016, barely 20 years later, real estate website Domain reported that the median price had reached $774,799. This was a new spring record and a whopping 3.7 per cent increase over the three months ending November. The national unit price – $550,150 – increased by a similar amount over the same period. How much can I borrow?Use UNO's calculator to estimate your borrowing capacity. Calculate NowIt doesn’t matter what type of property you would like to buy in Australia’s biggest cities, chances are you have never been asked to pay more for it than now. It’s also likely to be more expensive tomorrow. All of this might start you thinking about what you could get for $775,000 if you bought elsewhere in Australia or around the world. What’s available might surprise you.

Australia

Property prices continue to rise across Victoria – even outside metropolitan areas – so it pays to cast the net wide. 22 Vision Avenue, Sorrento (Jellis Craig Sorrento) On the Mornington Peninsula, you might choose a three-bedroom beach house in Sorrento with stunning views of Port Phillip Bay. 6A Grenville Street South, Ballarat Central (PRDnationwide Ballarat) Need a home loan?UNO. The new way to get a better deal. Get StartedIn historic Ballarat, there’s a large apartment for sale above the Beechworth Bakery in a character-filled 1886 Water Board building. 2/179 Mitchell Street, Stockton (Raine & Horne Newcastle & Stockton) With just over $700,000 marking the current median price for a two-bedroom flat in Sydney, it pays to keep your property expectations in check in Australia’s Emerald City. Just two hours north of Sydney, in sunny Stockton, you could buy a three-bedroom townhouse with stunning beach and ocean views. 2 Kings Road, Leura (Chapman Real Estate Blaxland) Leura, in the Blue Mountains and just 100 kilometres from the CBD, has a charming century-old home for sale with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It’s on two titles with 4700 square metres of land. 902/215 Boundary Street, Rainbow Bay (BMG Property Group) As former federal health minister Sussan Ley famously discovered, you can pick up a decent Gold Coast investment unit for $795,000, even on a whim, while on business. But that was in May 2015. A more recent option is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom ninth-floor Rainbow Bay unit near Coolangatta, with views of Snapper Rocks. 820 Lobethal Road, Basket Range (Harcourts Adelaide Hills) In the stunning Adelaide Hills, high $700,000s buys something big. Consider a recently sold house in Basket Range, which is about half an hour to the city. It has four bedrooms, four living areas, four bathrooms and six car spots, plus a swimming pool, spa and tennis court. 5 Cedar Court, East Devonport (Collins Real Estate) In Tasmania, money buys size and heritage. A seven-bedroom house in East Devonport, Rannoch, was built in the 1850s and might be used as a B&B or stay-at-home business.

Overseas

Outside of the major cities, the United Kingdom offers a range of thought-provoking property options. Some even pre-date Australia’s European settlement.

Vicarage Lane, Poulton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire (Knight Frank)

Selling agents believe an attractive stone cottage for sale in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, was built in the 16th century. They say the two- or three-bedroom home “is in need of modernisation” but it still might be worth the hassle with a price guide of £450,000 ($770,000).

Killantringan Lightkeeper’s House (Knight Frank)

Another unusual property listing, according to the UK Daily Telegraph, was Killantringan Lightkeeper’s House on the south-western tip of Scotland. With a price tag of just over £485,000 ($820,000), it comes with six bedrooms, a separate three-bedroom cottage and very expansive views.

16 Birchwood Place, Dover, New Hampshire (The Colwell-Ellis Group)

In the US, a property recently taken off the market in South Dover, New Hampshire, is a gothic mansion, bunker and former 19th century water tank rolled into one. The owner might still be willing to accept an offer around US$530,000 ($735,000).

45 East Main Street, Fincastle, Virginia (Century 21 Wampler Realty)

If that doesn’t work out, you could always bid for an 1895 Baptist Church in Fincastle, Virginia. It has four bedrooms, three offices and a sanctuary. Agents say the bell still works, although trying it out on a Sunday morning might not endear you to the neighbours.

731 Ashley Gorge Road, Glentui (Bayleys)

In New Zealand, a home for nature lovers is on the market for NZ$759,000 ($729,000). The new-build in Glentui, just an hour from Christchurch, has its own power supply and sits on 10 hectares of stunning native bush with its own wild deer.

Tahifehifa Island (Private Islands Online)

Alternatively, you could just buy an island. Tahifehifa Island, in Tonga’s Vava’u island group, is tiny (smaller than a hectare) and pristine. Website Private Islands Online says it’s “ideal for an eco-tourism bungalow resort development”. “There are very few islands in the world that are as beautiful and unspoilt as Tahifehifa,” it says. And it could be yours for about $430,000. How much can I save by refinancing?Use UNO's calculator to estimate your savings. Calculate SavingsThere’s no home on the island. Indeed, nothing has been built there. But at least it would take you a long way from the worries of buying a home in Sydney or Melbourne … Book a call in with UNO

Book Call Now

UNO home loans

Try Plans, by UNO
Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
Considering a purchase or refinance?

Try Plans by UNO

Mortgage calculators completely reimagined
Get Started
☎️ 🚫 No cold call promise

Related Articles

TESTIMONIALS

What our customers are saying

Kathryn Cretney
November 14, 2024
Paul helped us from day one before we even arrived in Australia so we knew exactly what we needed to prepare. He’s got a tonne of knowledge and was really lovely and supportive to deal with. Helpful and easy going. Would highly recommend - now in our first Aussie home and Paul made the process all very easy!
Read more
Sean O'Neill
November 14, 2024
We received excellent service and a tailored solution to our home loan requirements from Uno. Paul kept us informed at all milestone stages and throughout the process he demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude that ultimately allowed us to get over the line and meet our deadline. We’re most grateful and very impressed. Highly recommend
Read more
Crush Huston
November 8, 2024
Paul is an amazing broker. Communicative, responsive and knows his stuff! Highly recommend
Read more
Amanda Pearce
November 7, 2024
After just four months in Australia, our New Zealand home sold, prompting us to stop renting and invest locally. We found Paul through a Kiwi Facebook group, and his exceptional service exceeded our expectations. From initial contact, Paul provided clear explanations, friendly communication, and prompt responses to our queries, making our mortgage process remarkably smooth. We highly recommend him.
Read more
Dom Saric
November 3, 2024
Mike Parsons went above and beyond to ensure that our refinancing journey was painless and successful. He was communicative, accessible (even working while on holidays!), and his knowledge of the systems at play meant that he picked up on things that other brokers missed. Would 100% recommend Mike, and will definitely be back next time we need a broker.
Read more
Ashleigh Breaden
October 31, 2024
Mike Parsons handled our refinance of our home loan with ease and a depth of knowledge that ensured we got the best deal possible for our situation. We didn't have an easy one to solve for with my husband being self employed and we were consolidating finances as well for a car loan. But Mike handled it all for us and once we had provided him with all the documents we literally didn't have to do a thing after that, it was so easy and so quick we are super happy with the experience! Top notch! Highly recommend!!
Read more
Kyle Richards
October 10, 2024
Absolute legend, helped me through the first home buyers scheme, explained everything in a way that made sense, was very knowledgeable and a joy to work with.
Read more
Chloe S
October 8, 2024
Mike Parsons made it possible for us and the in laws to get 2 pretty complicated home loans. He helped us through everything and we'd be happy to use Mike and the team again for anything we needed. Thanks again!
Read more
Sam Rezai
October 2, 2024
I have gone through 6 different mortgage brokers prior to meeting Andrew Wyers. He is the most patient mortgage broker I’ve encountered and also the most knowledgable about the bank’s lending process and products available. It took me 1 year to find a house I was happy with and Andrew was always there to assist with any issues or questions I had; he always return my phone call, even on the weekends or when his away on holidays. The loan process was smooth and I had no complications. The process with Andrew was again nice and easy, he took the time to find and put together the right package that was suited to my situation. I have recommended Andrew to my family & friends and everyone have been grateful and completely satisfied with his service.
Read more
S Wilko
September 23, 2024
I had not dealt with Scott or UNO before finding them on the internet. Even as an Australian citizen living and working overseas, I knew obtaining a loan would be difficult. However, Scott went above and beyond what I expected from a mortgage broker. I genuinely don’t think you could find another company that works as hard as they did to get my home loan approved. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Everyone I dealt with at UNO were extremely professional and helpful. If you are looking for a broker, you would be mad not to give them a go. Thanks to Scott Wilkinson, Dalby Bajwa, Jena Lasquite and Andrew Pacini. Shaun.
Read more
Shan Liao
September 3, 2024
I had an outstanding experience with Tian Liu. He was incredibly professional and attentive, going above and beyond to meet my needs. His expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Tian's deep knowledge of the market and commitment to finding the best solutions for his clients truly sets him apart. He was always available to answer my questions and provided invaluable guidance throughout. I highly recommend Tian Liu to anyone in need of a reliable and skilled broker!"
Read more
Nathanael Chin
September 3, 2024
Tian Liu provided exceptional service throughout the entire process. His professionalism and keen attention to detail were evident from the start. Tian consistently kept us informed and offered insightful advice that made us feel confident in our decisions. He truly cares about his clients and works tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome. We couldn't be happier with his assistance and highly recommend Tian to anyone looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable broker.
Read more