Homelessness grows in south-east SA as house prices rise
Figures from PropTrack show the average price for a house or unit sold in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Murraylands and the Fleurieu Peninsula in July was $518,000 — up 13 per cent on a year earlier and up 97 per cent since July 2020.
Sale prices in regional South Australia have increased by 93 per cent in the same period — more than any capital city or regional part of another state.
"Home prices are expected to break into new territory later this year, with further interest rate cuts expected to add momentum to price growth," REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty said.
New data from the Australian Taxation Office shows the largest city in the area, Mount Gambier, had a median taxable income of $50,567 in 2022–23 — up 15 per cent on five years earlier.
Non-government organisation Ac.care chief executive Shane Maddocks said homelessness was a big and growing problem in Mount Gambier, with high demand for the few houses available.
"We have people — families — coming in from interstate as well.
"They think, 'oh well, country South Australia, there'll be cheaper housing' — that's not the case and we prioritise local people [for help]."
Over the past five years, weekly rents are up 73 per cent to $450 on average for a house in Mount Gambier, according to the state government agency Consumer and Business Services, where bonds are lodged for new leases.
Ac.care helped Danielle Malseed find a home in Mount Gambier.
She moved to the South East from the Northern Territory, thinking she could find a house more easily than in the Top End.
But she ended up sleeping on a floor.
Ms Malseed said it was hard to afford a home on her and her partner's income because they had five children.
"We searched for a house for a very long time, tried different services, different states," she said.
"[Ac.care] were the only people that actually listened to me and took my story seriously — I did get laughed at a few times, which was very weird."
Despite the price increases and low income growth in the region, real estate agent Macey Humphries said there were people still able to buy their first home in Mount Gambier.
"The most popular property for a first home buyer is under the $500,000 mark and we're definitely seeing properties come on the market like that," she said.
However, she said quite a few buyers were people who had moved from Adelaide looking for more affordable properties.
"We still are seeing first home buyers breaking into the market," she said.
Kim Cawthorne recently sold a house in Mount Gambier for a record $1.46 million.
"We've certainly got eyes on Mount Gambier from interstate and intrastate buyers," she said.
"There's a lot of investment in business in Mount Gambier and that's bringing in buyers that are looking for nice properties."
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ABC News
7 hours ago
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Homelessness grows in south-east SA as house prices rise
Housing costs have almost doubled in south-eastern South Australia over the past five years, which a charity says is leading to homelessness as people move to the area assuming it is more affordable than other parts of the country. Figures from PropTrack show the average price for a house or unit sold in the Limestone Coast, the Riverland, the Murraylands and the Fleurieu Peninsula in July was $518,000 — up 13 per cent on a year earlier and up 97 per cent since July 2020. Sale prices in regional South Australia have increased by 93 per cent in the same period — more than any capital city or regional part of another state. "Home prices are expected to break into new territory later this year, with further interest rate cuts expected to add momentum to price growth," REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty said. New data from the Australian Taxation Office shows the largest city in the area, Mount Gambier, had a median taxable income of $50,567 in 2022–23 — up 15 per cent on five years earlier. Non-government organisation chief executive Shane Maddocks said homelessness was a big and growing problem in Mount Gambier, with high demand for the few houses available. "We have people — families — coming in from interstate as well. "They think, 'oh well, country South Australia, there'll be cheaper housing' — that's not the case and we prioritise local people [for help]." Over the past five years, weekly rents are up 73 per cent to $450 on average for a house in Mount Gambier, according to the state government agency Consumer and Business Services, where bonds are lodged for new leases. helped Danielle Malseed find a home in Mount Gambier. She moved to the South East from the Northern Territory, thinking she could find a house more easily than in the Top End. But she ended up sleeping on a floor. Ms Malseed said it was hard to afford a home on her and her partner's income because they had five children. "We searched for a house for a very long time, tried different services, different states," she said. "[ were the only people that actually listened to me and took my story seriously — I did get laughed at a few times, which was very weird." Despite the price increases and low income growth in the region, real estate agent Macey Humphries said there were people still able to buy their first home in Mount Gambier. "The most popular property for a first home buyer is under the $500,000 mark and we're definitely seeing properties come on the market like that," she said. However, she said quite a few buyers were people who had moved from Adelaide looking for more affordable properties. "We still are seeing first home buyers breaking into the market," she said. Kim Cawthorne recently sold a house in Mount Gambier for a record $1.46 million. "We've certainly got eyes on Mount Gambier from interstate and intrastate buyers," she said. "There's a lot of investment in business in Mount Gambier and that's bringing in buyers that are looking for nice properties."
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