Where the gains are flowing

“stock” was needed. She said there was high demand for people wanting to buy houses in the established suburbs and they were likely to pay higher prices to secure property in the area.

“Freshwater has always been a sought-after area,’’ she said.

“It is close to the beaches, close to town and the airport.

“It’s beautiful and it’s an iconic suburb.”

Principal of Atherton Realty on the Tableland, Rino Gava, said Malanda’s surprising price growth could be due to more expensive rural blocks being sold in the past year.

“Malanda is very soughtafter for acreage,’’ Mr Gava said.

“That market has really picked up in activity in the last year, year and a half.”

Mr Gava said locals upgrading and interstate buyers were inquiring about new listings.

“Listings have tightened up a bit and of course prices have gone up.”

Houses in Babinda, East Innisfail, Millstream and Cardwell – a l l s o u t h o f C a i r n s – h ave decreased in price since this time last year.

Babinda’s median house price has dropped to $170,000, 26.6 per cent less than 12 months ago.

East Innisfail experienced a 25.5 per cent price drop, followed by Millstream at 19.8 per cent and Cardwell at 15.2 per cent.

Babinda and East Innisfail are the cheapest suburbs in the Far North. Freshwater: 19.8%, 3.9% Malanda (Tableland): 18.5%, 5.5% Machans Beach: 17.7%, 5.8% Kanimbla: 15.9%, 3.7% Trinity Beach: 14.9%, 5% White Rock: 14.3%, 5.4% Mooroobool: 14.1%, 3.7% Craiglie (Port Douglas): 14.1%, 2.1% Tolga (Tableland): 13.6%, 4.5% Port Douglas: 11%, -0.3%

WISE BUYING: Carmel Calvert at her Freshwater property that is for sale with RE/MAX Cairns agent Joan Robb. Freshwater has enjoyed a 19.8 per cent rise in median house prices in the past year.

DESIRABLE LOCATION: Joan Robb sold 13-15 Megan St, Freshwater, for $830,000.