The town’s real estate experts say we’re in for a great year with solid sales reported already.

First National Real Estate principal Mike Brady said the area had recovered from a downturn in world coal prices and there was renewed consumer confidence and job security in the region.

“We’ve also been bolstered by improved seasonal conditions for agriculture and sustained and strong commodity prices, particularly with livestock and grain,” he said.

“We seem to be returning to much more of a positive market cycle. If you look in terms of the volume of houses sold in the area for the same period to this time last year, we are looking at a 24 per cent increase in the volume of sales in Gunnedah.”

He said the prosperous climate also allowed agricultural land owners to expand their businesses and recently there has also been interest in Gunnedah property from buyers abroad.

“Recently we sold a local property to a client calling from Japan,” he said. They physically flew to Gunnedah to do the inspection and purchased the property on the same day.”

Hennessy Real Estate principal Ben Hennessy described the town’s market as “even” and said the business had sold seven homes in the last six days alone.

He said the rental market was tight, and there was competition among potential tenants. It was not uncommon for tenants to bid higher prices to secure a rental property.

“My advice to those looking to get in the market is the best time to buy in any market is when it’s relatively stable – and that’s the best description for the market right now,” he said.

“It’s a good solid market and we haven’t seen any crazy capital growth in the last couple of years which means people can jump in and are not buying over inflated prices.

“While it’s definitely picking up and there are good opportunities for people to get in and buy and for those looking to sell as there’s certainly more buyers coming into the market.”