What property you can buy around Australia for $250,000

With the property market appearing to kick back into gear in Sydney and Melbourne, getting a toehold in those cities may once again feel like a bit of a fading dream.

So, looking further afield, what could you buy for $250,000, and how far does that stretch around the country? At this price, there are sacrifices when it comes to size and perhaps local amenity, but there’s still opportunity, especially if you don’t mind getting out of the city.

10/56-58 Victoria Street, Werrington, NSW
$219,950-$239,950

In Sydney’s western suburbs, this neat, top floor, one-bedroom apartment has a renovated kitchen, a balcony and secure garage.

It’s a four-minute walk to the train station, and about 20 minutes walk to Western Sydney University’s Werrington Campus. Penrith is about 15 minutes’ drive, and the CBD is a bit over an hour on the train.

Werrington has a median house price of $524,501, while the median unit price in Penrith is $465,000. The Greater Sydney area has a median apartment price of $688,652.

14/101 Ballarat Road, Maidstone, Victoria
$235,000

This entry-level apartment north-west of the Melbourne CBD has a large bedroom, polished wooden floors and a relatively modern kitchen.

With Footscray and Maribyrnong both quite close, it’s about a 45-minute journey on public transport to the city. Maidstone has a median house price of $706,500, while Melbourne overall has a median apartment price of $501,009 as at the June quarter.

L3/455 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Offers over $250,000

Further north, $250,000 could nab you a bolthole in the city proper. This one-bedroom, third-floor, Fortitude Valley apartment comes with a secure car space and a balcony and is a 20-minute walk from the Brisbane CBD.

It’s in the Central Brunswick Apartments development, built in 1997. The median apartment price in Fortitude Valley is $392,000, while Brisbane as whole reported a median unit price of $368,382 in the June 2019 quarter.

4/7 Martindale Avenue, Toorak Gardens, SA
$235,000 – $245,000

We’re not quite in townhouse territory yet, but this one-bedroom apartment in Adelaide’s leafy inner-east has a car space and new kitchen.

It’s about a 30-minute commute on public transport to the Adelaide CBD, or if you’re keen, a 45-minute walk. As of June 2019 quarter, Adelaide had a median apartment price of $310,642.

1905/43B Knuckey Street, Darwin City, NT
Offers Over $205,000

And up in the top end, $250,000 can get you a view of the city and the ocean. This one-bedroom pad on the 19th floor comes fully furnished, with two gyms and a swimming pool located in the complex.

With a median apartment price of $298,000, Darwin’s market has been hit by the end of the mining boom and a declining population – it’s now the cheapest capital in which to buy a unit.

6 Angel Street, Kilkivan, QLD
Mid to high $200,000s

If you’re ready to get away from the big smoke, this three-bedroom cottage about an hour and a half’s drive from the Sunshine Coast in the Gympie area might fit the bill.

The perfect place to kick back and relax, it’s set on 1808-square metres with gardens galore, with airconditioning and the NBN.

31 Gilbert Street, Hamley Bridge, SA
$249,950

Known as Rose Cottage, this three-bedroom stone villa is in the small town Hamley Bridge, about an hour and 10 minutes’ drive north of Adelaide.

It has three large bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, an abundance of sheds and plenty of garden to get out into.

50 Mistral Street, Falcon, WA
Best offer over $239,000

Want to live close to the beach? This three-bedder about an hour south of Perth is just a few blocks from the water.

Close to Mandurah’s shops and schools, this character home has a renovated open-plan kitchen and bathroom, and plenty of space out back with a patio.

44 Henderson Road, Tongala, Victoria
$235,000

This former art gallery stands out from the crowd, with scope to be a first home, family home or holiday home – whatever works, really!

It has three to four bedrooms and is close to the Goulburn River, with Echuca about 20 minutes away and Melbourne about a two-and-a-half-hour drive south.

Mandurama, NSW
$235,000

Do you have a vision for a heavenly renovation?  Located between Bathurst and Cowra, this very solid building – the former St Stephens Anglican Church – is on 2030 square metres.

In the Blayney Shire, Mandurama has a population of 350-odd and is home to a classic Aussie pub in the form of the Royal Hotel. It’s just under a four-hour drive west of Sydney.

1321 Winfield Road, Winfield, QLD
$250,000

Between Bundaberg and Gladstone, just over five hours drive north of Brisbane, this two-bedroom home on Baffle Creek is described as “somewhere to escape to from the hustle and bustle.”

Perfect for a spot of fishing or crabbing, it comes with an “Aladdin’s cave of extras in the shed”, and the cottage itself is on offer fully furnished too.

Section 117 Sturt Highway, Truro, SA
$249,000 to $255,000

Just over an hour from Adelaide there’s this not-so-little beauty  (it’s a whopping 54.6 hectares) and has its own airstrip and aeroplane hangar.

It could work as a weekender or a full-time home, and as the listing notes, “your heart will soar at an affordable price”.

652 Sirls Road, Bethanga, VIC
$219,500

If you are ready for some peace and quiet, this completely off-the-grid home can be found in a quiet valley just south of the NSW border, or about four hours drive from Melbourne.

It’s ready for a bit of an update, but there’s no improving on the surrounding countryside which can be appreciated as you kick back and relax on the verandah.

7 Winnaleah Road, Winnaleah, TAS
$249,000

This sweet three-bedder is on a 1042-square-metre block and has been fully renovated, having been let as an Airbnb. It’s less than a 10-minute drive from the Blue Derby Mountain Bike trails, perfect for those keen on a bit of bike-based bush bashing.

The local town has a post office, school, hotel, community store and swimming pool, and 7 Winnaleah Road is about an hour and a half drive from Launceston.

10 Base Road, Forester, TAS
$199,000

Also in the north-east, this former post office is described as “like something out of a fairytale”, sitting on 4161-square metres in a clearing, surrounded by forest.

It’s got three bedrooms, an open fireplace, a brand new bathroom, and it’s got shops and services around 15 minutes’ drive away.