Ryan Houston - Presence Real Estate

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21/09/2026

[3:25pm]

Would you pay more or would you want a property more because it’s a green home with top energy efficiency?

I’m asking the question because I haven’t seen much change in demand for property because a home is energy efficient.

However I’m asking the question: should all new developers do this or would you prefer homes that are cheaper and then you have the option to do it yourself?

Let me know in the comments

18/09/2026

[11:30am]

What if buying your own home could cost roughly the same each week as renting?

Here’s a simple Help to Buy example:

Purchase price: $700,000
Minimum 2% deposit: $14,000
Government contribution: up to $280,000
Estimated home loan: $406,000

Using the supplied Loan Market illustration at 6.09% principal and interest over 30 years:

Mortgage repayment: approximately $567 per week
Strata, council and water: approximately $96 per week
Estimated core housing costs: approximately $663 per week

Comparable rent: approximately $670 per week.

Instead of paying $670 per week toward someone else’s property, Help to Buy may provide eligible Australians with a pathway into a home of their own.

Under the scheme, the Australian Government may contribute:

Up to 40% toward a newly built home
Up to 30% toward an existing home

You could potentially purchase with as little as a 2% deposit and a significantly smaller mortgage.

There are eligibility requirements, income limits and lending criteria and the Government retains an equity share that must eventually be repaid. This won’t suit everyone, but many renters may qualify without realising it.

If you’re currently renting and want to find out whether Help to Buy could work for you, comment “BUY” below.

I’ll reach out privately and point you in the right direction to have your eligibility and borrowing capacity properly assessed.

Figures are illustrative only and do not constitute financial or lending advice. The weekly ownership estimate excludes insurance, maintenance, special levies, loan fees and upfront purchasing costs. The maximum Government contribution is not guaranteed.

17/09/2026

[2:20pm]

NUMBER 1 – KILLINGWORTH

We’ve made it to the worst-performing suburb in Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

And coming in at number 1 is Killingworth.

2022 median house price: $675,000

2026 median house price: $530,000

That’s a decline of approximately $145,000, or 21.5%.

But there’s an important catch with Killingworth.

It’s a very small market with extremely low turnover, with approximately 25 sales over the five-year period.

When you have such a small number of transactions, just a few sales can have a huge impact on the median price.

So while the numbers put Killingworth at number 1 on the list, I’d be very cautious about interpreting this as every property in Killingworth losing 21.5% of its value.

That wraps up my Top 10 worst-performing suburbs in Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

Next up, I’m flipping the list and looking at the suburbs in Newcastle city council.

See you tomorrow.

16/09/2026

[10:17am]

#2 WORST PERFORMING SUBURB IN LAKE MACQUARIE

Coming in at number 2 is Floraville.

In 2022, the median house price was approximately $1,187,500.

Fast forward to 2026 and it’s sitting around $990,000.

That’s a drop of approximately $197,500, or 16.6% over the five-year period.

Around 125 properties have sold in Floraville over the past five years, giving us a much larger sample size than some of the smaller suburbs in this countdown.

Based on the median sale data, Floraville is the second worst-performing suburb in Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

Wow what about the future potential for this suburb!!!

Tomorrow we reveal number 1.

The worst-performing suburb in Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

What suburb do you think it is?

Drop your guess in the comments.

15/09/2026

[9:55am]

#3 WORST PERFORMING SUBURB IN LAKE MACQUARIE

Coming in at number 3 is Martinsville.

In 2022, the median sale price was approximately $1.8 million.

In 2026, that figure is approximately $1.55 million.

That’s a decline of around $250,000, or 13.9% over the five-year period.

But there’s an important catch here.

Martinsville is a very tightly held rural and acreage market, with only around 25 sales over the past five years.

So while the data shows a significant decline, the sample size is small and the types of properties being sold can vary massively from one year to the next.

That means the headline number needs context.

Still, based purely on the median sale data, Martinsville ranks as the 3rd worst-performing suburb in Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

Only two suburbs performed worse.

Follow along as I count down the final two.

14/09/2026

[3:26pm]

#4 WORST PERFORMING SUBURB IN LAKE MACQUARIE

Coming in at number 4 is Morisset Park.

In 2022, the median house price was approximately $1,150,000.

Fast forward to 2026 and it’s sitting around $1,070,000.

That’s a drop of approximately $80,000, or 7%.

Morisset Park is an interesting one because it’s a tightly held lakeside suburb, however with plans for apartments on the water and also a marina. Next 5-10 years could look very different.

We’re getting close to the bottom now.

Only 3 suburbs performed worse.

Follow along as I count down the 10 worst-performing suburbs in Lake Macquarie.

12/09/2026

[11:15am]

RENT THIS TOWNHOUSE FOR $670 PER WEEK.

OR POTENTIALLY OWN IT FOR APPROXIMATELY $659 PER WEEK.

This brand-new two-bedroom, two-bathroom, one-car townhouse in Blackalls Park is priced at $700,000.

Under the Australian Government’s Help to Buy scheme, an eligible purchaser could potentially buy it with:

Purchase price: $700,000
Minimum 2% deposit: $14,000
Government contribution: Up to $280,000
Estimated home loan: $406,000

Based on the attached home-loan calculation:

Mortgage repayment: $567 per week
Strata: $56.15 per week
Council rates: $23.08 per week
Water rates: $12.69 per week

TOTAL ESTIMATED OWNERSHIP COST: $658.92 PER WEEK

Compare that with approximately $670 per week to rent the same townhouse.

And no, you’re not sharing your home with the government.

You live in it. Your name is on the title. The government holds a financial interest in the property, which you can progressively buy back over time.

Instead of paying rent towards somebody else’s property, part of your mortgage repayment reduces your loan and helps build your own equity.

You also gain greater control over where you live, without worrying about a landlord selling the property, ending your lease or increasing the rent.

Help to Buy won’t suit everyone, and eligibility, income limits, borrowing capacity and lending criteria apply.

But if you’re currently paying around $670 per week in rent, you owe it to yourself to find out whether buying could be possible.

Comment HELP TO BUY below and I’ll send you more information and put you in contact with an expert who can assess whether you qualify.

*Figures are estimates only.

12/09/2026

[10:35am]

LAKE MACQUARIE’S WORST-PERFORMING SUBURBS - #5 PELICAN

At number five is Pelican.

Five years ago, Pelican’s median house price was approximately $1,100,000.

Today, it sits at approximately $1,025,000.

That represents:

A decline of $75,000
A decrease of 6.8%

Pelican is one of Lake Macquarie’s most tightly held lakeside suburbs, but limited sales volumes can cause its median price to fluctuate significantly.

This doesn’t necessarily mean every property in Pelican has fallen by 6.8%. It reflects the median of the properties sold during each period.

Tomorrow, we move to number four.

11/09/2026

[12:09pm]

LAKE MACQUARIE’S WORST PERFORMING SUBURBS – #6 MURRAYS BEACH

Coming in at number 6 is Murrays Beach.

Over the past 5 years:

Median house price 5 years ago: $1,300,000
Median house price today: $1,225,000
5-year change: -5.8%

That’s a decrease of around $75,000.

But there’s some important context behind the numbers.

Murrays Beach has continued to see new land released through the later stages of its masterplanned community, with more than 80 lots forming part of the Valley Views and final Habitat releases during this period.

In a relatively small suburb, that level of new supply can have an impact on the mix of properties being sold and therefore the suburb’s median price.

So while the headline number says Murrays Beach has gone backwards over five years, the median doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story.

Tomorrow we move to #5.

09/09/2026

[10:34am]

NUMBER 7 – NORDS WHARF

We’re counting down the 10 worst-performing suburbs across Lake Macquarie over the past five years.

Coming in at number 7 is Nords Wharf.

Five years ago, the median house price was approximately $1,215,000.

Today, it sits at approximately $1,150,000.

That’s a drop of around $65,000, or 5.35%, over five years.

While much of Lake Macquarie has experienced significant growth over this period, Nords Wharf is one of the suburbs that hasn’t followed the same trajectory.

Tomorrow, we reveal number 6.

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Level 2-16 Telford Street
Newcastle, NSW
2300

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