Hotspot in Focus: The City of Rockingham
Rockingham is a city and primary town in Western Australia, south-west of the Perth city centre and south of Fremantle. Rockingham is a coastal town, offering first home buyers value along with beachside living with access to all amenities required for residents. Below, we take a look at why Rockingham is considered a first home buyer hotspot.
Disclaimer: This article is in general nature and should not be relied upon. FHBA is not qualified or licensed to recommend locations for your first home. If you do not know where you want to buy your first home, you should speak to a licensed professional.
Why the Rockingham region?
Whilst Rockingham is a popular tourist destination, considering it’s base on the coastal strip south of Perth, Rockingham is also considered to be one of the most popular hotspots for first home buyers. Some reasons why first home buyers might find Rockingham as a suitable first home choice include :
Variety & Lifestyle – The City of Rockingham attracts residents who want to enjoy an excellent quality of life by the seaside. Rockingham has something for everyone, as it offers the following activities for first home buyers and their families:
- Snorkeling
- Sailing
- Surfing at the beautiful beaches
- Jetties for fishing and crabbing
- A number of beaches safe for children
- Go swimming with the wild dolphins when you take a tour out to the dolphin pods offshore.
- Relax in the clear sheltered water of the Cockburn Sound
- Take a ferry to the Penguin Island
Therefore, first home buyers in the Rockingham region can enjoy all the benefits of beachside living but with easy access to everything Perth has to offer.
Transport & Location – Rockingham is served by the Rockingham Train Station on the Mandurah Train Line, the travel time to Perth CBD is approximately 45 minutes and trains run frequently during peak and off-peak hours. The Rockingham Shuttle Bus is a frequent service which connects the train station with the Rockingham Beach foreshore and other popular suburbs within the Rockingham region.
The region has recently received a boost with a number of transport projects in the pipeline:
- Baldivis Road upgrade
- Port Kennedy Drive duplication
- Nairn Drive duplication
If traveling by car to Perth or suburbs nearby, the Kwinana Freeway offers a smooth 40-minute drive.
Schools – Rockingham is home to a number of schools that provide for primary & high school students, these include:
- Rockingham Beach Primary School
- Rockingham Senior High School
- Safety Bay Senior High School.
- Roman Catholic Star of the Sea Primary School (Private)
- Kolbe Catholic College – High School (Private)
- Rockingham Montessori School (Private)
- South Coast Baptist College (Private)
The Rockingham campus of Murdoch University is also located in the region – offering local opportunities for tertiary students
Aerial view of the City of Rockingham
The Rockingham economy
The City of Rockingham has experienced considerable and sustained growth for some time, with the population expanding from 32,845 to 125,114 in the 30 years between 1986 and 2016. The population is forecast to increase to 171,300 b 2026.
The City of Rockingham is a rapidly developing residential area, with substantial industrial and commercial areas, and a naval area on Garden Island. The city encompasses a total land area of about 260 square kilometres, including significant areas of coastline, parkland and residential land to be released in the future.
Retail trade is the largest contributor to the Rockingham economy as it accounts for over 20% of its jobs and economic growth
Rockingham is well positioned to create more jobs in the future due to its proximity to the Western Trade Coast, which includes the:
- Rockingham Industrial Area
- Kwinana Industrial Area
- Australian Maritime Complex
- Lattitude 32 Industrial Zone.
The local government in the Rockingham area is also working closely with the WA Government to make Rockingham a greater attraction for tourists.
Rockingham first home buyer housing
With the median house price in Perth’s inner suburb unaffordable for first home buyers, it is no surprise that the Rockingham region is popular with aspiring first home buyers, especially those looking to take advantage of the WA FHOG. and the Stamp Duty concessions available for established home buyers.
According to APM Data, the median prices in Rockingham are as follows (as of December 2017):
Rockingham Houses – $332,000
Rockingham Units – $320,000
The median prices mentioned above shows the region is comparatively more affordable than many other parts of Perth. First home buyers are able to take advantage of WA FHOG of $10,000 – for brand new homes. In WA, first home buyers are also able to enjoy stamp duty exemptions (for both established & new houses) up to a purchase price of $430,000 and stamp duty concessions up to $530,000
Other popular (oceanside!) & affordable suburbs in the Rockingham region include (house price median as of December 2017):
- Safety Bay – $410,000
- Waikiki – $360,000
- Baldivis – $412,000
- Wellard – $422,500
A boom in the construction industry in the Rockingham region has also resulted in a greater number of house & land packages and new apartments becoming available in the area and allowing first home buyers take advantage of the $10,000 FHOG in WA and affordable prices relative to other Perth regions.
We have house & land packages starting from $319,000 (below the median price!)
Looking to determine if you have saved enough for your first home in one of the above suburbs? Click here to use our Eligibility Estimator.
How can FHBA help secure your first home in Rockingham?
Buying your first home can be quite tricky. That’s why at FHBA, we are with you every step of the way, even as far as helping you move into your first home!
First Home Loan
Your FHBA Coach will explain all the steps, determine your borrowing capacity, offer suitable loan options, compile your loan application paperwork and even assist you with applications for the FHOG in WA. Click here to get pre-approved with a no-charge assessment!
FHOG eligible brand new home
We have access to a range of brand new property opportunities for aspiring first home buyers looking to buy in the Rockingham region and surrounding areas (all with FHOG eligibility + the FHBA 50 Rebate!). Be sure to complete the form at the bottom of this page if you are interested and want to know more about the exciting apartments, townhouses and house & land packages we have access to. Alternatively, search our large range of properties by clicking here.
Established homes
FHBA assists first home buyers looking to buy an established home – regardless of budget, property type, or property location, we will not rest until you have successfully settled on a property you have chosen & you have comfortably moved into your first home.
If you are looking for more information or if you have any questions, please complete the form below to speak with an FHBA Coach.
Written By,
First Home Buyers Australia
