Hunter Valley Market Update 1st Half 2026
In Q4 2025, Hunter Valley* recorded a median house price of $835,000 and a median unit price of $620,000.This represents an annual (Q4 2024 – Q4 2025)price growth of 12.8% for houses and 14.4% for units. Between Q4 2024– Q4 2025total sales increased, by 10.3%for houses (to sales in Q4 2025)and a significant 55.9% for units (to 53sales in Q4 2025). The Hunter Valley house and unit markets have seen strong price growth, despite increases in sales numbers, highlighting strong demand. Thus, investors and home buyers must act fast and capitalise on the current opportunity to enter the property market, before prices rise in the future.
HOUSE SALES YEAR HALF YEAR CHANGE FROM LAST
HOUSE MEDIAN PRICE
HOUSE RENTAL PRICE
SALES
Hunter Valley will see approximately $1.9Bofnewdevelopmentsdueto commenceconstruction in2026.
PRICE
RENTAL PRICE
MEDIAN PRICE Q4 2025
$835K $620K
MEDIAN PRICE Q4 2025
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET Q4 2025
30
There are several residential projects bringing new stock to Hunter Valley. These include:
• Cessnock Road Residential Subdivision (322Land Lots)
• Robert Road & Springfield Drive Units (31 Units)
• 124New England Highway Mixed Use (6 Townhouses / Child Care Centre)
• 30& 32 Owlpen Lane (4 Dwellings)
Most of the incoming supply in Hunter Valley is residential land lots, which will take time to build (into a new home).
There are new units, townhouses, and houses planned; however, compared to Q4 2025sales of 246 houses, this is not enough. Thus,more pressure will be placed on prices, for all stock types. 41
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET Q4 2025
AVERAGE VENDOR DISCOUNT*
Average vendor discount reflects the average percentage difference between the first list price and final sold price. A lower percentage difference (closer to 0.0%) suggests that buyers are willing to purchase close to the first asking price of a property.
In the past 12months to Q4 2025 average vendor discount for houses and units have tightened significantly, to smaller discounts of -0.3% and -1.4% respectively. Market conditions in Hunter Valley* still slightly favour house and unit buyers, where owners are willing to accepts below the initial listing prices. However, Q4 2025 recorded the tightest discounts in the past 2 years, indicating a definite shift towards a seller’s market. Thus, buyers should actfast to secure a discount.
The suburb of East Maitland has historically tracked on par with the Maitland Local Government Area (LGA) for median house and unit prices for the past 5 years. This continued in 2025, with both East Maitland and the Maitland LGA showing a similar price growth trajectory and pace.
Most of the houses sold in Hunter Valley* in 2025 were in the middle price bracket of $750,000to $849,999(28.3%) and the more affordable price bracket between $650,000to $749,999(23.1%). In contrast, most of the units sold (34.3%) were in the premium price point of $650,000and above. Thatsaid, there are opportunities (23.8% of unit sales) in the middle price bracket of $550,000-$599,999.This suggests there is an opportunity for all budgets in Hunter Valley*.
MARKET COMPARISON
East Maitland House Maitland LGA House East Maitland Unit Maitland LGA Unit
PRICE BREAKDOWN 2025#
to $549,999
to $599,999 $600,000 to $649,999 $650,000 and above
The market comparison graph provides a comparative trend for the median price of houses and unit in the past 5 years. The main LGA was chosen based on their proximity to the main suburb analysed, which is Hunter Valley.
RENTAL GROWTH 2025€
House rental yields in the Hunter Region¥ was 3.4% in December 2025,higher than the Sydney Metro (2.6%). This was paired with a 4.8% increase in median house rental price in the past 12 months to Q4 2025, at $650per week. The number of houses rented increased, by 9.7%, to124 rentals in Q4 2025.There is a highly demanded rental market in the Hunter Region¥. This is beneficial toinvestors, especially those looking for a more affordable option toSydney Metro.
2-bedroom houses have provided investors with +10.4%rental growth annually, achieving a median rent of $530per week.
The Hunter Region¥ recorded a vacancy rate of 1.5% in December 2025,which is lower than the Maitland LGA 1.8% and Sydney Metro 1.8% average. Vacancy rates in the Hunter Region¥ have increased in the past 12 months, due to more investors in the market. However, a 1.5%vacancy rate is well below the Real Estate Institution of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3.0%, therefore quicker occupancy of rental homes in Hunter Region¥ This is a conducive environment for investors, even with a higher median houses and unit sales price (thus, entry price) in Q4 2025.
RENTAL VACANCY RATES 2025
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MAP 2026
HUNTER VALLEY
2
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REFERENCES
* Hunter Valley sales market data and key indicators encapsulates aggregate property market conditions within the suburbs of Aberglasslyn, Ashtonfield, East Maitland, Rutherford and Thornton.
** Estimated values are based on construction value provided by the relevant data authority and does not reflect commercial and/or re-sale value.
# 2025 encapsulates sales transactions for the 2025 full year (01/01/2025-31/12/2025).
€ Annual rental growth is a comparison between Q4 2024 (01/10/2024 – 31/12/2024) and Q4 2025 (01/10/2025 – 31/12/2025) house median rent figures.
¥ Hunter Valley rental market data encapsulates aggregate property conditions within the postcode of 2323.
§ Rental yields and vacancy rates shown are as reported as of December 2025.
₳ Project development map showcases a sample of upcoming projects only, due to accuracy of addresses provided by the data provider for geocoding purposes.
£ Projects refers to the top developments within the suburb of 2320, 2321, 2322 and 2323.
µ Estimated value is the value of construction costs provided by relevant data authority, it does not reflect the project’s sale/commercial value.
ψ Commencement date quoted for each project is an approximate only, as provided by the relevant data authority, PRD does not hold any liability to the exact date.
Source: APM Pricefinder, Cordell Connect database, SQM Research, Esri ArcGIS.
Disclaimer: PRD does not give any warranty in relation to the accuracy of the information contained in this report. If you intend to rely upon the information contained herein, you must take note that the information, figures and projections have been provided by various sources and have not been verified by us. We have no belief one way or the other in relation to the accuracy of such information, figures and projections. PRD will not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from any statement, figure, calculation or any other information that you rely upon that is contained in the material.
Prepared by PRD Research. © All medians and volumes are calculated by PRD Research. Use with written permission only. All other responsibilities disclaimed. © Copyright PRD 2026.
