Property Listings Surge in Daylesford as Market Sentiment Shifts

The number of houses for sale in the Daylesford area has jumped sharply, with listings up 30 per cent over the last quarter. Local observers believe recent Victorian Government policies affecting investment and holiday properties are influencing sentiment in the region.

Properties for sale across postcodes 3460 and 3461 increased from 137 in August to 178 on December 11. In Daylesford itself, 101 homes were listed, also representing a 30 per cent rise.

Of the Daylesford listings, 18 properties were priced below $700,000 and 48 carried asking prices above $1 million. The median price for Daylesford was recorded at $990,000. Local agents say there is reasonable demand for homes up to $1 million, but sellers aiming higher may face extended selling periods or need to reassess their expectations.

Forty-six per cent of listed properties, a total of 82, have remained unsold since our August report. Of these, 38 have reduced their asking price, many quite substantially. A property advisor familiar with the local market said the drop reflects sellers holding unrealistic expectations, sometimes encouraged by over-quoting from agents keen to secure listings. The advisor, who asked not to be identified, noted that regional vendors can be reluctant to change agents even after six months or more on the market and price reductions of 20 to 30 per cent.

Thirty-five properties, or 20 per cent of the market, are listed below $700,000. This is comparable to the 22 sub-$700,000 listings recorded in February. There are also 11 properties priced between $450,000 and $600,000, creating opportunities for new buyers entering the market.