Four overlooked NSW tree-change towns that won’t cost the earth

For Sydneysiders after a tree change, buyers may consider areas within easy reach of the city as a first port of call.

But driving past the commuter belt reveals regional destinations offering a change of pace, more greenery and village vibes, without the city price tag. Here are four overlooked NSW tree-change towns with a much lower median house price than Sydney’s $1,759,909.

Moss Vale

In the Southern Highlands region, around 90 minutes drive from Sydney, the country town of Moss Vale is a charming, yet more affordable alternative to its neighbour, Bowral.

Moss Vale’s median house price is $1,022,500, according to the latest Domain House Price Report, compared to $1,425,000 in Bowral.

“Every Saturday, we’re meeting people from Sydney and people from Canberra,” said selling agent Claire Douch from Marble & Oak Property.

“We’ve got beautiful trees, gardens, the green spaces. So people love coming to the highlands for the pace. It’s the lifestyle that people generally enjoy coming to the area.”

Douch recently sold a two-bedroom property at 20/57 Throsby Street which is within walking distance of cafés for $800,000, to a tree changer from Randwick, in Sydney.

“We have so many beautiful coffee shops, boutiques, and, yes, it’s definitely a village,” she said.

For Domain’s Moss Vale median house price Douch said, “you can get a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two garage, generally speaking.”

Something new will likely be a little steeper.

“You generally have to go to $1.2 [million] to $1.3 [million] to get brand new,” she said.

Mudgee

About three-and-a-half hours north-west of Sydney if you’re driving, the country town of Mudgee, a well-known wine region, has a median house price of $718,500, on Domain data.

Selling agent Adam Woods from McGrath Central Tablelands said Mudgee has “had an influx of new buyers that are flowing out from the metropolitan markets.

“It’s always been well known as a food and wine capital,” he said, adding that the region also hosts popular sporting and cultural events.

Woods said the motivation for people moving to the area was affordability and for a higher quality of life.

“They’re able to buy something that would be superior to where they’re living now, but at a far lower price point,” he said.

While previously the area was a retirement hotspot, Woods said now a younger demographic making the move.

“Some couples are even saying they’re moving to the regions to be able to afford to have children,” he said.

Woods recently sold a low-maintenance, five-bedroom home at 23 Vera Court for $1.1 million at auction.

There were two registered bidders; a Sydney buyer missed out on this one, and the keys went to a local upsizing family.

Armidale

Inland from Coffs Harbour, New England’s Armidale is just under six hours drive from Sydney. At $580,000, its median house price is a steal by Sydney’s standards.

Selling agent Jeremy Creagan from Armidale Town & Country Real Estate said the town has many Sydney buyers relocating there.

“It’s amazing how many drive through Armidale, being the halfway point between Brisbane and Sydney, and then next minute, they fall in love with it.”

Creagan said the town has a large student population due to the University of New England, with the university also providing many work opportunities.

Education was a drawcard for families too.

“We’ve got some very good private schools that people do bring their kids here for, purely,” he said.

“The price point’s pretty attractive too, for a nice country town … someone selling out of Sydney for several million can live here quite comfortably in a beautiful property.”

He recently sold an around 80-acre property for $1.62 million to a local upsizing family who wanted to “run a couple of cows and have a passive income with cattle.”

Alstonville

In the Northern Rivers hinterland, around 750 kilometres from Sydney, Alstonville has a median house price of $960,000.

Les Lewis-Hughes from Raine & Horne – Ballina / Alstonville said the town is “probably a little bit overlooked” by city-dwellers.

“Most of the ones from Sydney, Melbourne, they’ll move to areas such as Ballina or Lennox, and then realise there’s better living in Alstonville. So they move across from there,” he said.

“It’s a very family-friendly location.”

Lewis-Hughes said the town was within 30 minutes of Lismore, Ballina, Lennox Head, Evans Head and Byron Bay.

”It’s beautiful. Big trees, poincianas, jacarandas, you’ve got farmland, macadamias, if you drive through the streets, everyone has a nice aspect,” he said.

Lewis-Hughes recently sold a five-bedroom family residence to a first home buyer couple who had rented on the coast but wanted the community feel of Alstonville.

“They were able to get a huge block with its own privacy … those products don’t really exist in most coastal towns any more,” he said.