Houses in Manjimup are among the most affordable in regional WA, while Bridgetown-Greenbushes suffers

Houses in Manjimup are among the most affordable in regional WA after placing third on Domain’s Top 10 Lowest Median Housing Prices list for the March quarter. The median price for a house in Manjimup was $420,056, a 13.5 per cent increase from last year’s price of $370,000. Collie and Waroona followed Manjimup on the lowest median price list — placing fourth and sixth respectively. In Collie, the median price has increased by 27.5 per cent, jumping from $349,000 in 2024 to $445,000. Meanwhile, Waroona median prices had the smallest South West increase out of the South West towns on the lowest median price list, increasing by 12 per cent in 2024 from $440,000 to $493,000. Bunbury placed 10th on the same list with a median price of $570,000, an increase of 23.9 per cent from the 2024 price of $460,000. Meanwhile, houses in the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes are among the most expensive. The shire placed eighth on the list with the highest median prices with an expected purchase price of $670,000, an increase of 17.5 per cent or $100,000 on the year before. Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said the rate of housing price increases has slowed compared to last year. “While house prices are still rising nationally, the pace of growth has slowed to just one-third of what it was last year,” she said. “Several factors are behind the slowdown — interest rate cuts are expected to be gradual, affordability remains a major barrier, and lending conditions are still tight. “On top of that, global uncertainty, including from the Trump administration’s economic and foreign policy stance, could influence the RBA’s next moves.” Busselton followed behind Fremantle as the suburb with the second-highest median house price at $900,000, an 11.8 per cent increase from the 2024 price of $805,000. Placing at number three, houses in the shire of Augusta-Margaret River stood at a median price of $895,000, an increase of 14.9 per cent on the 2024 $778,750 median price. Capel has also made the list for the highest median at sixth place, setting back owners $699,000. Their median prices increased from $583,093 at 19.9 per cent. Following behind Bridgetown-Greenbushes in ninth place was Dardanup with a 24.1 per cent increase from the 2024 median price of $540,000 to the 2025 price of $670,000. Collie, Bunbury, Capel, and Bridgetown-Greenbushes were recognised as part of the top 10 WA suburbs with the highest year-on-year price growth. Dr Powell said it is unlikely Australia will experience another big increase in housing prices. “With consumer sentiment at a six-month low, another strong price surge is unlikely until we see a real improvement in home loan affordability,” she said. “That said, it could be a window of opportunity for buyers, particularly with both major parties proposing new support for first-homebuyers ahead of the election.”