Best Place for a Seachange in Australia?

We talk to PAUL PRITCHETT of Nelson Bay's Portfolios Property, about a seachange that younger Australian people are making ... and the lifestyle and real estate opportunities between Newcastle and Port Stephens ...

To the amazement of people in Sydney, Melbourne, and the rest of Australia, in 2010 Lonely Planet crowned Newcastle one of the Top 10 hottest cities to visit in the world. Newcastle! Its inclusion at No. 9 was even more surprising, given more sophisticated siblings Sydney and Melbourne have never featured on the list.

The Lonely Planet plaudits were as follows: A diverse array of assets such as surf beaches, dining, night life, arts and "a unique blend of imagination and sophistication" justified Newcastle's top 10 ranking, according to Lonely Planet Asia Pacific travel editor Shawn Low.

From which the Sydney Morning Hertald went on to say: It's a genuinely underrated destination, with most of the amenities of Sydney but on a smaller scale and without the traffic, overcrowding and frightening property prices.

Paul Pritchett moved to Nelson Bay, 20 minutes north of Newcastle, in 2005 and immediately saw the potential of the area.

"Newcastle has a gorgeous beach scene and a chilled-out vibe with friendly people," he says.

"Drive less than an hour from Newcastle and you can be in Port Stephens, the Hunter Vallley, Lake Macquarie, Swansea, Catherine Hill Bay, Mount Sugarloaf, Myall Lakes ... what's not to like?".

Paul soon set up a real estate business helping people take advantage of the cheaper real estate prices by being able to invest in the area, but his business, Portfolios Property, also helps people make their first forays into property ownership. And living in beautiful and yet very affordable Nelson Bay, he knows only too well that Sydney renters who can no longer afford to even start saving for a home have their best chance looking into options in Newcastle, Nelsons Bay and Port Stephens for example.

Inner City Excitement?

"In the inner city, historic neighbourhoods such as Cooks Hill, The Junction and The Hill have graceful terraces, restored workers' cottages, lovely parks and smart boutiques," he adds.

For many people, Newcastle will never match the excitement and hedonism of Sydney, but for late arrivals to Sydney, people who went there in the last decade and after ten years of pedalling hard while renting high, are no closer to buying a home, Newcastle offers a panacea to their urban wounds.

"I say give it another 10 years with all the high rise housing built in town enough people will actually live in central Newcastle, it will be a little bit like Melbourne docklands, a great place to work, live and play. Then it certainly will rival Sydney and Melbourne as a relaxed vibrant city to visit and live."

For more info check out http://www.portfolios.net.au

What other people say about Newcastle:

Newcastle is also a paradise for bicycle riding. The old old network of coal skip lines and port lands have been made into a network of flat/easy cycle paths, extending Westward and as far South as Belmont. Check out Newcastle's most read cycling blog, maintained by a lecturer in architecture there, who also happens to be a bike racing legend: www.behoovingmoving.com

Since 2003, Australia experienced the effects of the 2000s commodities boom as commodities prices for major export good such as coal and iron ore rose significantly. This provided a large incentive for investment in the Newcastle and Hunter region due to its status as a major coal mining and export hub to Asian markets. Large projects related to the coal industry helped to propel the Newcastle unemployment rate to 20 year lows and allow the Newcastle region to weather the effects of the late 2000s recession better than NSW as a whole: Wikipedia

The University of Newcastle is a world-class university demonstrating excellence in teaching and research. We undertake research that makes an impact on the world. As an organisation we aim to grow and prosper in a changing world. - University of Newcastle

Ten magnificent beaches offer ample recreational opportunities around the city including surfing, beach fishing and swimming in the fabled Ocean Baths. Newcastle boasts many magnificent parks. Relax in glorious King Edward Park, take in the splendid beauty of the Blackbutt Reserve or discover many of the other smaller parks scattered throughout the city.A short two-hour drive north of Sydney, Newcastle is within easy access to attractions including rainforests, wilderness areas, and extensive vineyards as well as a buzzing music, nightlife and cafe scene. - Total Travel.

Article by Stewart Dawes of SEOtherapy.