12:00a.m. 11th August 2007

| By Michele Sternberg

Located either side of the Maroochy/Noosa shire border, Doonan is a quiet rural enclave.

Offering acreage just a 10-minute drive to Noosa, Doonan is a popular choice for anyone looking for privacy, lifestyle and easy access to shops, restaurants and beaches.

Located either side of the Maroochy/Noosa shire border, Doonan is a quiet rural enclave.

The smaller acreage blocks were subdivided around 20 years ago, says Audrey Johnson, a partner with Noosa Hinterland Realty.

“When I started in real estate in the 1980s, Doonan and surrounding areas were just being subdivided … it was already popular then, especially around the Noosa Valley Golf Course.”

New-comer to the area, Penny Neep, Principal Ray White Doonan, says she felt an immediate affinity with Doonan when she relocated from Scotland five years ago.

“With the ability to live in the country and have a good lifestyle close to beaches, schools, hospitals and all sports facilities, Doonan was an obvious choice.

“A tree change is a healthy and green option to bring up family, plus there are good school bus routes for those residents who do have school-aged children.”

According to REIQ statistics, the most expensive street in Doonan is Valley Drive.

Penny says Panorama Drive, Mt Eerwah Vista Drive, Duke Road and Senegal Rise all offer fantastic coastal views.

“Houses are an eclectic mix of low-set older brick homes through to ultra modern eco-friendly, architecturally up-to-date designer homes.

“Doonan is potentially the fastest capital growth hinterland area in Australia, due to its proximity to Noosa, Peregian, Coolum and Sunshine Beach, plus the easy access to the Sunshine Coast Motorway and Bruce Highway.”

The highest house sale for the 12 months to the end of March 2007 quarter was $3.3 million paid for a five-bedroom home on two hectares in Panorama Drive, which sold in September 2006.

As the suburb’s popularity has increased, so too have median house prices meaning there are ‘not too many options for first home buyers’, according to Audrey.

Entry level is around $450,000, with the REIQ’s March figures showing the median acreage house price is now $635,000 – up by 93.5% since 2002.

“There are more homes on the market in the mid range … the higher end is definitely selling, although a lot of the homes are getting older now and aren’t meeting the expectations of buyers and they need renovating,” says Audrey.

However, she says buyers seeking that acreage change are willing to take on a renovation to secure their ideal “lifestyle” block.

“It’s lifestyle that people are after when they buy a house at Doonan.

“People are looking for privacy, not necessarily acreage. The one to two acre blocks are very popular.”

Census data from 2006 indicates 3071 people live in Doonan, with a median age of 41.

Rents are around $300 for a three-bedroom home – up $5 from the same time last year (a rise of 1.6%).

Only 9% of properties in the Noosa shire area of Doonan are being rented, while the figure is 12.3% in the Maroochy Shire.The median acreage house price in March was $635,000 – with prices having risen by 93.5% since 2002.