Pros and cons of investing in a one-industry town

Using the example of two minings towns, Mr Pressley highlighted the swings in fortune for property investors. 

“The nine years ending 2013, Port Hedland’s median house price went from $180,000 to $900,000. And then the following five years, it went from $900,000 all the way down to [$210,000],” Mr Pressley said.

“We then go into Karratha. In December 2010, Karratha’s median house price was $800,000. At that same point in time, Sydney’s was $570,000. Can you imagine Karratha being more expensive than Sydney? Karratha is famous for gas. It plays a very similar role to Port Hedland.”

Mr Tarrant noted that this is a lesson to other investors, following both towns having a mining collapse.

“I reckon there are case studies for what are the best things to do as a property investor and what are some of the worst things to do as a property investor.

“The best things being those people who probably made a squillion out of it, bought a $100,000 and sold out at the peak of the market, and they’ll be sitting there, rubbing their hands together, saying they’re absolute geniuses.” 

The podcast host noted the unfortunate position many property investors have found themselves in due the industry supporting the area being destroyed. 

“And I know of some people that bought multiple properties, got on the bandwagon. For those late to the game in places like Port Hedland and Karratha, they’re still feeling the impact of it. It’s probably decimated their investing for the rest of their lives,” Mr Tarrant said.

“Their holding onto properties in massive negative equity, they’re never going to get their money back.

“Even their kids won’t get their money back. And they’re best off just ripping it up and taking a hit on the chin and moving on,” Mr Tarrant continued.

Mr Pressley explained the approach is only for sophisticated investors, noting he does not personally invest in one-industry towns.

“I wouldn’t say to every property investor, ‘Never do it’. I wouldn’t do it, but the evidence is there. There’s been an enormous amount of money, more than any other location in Australia, but that’s why I emphasise, you really need to be a sophisticated investor. I guess it’s the equivalent of a share investor on a small cap stock or something like that,” Mr Pressley concluded.