Bendigo house-unit price gap widens as buyers favour detached homes

Bendigo median house prices climbed 7.4 per cent to $528,000 in the year to June 2026 while unit prices slipped 1.8 per cent to $372,000, according to the latest Domain quarterly figures released this week.

The split arrives as Victoria’s broader housing targets face pressure from falling construction starts and as Melbourne commuters continue to relocate north along the Bendigo line. Remote workers seeking space have driven demand for larger blocks, leaving smaller apartment stock with fewer takers in the current interest-rate environment.

Flora Hill and Strathdale recorded the clearest divergence, with three-bedroom houses on streets such as Napier Street and Edwards Road attracting multiple offers above asking. The Bendigo Regional Housing Program, which supports key-worker purchases, has directed more applicants toward detached dwellings in these postcodes rather than units near the city centre.

Buyer behaviour behind the numbers

CoreLogic’s June 2026 suburb report shows Strathdale houses averaged 22 days on market compared with 47 days for units in the same area. Flora Hill detached homes drew Melbourne-based buyers using the state’s first-home buyer stamp-duty concessions, which apply more readily to properties above $400,000. Local agents note that units near the Bendigo Art Gallery precinct have seen longer listing periods as investors weigh ongoing body-corporate costs against weaker rental growth.

The pattern mirrors national trends of slower apartment construction yet produces distinct local effects. View Street units, once popular with downsizers, now compete with newer townhouses on the outskirts where land supply remains stronger.

What buyers should watch next

Properties listed before the spring selling season will test whether the gap narrows. Purchasers considering units should compare strata fees and vacancy rates in central Bendigo against equivalent house rents in Flora Hill. Those targeting houses can use current rate-hold expectations to negotiate on blocks that have lingered beyond 30 days, particularly in Strathdale pockets away from the main arterial roads.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.