David Young says it isn't difficult to recognise Gerringong's considerable appeal.
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"They say it's where the mountains meet the sea, and that is so true," he said.
"You look one way and you've got Saddleback Mountain, the ranges and the green of Rose Valley. And you look the other way, and you're looking at Werri Beach and the headland. It's an amazing spot."
A lifelong resident of the Kiama municipality, Mr Young moved with wife Michelle from Kiama to Gerringong 22 years ago.
He said one of the key reasons for the move was the school community's strong reputation.
"It's part of the Kiama municipality, so we knew a lot of people in Gerringong anyway, and we also had the opportunity to do up an old home; an old, original homestead," Mr Young said of their initial move to the town.
After a brief break, the Youngs recently returned to live in Gerringong.
Mr Young, now 56, is a life member of the Gerringong Cricket Club and former president of Kiama Show Society. He said there was still a strong rural connection within the Gerringong community.
He also believed it had retained a unique sense of community, driven by the likes of sporting clubs, service clubs and church groups.
However, Mr Young said Gerringong had changed in the sense that "it's got bigger, and there is a bit more development".
According to CoreLogic, currently the median sales price of houses in the area is $1,180,000.
The median sales price jumped from $885,000 in June 2020, to $1,180,000 a year later.
Mr Young said the booming property market would make it difficult for the next generation who had grown up in Gerringong to be able to buy a home there.
"Property prices that are happening in Gerringong and Gerroa have just gone through the roof," he said.
"It's attracting people from Sydney who want that lifestyle, but it's only an hour-and-a-half from Sydney. They're getting record prices for their homes, and are coming down and are willing to pay what we would see locally as inflated prices for houses here.
"I think it's going to be harder and harder for our children to live in the town, just because of the way the property prices have gone."
Antonio Harb is owner of the Sea Vista Cafe at Gerringong.
Mr Harb said Gerringong was a "great coastal town" featuring the best of both worlds, with the ocean and mountains right next to each other.
"Anyone who comes down from out of town, they're taken aback about where it's located - the lush green mountains and the water," he said.
Mr Harb said while Sydney-siders were looking to buy there, many long-term residents still remained in Gerringong.
"It's whoever can afford it - real estate prices here seem to be at an all-time high," he said.
"It's a tight-knit community, During the lockdown, the community rallied around local businesses and supported them as much as they could. We do rely on tourism, but at the end of the day, it's the locals who are the backbone of our businesses."
Market overview
According to CoreLogic, the predominant age group in Gerringong is 50-59 years.
Jason Stalgis from First National Coast & Country said Gerringong was having a real influx of people from out of town, predominantly Sydney-based.
"Some of those are moving here permanently, deciding it's time for a change of pace and to get out of the city," he said.
"I think COVID has helped push those numbers up.
"Because of the work from home situation, we're seeing a lot more (buyers) downsizing in Sydney and getting something down here now, with a view to using it for retirement. In between they're down here three or four days a week and Sydney a couple of days a week."
Mr Stalgis said the strong sense of community in Gerringong was appealing.
"People come down here and just see that there's a really nice feel in the community, (that's) more personal than what you get in the bigger areas," he said.
Kate Morgan from Ray White Gerringong said there were still plenty of locals looking to buy in the area, whether it be upsizing, downsizing or investing.
However, she said the "Sydney market was big", from buyers looking for holiday homes and investment properties, to those seeking a permanent residence there.
Ms Morgan said the Gerringong market was heavily focused around supply and demand.
"There really hasn't been a new land subdivision open up for quite some time, since the last of the Elambra Estate opened up.
"So because of that, it's so tightly-held. Once people buy in, where would they want to go? It's too good a place to live, so no one wants to sell," she laughed.
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Angie Ritchie from First National Coast & Country said the Gerringong market had been quieter during lockdown, due to less Sydney buyers visiting the area and fewer listings on the market.
However, she said it was now getting under way again.
"A lot of my inquiries have been people from Sydney... Downsizers, retirees," she said. "I've had quite a few of those looking. And there's also families looking to move out of Sydney and move down here."
Ms Ritchie said Gerringong's lifestyle was appealing to many, including its "beautiful beaches and wonderful community".
"But you're also within that day trip to Sydney. You can go visit Sydney for the day, see a theatre show or go to an art gallery, visit family, and then come back. Or they can commute to work if that's what they want to do."
For sale
Recent sales in the suburb include 189 Fern Street for $1,425,000; 6 Koraaga Road for $1,850,000; and 7 Millewa Avenue for $1,027,000.
Jason Stalgis is the selling agent for 12 Camira Avenue, Gerringong.
'Merioola' is a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home sitting on a 1220 square metre block.
This Victorian Georgian home was built in the 1860's for the Miller family, one of the district's first dairy farming families, who owned it for more than 120 years.
Built with local blue metal rubble stone, this dwelling is based on the four- roomed style cottage typical of that era.
Mr Stalgis said the home retained much of the original design and includes additions to the rear to update the kitchen, provide more living area and a master suite.
It has a price guide in the high $1 million range.
The home at 9 Gowan Place, Gerringong will go to auction on October 25.
The five-bedroom, two-bathroom home is in a cul-de-sac location.
There is no price guide available.
Selling agents, Michele Lay and Olivia Anstee from Ray White Kiama said interest in the property was from a mix of local and Sydney buyers.
Ms Ritchie is the selling agent for 13 Elambra Parade, Gerringong.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home is set on 610 square metres. Located in the Elambra Estate, it's a large single level home.
Ms Ritchie said it could be well-suited to a family as it was a "large house and very spacious", or retirees as it was primarily on one level.
She said there had been some early interest in the home from Sydney buyers.
It has a price guide of $1.5 million to $1.6 million.