It hasn't taken long for Luke Outram to feel settled in Kahibah.
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The suburb had been without a butcher for 20 years before he set up Heritage Meats Co in 2016.
The Glebe Street shop now feels like a second home.
"I'm not going anywhere - this is me," Mr Outram said.
"I'll be here until I stop butchering."
Bordering the picturesque Glenrock Conservation Area, Kahibah sits between two of Newcastle's more expensive suburbs in Whitebridge and Merewether Heights.
It juggles the benefits of a quiet lifestyle and having Charlestown Square and Westfield Kotara both within a five-minute drive.
Kahibah also boasts its own small but vibrant village strip including a cafe, bakery, post office and fish and chip shop.
"There's good potential here ... I love everything about it," Mr Outram said.
"Me and the family go for walks down Glenrock and I do a bit of running down the Fernleigh Track.
"It's just a beautiful part of the world, all the people here are nice ... there's a really good community."
MARKET OVERVIEW
Kahibah had a steadily rising population of 2473 at the time of the 2016 census.
It had a median house price of $875,000 in August, up from $733,000 in March.
Ray White Newcastle and Lake Macquarie's Teresa Heighington said while it was getting difficult for first home buyers to buy in Kahibah, some suitable off-the-plan and townhouse options remained.
However, the majority of the market is coming from Sydney, Brisbane, and young families looking to upsize.
"Most houses now - you're not finding that first home buyer at $650,000 to $700,000 ... they're pretty priced out," Ms Heighington said.
"But you are finding that it's an area that people are coming to for the second move into that family home.
"Kahibah Public School has a wonderful reputation so a lot of people like the idea they've got a great school next to them.
"You're finding a lot of young families are gravitating there."
Robinson Property's Darren Bender agreed that Kahibah's centrality to shops, beaches and the city made it attractive for young families.
"It's a quiet position - most of the streets there are fairly peaceful and there's still a fair bit of bush reserve that's pretty close at hand," he said.
"Quite often you can still get a reasonable sized block of land as well because it's an older subdivision."
Mr Robinson said the Fernleigh Track, a 15km trail of disused rail line that runs from Adamstown, through Kahibah, and down to Belmont, was a huge attraction for residents.
"You've got that social aspect of it that people can get out and go for a lovely walk or bike ride, but there are people that use it as a transport system to work as well."
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FOR SALE
Ms Heighington is guiding in the early $800,000s for a three-bedroom townhouse at 5/53 Kenibea Avenue.
She described another three-bedroomer at 4 Kullaroo Road, set for auction on December 18, as a "sweet and tidy home in a great part of Kahibah".
Dalton Partners The Junction's John Kerr is guiding $925,000 for an attractive three-bedroom home at 113 Wallsend Street.
In the news
Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
