A SURGE of property on the rural market has real estate agents gearing up for a buoyant autumn.
Confidence in the rural property sector is high following good summer rain and a string of recent sales.
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A large range of agricultural properties are on the market in rural NSW and Queensland, including Carrington Farms, which is on the border of the two states.
The privately-owned 57,370ha irrigation and dryland agribusiness is tipped to sell for up to $400 million.
The UK-owned Clyde Agriculture portfolio, which consists of 13 rural properties across NSW and Queensland and totals 273,000ha, is also for sale by tender and is expected to be sold mid-year.
The 13 properties in the portfolio, a mix of cropping, grazing and irrigation country, will be offered as a whole but proposals to buy individual assets will be considered.
Landmark NSW real estate manager Phil Rourke said a good break in the season had led to an influx of properties coming on to the NSW market.
"There's a lot more properties on the market this autumn than there were last year, probably about 50 per cent more so far," Mr Rourke said.
"The properties that are on the market are certainly going to present well ... it augurs well for the best start to a season for probably 10 years."
Elders national real estate manager Shane McIntyre also said he was optimistic about the autumn.
"There's been a recent string of sales activity to both local and international buyers, which indicates a renewed interest in agriculture," Mr McIntyre said.
"We expect to have an excellent range of high quality properties available for the buying market this autumn."
Mr McIntyre last month sold the prestigious Mt Elephant Station, near Derrinallum in Victoria's Western District, for an estimated $20 million-plus.
The 3310ha property, previously owned by the Baillieu family, was sold to a Swedish count.
Other recent sales include that of Buln Gherin, in Beaufort, which sold for an undisclosed figure but was expected to sell for about $6000/ha and lifestyle property and vineyard Inverness Ridge, at Coldstream, which sold for more than $3 million.
Figures from the Victorian Property Sales Report, released last week, indicated house and unit prices had increased.
Ouyen recorded the biggest jump in house prices with a 57.6 per cent increase.
Geelong and Eaglehawk also fared well, both recording jumps in house prices.
