NSW Property Spotlight
Pennant Hills property and home loan guide
Pennant Hills is a leafy suburb about 18 km north-west of the Sydney CBD, between Lane Cove National Park and Berowra Valley National Park. In the 2021 Census 73.3% of homes were separate houses and 48.0% had four or more bedrooms. The station on the Northern Line and the shops beside it are the centre of the suburb. For buyers the size of the loan and the bushland on some streets tend to matter most. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Pennant Hills buyers by phone and video.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 73.3% separate houses, 11.5% terraces and townhouses | 14.9% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Pennant Hills) |
In the 2021 Census, 73.5% of Pennant Hills homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 23.2% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $500 (ABS). Rents by bedroom aren't shown for this area. Sale prices will be added once licensed figures are available.
Figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Living in Pennant Hills
The first European settlement was convict timber camps in Governor Macquarie's time. The name appears in an 1801 muster and in 1802 Governor King referred to "the range of Pennant Hills". It first applied to what is now West Pennant Hills and moved to the suburb when the railway station was built.
Permanent settlement began in the 1840s and grew after the railway arrived. The station opened on 17 September 1886 and the line was electrified in 1926. In August 1912 the federal government opened a wireless telegraphy station here.
Transport
- Pennant Hills station is on the T9 Northern Line, with trains towards Hornsby and to the city via Strathfield.
- Buses run from Pennant Hills to West Pennant Hills, Castle Hill and Cherrybrook.
- Pennant Hills Road, one of Sydney's major roads, runs through the suburb.
- In the 2021 Census 4.9% of working residents used public transport to get to work and 3.3% took the train.
- Plan trips on the Transport for NSW trip planner.
Schools
Pennant Hills Public School (opened 1925) and Pennant Hills High School (opened 1966) are the local government schools. St Agatha's Catholic Primary School and Mount St Benedict College, a Catholic girls' secondary school, are also in the suburb.
Zones change, so check the NSW School Finder for any address before you buy.
Shopping and dining
Several dozen shops sit north-west of the railway line, along with Pennant Hills Library. Cafes and restaurants cluster around Yarrara Road and Pennant Hills Marketplace is on Hillcrest Road.
Parks and recreation
- Pennant Hills Park has Ern Holmes Oval, tennis and netball courts, hockey fields and an archery range.
- Lilian Fraser Garden has rare and exotic plants, now cared for by Hornsby Shire Council.
- Observatory Park on Pennant Hills Road is the highest point in the suburb.
- Lane Cove National Park and Berowra Valley National Park border the suburb.
Lifestyle
Pennant Hills suits families who want a house, a train line and bushland nearby. The median age was 43 in 2021 and 79.1% of households were families. Most homes are owned rather than rented (73.5% in 2021).
Pennant Hills
Did you know?
A name from 1801
"Pennant Hills" appears as a place of residence in an 1801 muster. One theory links the name to the naturalist Thomas Pennant. Another links it to signalling pennants.
A national first in 1912
In August 1912 the federal government opened a wireless telegraphy station at Pennant Hills, the first of its kind at a national level.
Baden-Powell visited
The Baden Powell Scout Centre opened in 1929 as a camp for unemployed people during the Depression. Lord Baden-Powell visited in 1931. It covers 36 acres of bushland.
A royal visit
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visited the First Danish Church in Australia at Pennant Hills on 6 March 2005.
Property types
Pennant Hills is mostly a house market.
- Houses make up 73.3% of homes, many on larger blocks with established gardens.
- Flats and apartments make up 14.9%, mostly near the station.
- Townhouses and semis make up 11.5%.
- Size: 48.0% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 4.6% have one bedroom.
Check zoning, heritage items and hazards such as bush fire prone land for any address on the NSW Planning Portal spatial viewer.
What lenders look at in Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills is a house market on Sydney's north-west ridge. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
Larger loan amounts
Larger homes mean bigger loans. Larger loans get closer scrutiny of income, expenses and existing debts. Some lenders cap their maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) on bigger loans, so check how much deposit you'll need early.
Bushland and bushfire
Pennant Hills borders two national parks. Some lots may be mapped as bush fire prone land, which can affect building rules and insurance costs. Check the address on the NSW Planning Portal and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Older homes and renovations
Many homes here are decades old. Valuers look at condition. If you plan to extend or knock down and rebuild, a construction loan pays out in stages and needs a fixed-price building contract and approved plans.
Townhouses and units
Units and townhouses near the station come with strata. Lenders look at the strata report, levies and unit size. One LMI provider's public guidelines ask for at least 30 m2 of living area, excluding balconies and car spaces.
Postcode 2120
Pennant Hills shares postcode 2120 with Thornleigh and Westleigh. It isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes.
Lender and LMI policies differ between lenders and change often. This is a general guide based on public lender and LMI information checked 3 November 2026. We can check current policy for the property you're looking at before you apply.
Buying in Pennant Hills
In Pennant Hills the loan size and the block shape most purchases. Big family homes mean big loans and streets near bushland can carry bushfire planning controls. Checking both before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
Pennant Hills is mostly houses, so many first home buyers here start with a unit or townhouse near the station. Buying a house usually means a larger deposit or help from family. A family guarantee may help some buyers.
Getting pre-approval before you look tells you your range. For NSW schemes, price caps and grants, see our first home buyer page for current details.
Upgraders
Many Pennant Hills buyers are upsizing to a larger family home nearby. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. Older homes often need work, so budget for a building and pest inspection and any renovation you have in mind.
Deposit and costs
On top of your deposit, allow for:
- stamp duty (transfer duty) under New South Wales rules, with concessions for some first home buyers (see Revenue NSW)
- conveyancing and legal fees
- building and pest inspections
- lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property's value
Our calculators give you a starting figure. Stamp duty rules differ between states, so check the New South Wales rules for your purchase.
Thinking about buying in Pennant Hills?
Talk it through with a Brisbane broker before you sign a contract. We can check the property you're looking at against lender policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pennant Hills mostly houses?
Yes. In the 2021 Census 73.3% of homes were separate houses and 48.0% had four or more bedrooms.
Is there a train station in Pennant Hills?
Yes. Pennant Hills station is on the T9 Northern Line. It opened in 1886.
Are there schools in Pennant Hills?
Yes. Pennant Hills Public School, Pennant Hills High School, St Agatha's Catholic Primary School and Mount St Benedict College are in the suburb. Check the NSW School Finder for any address.
Is Pennant Hills bushfire prone?
Some streets back onto national park bushland and may be mapped as bush fire prone land. Check the address on the NSW Planning Portal and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in Pennant Hills?
Yes. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with clients across Australia by phone and video. Lender policy is national, so the lending side works the same way. Stamp duty, first home buyer concessions and grants follow NSW rules, so we check those for your purchase. We don't have an office in Pennant Hills.
What costs should I budget for besides the deposit?
NSW transfer duty (stamp duty), conveyancing, building and pest inspections and lenders mortgage insurance if you borrow more than 80% of the value. First home buyers may pay less duty under NSW rules. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
General information only. This page provides general information and doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and seek advice before making a decision. Market figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Time Home Loans Pty Ltd ACN 161 695 012, Credit Representative 529395 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.