Penola’s pull comes from affordable lifestyle living near the Coonawarra wine region, stable agriculture jobs, good local schools and a mostly owner-occupier market that keeps stock tight. Buyers are chasing that blend of steady income (around $1,369 per week, above regional averages), services for families, and the chance to tap into tourism-driven short-stay demand while avoiding the higher coastal or metro prices. Risks include reliance on primary industries and a small population base, but that same tight supply plus growing interest in lifestyle retreats keeps a modest upward pressure on prices, with house values up around 5% in the past quarter and broadly flat-to-up over the last six months.