THEY are the invaders from another property boom.
First, there were the first home buyers, flush with government incentives driving NSW's property market recovery.
Now, it's investors and home upgraders, who economists have christened "inv-aders", who are expected to drive the 2010 housing cycle.
In its September Building Industry Prospects, BIS Shrapnel forecast a 7 per cent rebound in renovations - making it a bigger home makeover frenzy than that of the early 2000s - helping the broader property market recover.
BIS Shrapnel's senior manager for building Jason Anderson said inv-aders had been shut out of the market for the past four years as interest rates skyrocketed and confidence fell.
Despite inv-aders relieving the state's pressure-cooker housing market to a degree, the housing stock shortfall is forecast to double to 78,000 properties in the next 12 months.
Adding to the boom, confident investors who buy apartments and houses off-the-plan will drive demand for new properties.
Loan approvals have already picked up in May and June.
"Living space will be the No. 1 factor," Mr Anderson said.
Addbuild Additions managing director Chris Books said the renovations market died last year but now inquiries were at "historical highs".
"There is a pent-up demand," he said. "We service wants and needs in this business. In good times it's all about flash decks and pool rooms. At the moment we are in a needs market - people need another couple of bedrooms and a bathroom."
Invader Chris Horspool is adding another storey, three bedrooms and remodelling the ground floor of his 1960s Petit and Sevitt project home at Westleigh.
"We wanted more space and to achieve that we considered if we would move, renovate or knockdown," he said.
"We decided on renovation for minimal disruption to our lives."