Question 1

Is Balgowlah a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Balgowlah sits just inland from the harbour and is within easy reach of Manly's beaches and headland reserves. Streets mix postwar weatherboard cottages and Californian bungalows with renovated family homes and low-rise apartments, and higher streets have pockets of harbour outlook. A compact shopping village along Sydney Road, nearby parks, sporting fields and regular bus links to Manly and the city serve daily needs.

With a median age of 41 and 48.8% of households made up of couple families with children, Balgowlah reads as a suburb of families; 68.2% of homes are owner-occupied and 31.8% are rented. It is identified as a Northern Beaches town centre under the state low and mid-rise housing reforms. The local secondary college campus will expand to cover Years 7 to 12 and upgrades are planned at the Balgowlah Boys campus.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Balgowlah?

Accepted Answer

Housing in Balgowlah sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census. A median house at $2,920,000 is about 20.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit at $1,450,000 is about 10.4 times a local year's household income, so buying on these figures is well above local incomes.

If you're renting rather than buying, the rent numbers are the ones that matter: the average house rent of $1,575 a week is about 58.7% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, a large share, while the average unit rent of $860 a week is about 32.1% of that weekly income, a sizeable share. Whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Balgowlah a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months in Balgowlah, rents rose more than property values. Median house values edged up 0.1% while house rents increased 5.0%. Median unit values rose a modest 4.3% and unit rents climbed a solid 7.5%.

If rental income is your priority, the rent figures are the most relevant: both house and unit rents grew faster than their respective values over the year. Whether that balance suits your plans depends on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$2.92M	$1.45M
Change in value Past 12 months	0.1%	4.3%
Sold Past 3 months	22	15
Median days on market Past 12 months	31	24
Average rent Past 12 months	$1575	$860
Change in rent Past 12 months	5.0%	7.5%

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