Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Bucasia

Bucasia is a relaxed coastal suburb on the northern edge of Mackay, centred on a long, gently sloping sandy beach backed by a casuarina-lined foreshore. Housing is mostly single-storey family homes and beachside holiday houses, so the suburb has a mix of year-round residents and weekend visitors. It is a community of 4,915 people with a median age of 35 and a typical household income of $2,005 a week. Families make up a large part of the local profile, with couple families with children the largest family type.

Everyday needs are met by a small local centre while larger shops and services are a short drive away. The shoreline is used for walking, fishing and easy swims, nearby wetlands and mangroves add to the natural feel, and Seaview Park provides a playground, picnic facilities, public toilets and a boat ramp. The foreshore has formalised pedestrian access, fencing to restrict vehicle access and dune revegetation, and a state road intersection upgrade is in detailed design to ease congestion on the main corridor serving the northern beaches. Whether Bucasia suits you depends on how much you value a relaxed seaside setting with those conveniences.

At a median house price of $710,000, buying a house in Bucasia works out to about 6.8 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the most recent Census (weekly household income $2,005, annual $104,260). On these figures, buying sits well above what people locally earned at the last Census.

For renters, a house at $695 a week would take about 34.7% of that weekly household income at the last Census, which is a sizeable share, while a unit at $408 a week would take about 20.3%, a moderate share. That means renting a unit looks more moderate against local incomes, renting a house is more stretched, and buying is the most stretched option on the Census incomes.

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

Unit values in Bucasia have been the standout over the past 12 months, jumping 69.7%, while house values also rose a strong 11.2% over the year. Rental income moved more modestly: unit rents rose 4.6% and house rents grew 2.2%, so the rise in unit prices far outpaced rent growth this year.

For someone weighing Bucasia up as an investment, the numbers show capital growth on units was the dominant trend over the year, while rental income increased only modestly. Which of those outcomes matters more will depend 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.