Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in East Ballina

East Ballina has a seaside village feel on the narrow strip between the Richmond River and the Pacific Ocean, with sandy beaches, riverfront reserves and easy access to surf and boating. Days commonly revolve around fishing, walks along the foreshore and a relaxed cafe life. Housing is low-rise, from older timber cottages near the shore to newer single-level homes and riverfront units, and local parks and a small commercial strip mean everyday shops and green space are within reach while Ballina’s centre is still nearby.

The suburb is home to 5,882 people with a median age of 48 and a typical household income of $1,554 a week. Families are prominent and most dwellings are owner-occupied (46.1% owned outright, 25.3% with a mortgage, 28.6% rented), so the community leans towards settled households, including retirees and families. Several council and state planning projects affect the area—planned bridge duplications, coastal management work on estuary shoaling, and a hospital redevelopment process that currently has no confirmed flood-safe site—so local infrastructure is under active review. Whether East Ballina suits you depends on whether a quieter, established coastal lifestyle is what you want.

Buying a house in East Ballina sits well above local incomes recorded at the last Census: the median house price of $1,387,500 is about 17.2 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census. Renting would also take a large share of those incomes — an $800 a week house rent is about 51.5% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, and a $650 a week unit rent is about 41.8%.

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

The most striking movement over the past year is the strong rise in house values, which climbed 19.4%. In East Ballina that increase in house prices outpaced the rise in house rents, which were up 6.7% over the same 12 months. Unit values rose a more modest 4.0% while unit rents jumped 8.3%, so for units the rental income increase was larger than the change in price.

If you are weighing East Ballina as an investment, the 19.4% lift in house values is the figure that speaks to capital growth, while the 6.7% and 8.3% rent changes are the figures that matter for rental income. Which of those outcomes matters to you depends on your 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.