Question 1

Is Fairlight a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Fairlight is a compact harbourside pocket beside Manly, centred on a sheltered foreshore and the small Fairlight Beach. Streets slope down to the water and many properties have harbour outlooks, with housing made up of older cottages and low-rise apartment blocks rather than large estates. The lifestyle is quietly seaside, with harbour walks, swimming and picnic spots close by, while Manly’s cafes, shops and ferry services provide everyday convenience. It feels more relaxed than the busier beachfront precinct and will suit families, professionals and anyone after close water access without the main tourist crowds.

The suburb is home to 6,141 people, with a median age of 39 and a typical household income of $3,251 a week. Households are strongly family-oriented, with couple families with children the largest group and about 64.3% of dwellings owner-occupied while 35.7% are rented. Local projects affecting the area include the Manly Cove West works at the former Manly Sea Life site, demolition to promenade level and temporary remedial works along the promenade with further revitalisation to be designed, the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection noted as Withdrawn, and a long-term My Place: Manly program of public-domain upgrades alongside short-term measures such as expanded outdoor dining trials.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Fairlight?

Accepted Answer

On the figures, buying a unit in Fairlight sits well above what local households earned at the last Census. The current median unit price of $2,240,000 is about 13.2 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (weekly income $3,251 × 52 = $169,052).

Renting presents a different picture. Average rents are about $1,700 a week for houses and $950 a week for units. Against a typical local weekly household income of $3,251 at the last Census, that means house rent would take about 52.3% of that income and unit rent about 29.2%. So renting a house would use a large share of a typical local household's income at the last Census, while renting a unit would take a moderate share.

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 Fairlight a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The clearest feature in Fairlight this past year is large jumps in what properties are worth: median house values climbed 27.1% and median unit values rose 28.5% over the 12 months.

Rents moved far less, with house rents edging up 0.1% and unit rents rising a modest 2.7%. For someone weighing Fairlight up as an investment, the figures show capital growth has been the stronger story this year while rental income recorded only marginal to modest increases; whether that matches your goals and circumstances is for you to weigh.

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	N/A	$2.24M
Change in value Past 12 months	27.1%	28.5%
Sold Past 3 months	8	20
Median days on market Past 12 months	33	33
Average rent Past 12 months	$1700	$950
Change in rent Past 12 months	0.1%	2.7%

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