Question 1

Is Federal a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Federal is a small rural village in the Northern Rivers hinterland, set among rolling green hills, creeks and rainforest pockets a short drive from Byron Bay and Mullumbimby. It is low density, with lifestyle blocks and small farms and a mix of weatherboard cottages and newer timber and eco homes, so everyday life has a quietly country feel. Local life centres on a modest village atmosphere and community facilities, while shops, schools and larger services are found in the nearby towns.

Federal is a community of 784 people with a median age of 47 and a typical household income of $1,910 a week (about $99,320 a year). Most homes are owner-occupied, and residents tend to be people seeking acreage, creatives and families who value space, privacy and a slower pace. A council-endorsed village masterplan sets out actions such as a main-street upgrade, new paths and cycleways, a park landscape plan, measures for affordable housing and putting powerlines underground, and there is understood funding for remediation of the Federal Drive landslip with temporary bypass works under way. Whether Federal is right for you will depend on how much you value its rural, low-density lifestyle and proximity to nearby towns.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Federal?

Accepted Answer

In Federal 2480, NSW, a typical house rent of $1,050 a week would take about 55% of a typical local household's weekly income as recorded at the most recent Census. On these figures, renting a house in the area would use a large share of a typical local household's income, so if you're renting rather than buying that rent share is the number that matters when judging how expensive it feels.

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 Federal a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

If you're weighing up Federal as an investment, the clearest movements over the past 12 months are on the house side. House values rose 5.5% over the year, a solid increase, while house rents climbed 10.5%, a strong rise. In other words, rental income for houses grew faster than house prices in that period, so rent was the stronger performer this year. Whether that balance suits your plans depends on your individual 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	N/A	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	5.5%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	4	N/A
Median days on market Past 12 months	69	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$1050	N/A
Change in rent Past 12 months	10.5%	N/A

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