Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Forest Lake

Forest Lake is a planned residential suburb laid out around a large central lake with a network of parklands and wetlands, and tree-lined streets dominated by detached family homes. Pockets of townhouses and low-rise apartments sit near the local shopping precinct, while recreational walking and cycling routes, playgrounds and water-side leisure shape everyday life. Regular bus services and nearby major roads link the suburb to the wider city, and cafes, shops and community facilities cover day-to-day needs.

The community of 22,676 people has a median age of 37 and a typical household income of $1,921 a week. Families make up the bulk of households, and about three in four dwellings are owner-occupied (73.4%). Recent local investment has focused on the lake precinct, including a council-backed nature waterplay park at The Esplanade, alongside transport works on Forest Lake Boulevard and an intersection upgrade listed in infrastructure plans. Whether Forest Lake suits you will come down to how much you value waterside parklands, local shops and a suburb weighted towards families.

A median house price of $1,047,500 in Forest Lake works out to about 10.5 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (annual income = $1,921 a week × 52 = $99,892). On the rental side, a house at $660 a week would take about 34.4% of that weekly household income, a sizeable share, while a unit at $455 a week would take about 23.7%, a moderate share. So on the figures, buying sits well above what local households earned at the last Census, and renting a house would also use a noticeable slice of local income.

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 is house values, which jumped 16.1% over the past 12 months. In Forest Lake, that strong rise in house value outpaced the increase in house rents, which were up 6.5%.

Units moved more evenly: median unit values rose 8.5% while unit rents climbed 8.3%, both solid increases and nearly matched in size. For someone weighing Forest Lake as an investment, the figures show houses delivered stronger capital growth this year, whereas units produced similar growth in price and rental income. Deciding which outcome matters most depends on whether you prioritise capital growth or rental income.

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.