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

Forster sits on Wallis Lake and opens onto the coast on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. The town centres on the lakeside foreshore and the bridge to Tuncurry, with boating ramps, beaches and walking tracks that support an outdoor lifestyle. Housing ranges from weatherboard cottages and family homes to waterfront apartments and holiday houses, and the compact town centre has cafes, seafood restaurants and shops with easy access to national park bushland and larger regional centres.

About 14,187 people live in Forster and the median age is 57, with the community weighted towards couple families without children and a combined owner-occupied share of 72.2%. Civic additions include a civic centre with a public library and community space, an ambulance station, foreshore works and planning for a combined health facility, aquatic centre upgrades and bus shelter improvements. That mix of lakeside recreation, a compact centre and established home ownership tends to suit retirees, people who enjoy water-based activities and buyers seeking owner-occupied housing; whether it suits you depends on the lifestyle you want.

Renting in Forster would take a large share of a typical local household's income at the last Census. A house rent of $650 a week is about 64.4% of the Census weekly household income of $1,009, and a unit rent of $460 a week is about 45.6% of that income.

Buying sits well above local incomes on these figures: the median house price of $867,500 is about 16.5 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census (annual income $52,468), and the median unit price of $735,000 is about 14.0 times that annual income. Whether those ratios feel expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

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

Unit-side movements have been the most noticeable feature in Forster over the past 12 months: unit values rose 7.9% and unit rents jumped 9.5%, both solid increases. House values also rose, but more modestly, up 3.5% over the year.

If rental income is your priority, the 9.5% rise in unit rents is the figure that matters and it slightly outpaced unit value growth this year. For capital growth, both property types recorded increases, with units rising faster than houses. Whether that pattern suits your investment goals and circumstances is for you to decide.

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.