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

Lake Cathie is a relaxed coastal village centred on a tidal lake beside a sandy ocean beach and a rocky headland. It feels residential and low-rise, with a mix of older holiday cottages, modern family homes and some purpose-built holiday accommodation. Local life revolves around the lake, beach and coastal reserve, where walking, fishing and birdwatching are common, and a small town centre provides everyday services while larger hospitals and shops are a short drive away in Port Macquarie.

The community of about 4,296 people has a median age of 52 and is weighted towards couple households, with couple families making up 86% of families. Most homes are owner-occupied (82.3%), so the suburb leans towards an established, settled character. Recent school improvements and ongoing coastal and foreshore works, along with planned corridor upgrades, are shaping local infrastructure. Whether Lake Cathie suits you will depend on whether you want an established seaside village with ready access to beach- and lake-based recreation.

A median house price of $840,000 in Lake Cathie works out to about 12.7 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the last Census, which places buying well above what local households earned at that time.

Renting looks tighter but less extreme: with a typical local household earning $1,275 a week at the last Census, a house rent of $700 a week would take about 54.9% of that weekly income and a unit at $430 a week would take about 33.7%. On these figures, renting a house would take a large share of a typical local household's income while renting a unit would take a sizeable share; whether that feels 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.

Over the past 12 months in Lake Cathie, median house rents rose a modest 2.9% while median house values fell slightly, down 1.1%. Unit rents moved differently, falling 7.5% over the year, a solid decline.

If rental income is your priority, the modest increase in house rents and the solid fall in unit rents are the figures that matter. If capital growth is your priority, the data shows a slight fall in house values over the year, and whether that pattern suits your objectives and circumstances is for you to weigh up.

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.