Question 1

Is Merimbula a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Merimbula is a coastal town on the Sapphire Coast centred on a broad estuary, sandy beaches and a shallow lake that draw boating and fishing. The community of 3,821 has a median age of 54 and is dominated by couple families; owner-occupiers outnumber renters by about two to one. Many locals work in tourism, hospitality and fisheries.

Housing ranges from weatherboard cottages and beachfront apartments to newer low-rise developments, and a compact town centre provides cafes, galleries and everyday shops. Regional flights into Merimbula Airport and the Princes Highway keep the town accessible, and several council and government projects are underway or planned, including a foreshore boardwalk replacement, airport runway extensions, a CBD upgrade and a planned skatepark. That mix points to a relaxed seaside lifestyle that suits families, retirees and holiday-home owners; whether it suits you depends on what you’re looking for in a town.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Merimbula?

Accepted Answer

Compared with a typical local household's income at the last Census, both renting and buying in Merimbula sit well above what people locally earned then. House rent of $650 a week would take about 56.7% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while unit rent of $500 a week would take about 43.6%. On buying, the median house price of $919,000 is about 15.4 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, and the median unit price of $460,000 is about 7.7 times a typical local annual household income. Renting already consumes a large share of local incomes and buying sits well above those incomes, particularly for houses.

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 Merimbula a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Merimbula's 12-month figures show a split by property type. Unit rents rose 5.3% over the year, a solid increase, and unit values climbed a moderate 3.1%. By contrast, house values edged up 1.0% while house rents fell 3.0%.

If capital growth is your focus, the value numbers point to modest gains for units and only a slight rise for houses over the year. If rental income is what matters, the rent figures tell a different story: unit rents strengthened while house rents eased. Whether that pattern suits your plans depends on your own 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	$919K	$460K
Change in value Past 12 months	1.0%	3.1%
Sold Past 3 months	18	17
Median days on market Past 12 months	91	126
Average rent Past 12 months	$650	$500
Change in rent Past 12 months	-3.0%	5.3%

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