Question 1

Is Monterey a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Monterey is a compact bayside suburb in southern Sydney’s St George area, tucked between Ramsgate and Brighton-Le-Sands and close to the foreshore of Botany Bay. Residents have Cook Park and the sandy stretch of Lady Robinson’s Beach nearby, both popular for walks and weekend recreation. The area is quietly residential, with a mix of single-storey weatherboard and brick homes alongside modest low-rise apartment buildings. Local shops and cafés in neighbouring strips meet everyday needs, and there is easy access to train stations on the Illawarra line and major roads for commuting.

Home to 4,619 people with a median age of 44, Monterey is a suburb of families: couple families with children make up 45.2% and couple families without children 36.7% of families, and the majority of dwellings are owner-occupied. A Bayside Council project to renew the outdoor fitness stations in Cook Park is under way, improving equipment, surfacing, access, shade and seating. That combination of bayside recreation, local shops and transport links points to a settled, residential neighbourhood; whether it suits you depends on what you’re after.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Monterey?

Accepted Answer

Rents in Monterey sit high against local incomes. With a typical local household earning $1,785 a week at the last Census, the average house rent of $1,225 a week would take about 68.6% of that weekly income, and the average unit rent of $715 a week would take about 40.1%. Both figures represent a large share of a typical local household's income at the last Census, with house rents especially stretched.

If you are looking at renting in Monterey, these rent shares are the key numbers to consider; whether they 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.

Question 3

Is Monterey a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Over the past 12 months the most striking change in Monterey was house rents, which climbed 28.9%. House values rose a modest 2.7% over the same period, so the rent a house earns increased far faster than its price.

Units showed a different pattern: unit values rose a solid 9.0% while unit rents increased 9.2%, so capital growth and rental income moved at similar rates for units this year. Whether that balance suits your investment goals depends on what you're after and your personal 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	2.7%	9.0%
Sold Past 3 months	7	9
Median days on market Past 12 months	N/A	37
Average rent Past 12 months	$1225	$715
Change in rent Past 12 months	28.9%	9.2%

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