Question 1

Is Runaway Bay a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Runaway Bay sits on the Broadwater with a marina, canals and generous foreshore parks, giving everyday life a strong waterside focus. It suits boating enthusiasts and people who enjoy outdoor routines, with boat ramps, walking paths and waterfront leisure areas close at hand. Housing is mostly low-rise, ranging from canal-front residences to established suburban homes and some unit complexes, and local conveniences include a shopping village, a golf course and sports facilities. The suburb presents a quieter coastal routine while remaining connected to larger Gold Coast centres.

About 9,308 people live in Runaway Bay and the median age is 54, with households dominated by couple families (55.9% without children and 29.1% with children). Home ownership is common, with 45.3% owned outright and 29.2% owned with a mortgage, while 25.5% are rented. A draft City of Gold Coast master plan for the Runaway Bay Sports Precinct is at consultation stage and local road and footpath upgrades are underway around Lae Drive and Bayview Street.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Runaway Bay?

Accepted Answer

On the figures for Runaway Bay, housing costs are large compared with local incomes recorded at the most recent Census. A typical local household earned $1,382 a week at that Census, so the median house price of $2,000,000 is about 27.8 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census and the median unit price of $1,200,000 is about 16.7 times that annual income, both well above local incomes. Renting is similarly stretched: an average house rent of $1,150 a week would take roughly 83.2% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while a unit at $750 a week would take about 54.3%.

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 Runaway Bay a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

House rents in Runaway Bay jumped 17.3% over the past year, while median house values rose 10.3%. In other words, rental income from houses increased faster than their capital value over the 12 months to now.

Unit values rose 11.3% while unit rents grew 5.6%, so on the units side capital growth outpaced rental growth. If you care most about rental income, the house figures have been the stronger performer this year; if capital growth is your focus, both houses and units recorded strong value gains. Whether that suits your goals 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.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$2M	$1.20M
Change in value Past 12 months	10.3%	11.3%
Sold Past 3 months	25	32
Median days on market Past 12 months	36	32
Average rent Past 12 months	$1150	$750
Change in rent Past 12 months	17.3%	5.6%

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