Question 1

Is Warilla a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Warilla sits on the Illawarra coast centred on Warilla Beach and a broad foreshore that attracts surfers, swimmers and families. It has a domestic, down-to-earth character with streets of modest postwar cottages and brick homes alongside pockets of newer infill and low-rise units near the esplanade. Local life is focused on the beachfront, a handful of cafes and shops, parks and surf lifesaving activity, while Lake Illawarra and coastal walking routes are close by. The suburb is convenient to Shellharbour’s retail and civic centre and connected by road to the wider Illawarra.

About 6,226 people live in Warilla and the median age is 45, with a typical household weekly income of $987. Couple families (with and without children) make up most families, and just under three in five homes are owner-occupied while around 42% of dwellings are rented. Several council and state projects are active or planned—from a seawall renewal and an intersection upgrade to a $250,000 Warilla Grove Precinct study and a grant for King Mickey sportsfield improvements. Whether Warilla suits you will depend on what you want from a coastal suburb.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Warilla?

Accepted Answer

On the figures for Warilla, buying sits well above local incomes. With a median house price of $855,000 and a typical local household earning about $987 a week at the last Census (about $51,324 a year), a house works out to roughly 16.7 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census.

Renting also takes a large share of income: a house rent of $680 a week is about 68.9% of that weekly household income at the last Census, and a unit rent of $540 a week is about 54.7%. So both renting and buying would use a large share of a typical local household's income at the last Census, with buying notably more stretched. 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.

Question 3

Is Warilla a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The most striking movement in Warilla over the past year is the large jump in unit values, which climbed 38.9%. Unit rents also rose strongly, up 17.4%. By contrast, house values fell modestly, down 2.3%, while house rents increased modestly, up 4.6%.

For someone weighing Warilla as an investment, the value figures speak to capital growth and the rent figures speak to rental income. If rental income is your priority, the strong rise in unit rents is the number to notice; if capital growth is your focus, the large gain in unit values (and the small decline in house values) is what the past year shows. Whether that balance fits your 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.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$855K	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	-2.3%	38.9%
Sold Past 3 months	23	7
Median days on market Past 12 months	19	46
Average rent Past 12 months	$680	$540
Change in rent Past 12 months	4.6%	17.4%

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