Is Wollongong a Good Place to Live? Your Illawarra Suburb Guide to Buying, Selling, Investing and Living in Wollongong
Welcome to What’s On In Wollongong. We’re dedicated to sharing insider info about our incredible region. It’s no longer a secret that living in the Illawarra offers a beautiful lifestyle. Importantly, with more affordable housing than Sydney.
We interviewed some of Wollongong’s leading real estate agents, to get the scoop on living, buying, selling and investing locally.
Is Wollongong a Good Place to Live or Invest?
Nestled between the green expanse of the escarpment and glorious beaches, it’s hard to beat Wollongong’s relaxed beachside city vibe.
If you love shops, restaurants, cafes and city living, but also love a quick escape into stunning nature, then Wollongong is for you.
Buyers and sellers most appreciate living in Wollongong for these reasons:
- The convenience of city living but at a more relaxed pace;
- A leisurely stroll gets you ocean side, with four glorious beaches to choose from. Choose your Wollongong beach for surfing, sheltered Harbour paddling, or what has best conditions on the day. It includes a dog walking beach too.
- The Blue Mile walk around from North Beach to Wollongong Harbour is stunning. It winds you past endless view of sparkling ocean, rock pools, the Continental Pool (an Olympic size swimming pool, plus kids pool that over looks the ocean, oh, it’s free entry also!). Then past the pretty Wollongong Harbour and the two lighthouses. With so many cafes and dining options to choose from along the way. Walk, cycle, run, hop or skip this major Wollongong drawcard. Did we mention Wollongong Ocean side parking is free too!?
- The array of Wollongong dining options from fine dining (Debutante and Santino’s) to delicious beachside pizza (Northside Pavilion). Whilst Wollongong doesn’t always compete with Sydney’s sophistication and style, the more laid back vibe and pace of life can mean ease of access, with more time to enjoy life, like your morning coffee or your dinner out with mates or family.
- How does this sound? Start your days with a walk around the Harbour Blue Mile, maybe spotting Dolphins, Seals or Whales if they are migrating. Follow up the exercise endorphin hit and all that unfolding nature, with a coffee at Longboard or Levendi’s Cafe…
Wollongong’s Average House prices in 2023 (up 1% since 2022)
Despite recent surges, Wollongong is still significantly more affordable than Sydney:
Wollongong House Median Sale Price 3 bed – $1.20M
Wollongong Unit Median Sale Price 2 bed – $670K
Typical buyers are first home buyers, down sizers and investors. Where as families tend to look in the surrounding suburbs for more backyard room, Wollongong has some stunning homes for sale – click here to see some of Wollongong’s houses and unit’s for sale
The last two years have certainty had a major impact on Wollongong prices. Investor buyers are benefitting from the strong demand for Wollongong rental properties, despite a slight cooling of Wollongong’s Real Estate market since interest rate rises.
If you want a market appraisal on your Wollongong home, enquire with one of Wollongong’s top Real Estate Agents, Neil Webster from Stone Real Estate. He may even know your exact home.