Yarraville VIC 3013 Property Report 2025

Is Yarraville a good suburb?

For most buyers, Yarraville is “good” for a very specific reason: it feels like a village suburb that still behaves like a city suburb. You get the café strip, walkability, heritage streets and quick rail access, without being locked into the price brackets of the inner-north or inner-east. If your work and life are CBD-oriented (or inner-west hubs), Yarraville can be a genuine lifestyle upgrade.

The trade-off is the same trade-off you see across Melbourne’s inner ring: you pay for the location. The Yarraville median house price in 2025 sits around the mid-$1 millions, and the “budget feel” depends heavily on whether you’re chasing a freestanding home, an attached townhouse, or an apartment. In other words: it can be a brilliant suburb, but it’s not automatically an “easy” suburb to buy in.

Here’s a simple borrower verdict that matches what we see in real conversations: Yarraville suits households who value walkability and commute time, and who can either (a) bring a strong deposit, or (b) buy a smaller/attached home and build equity over time. It’s less suited if you want a large block, big garage, and quiet streets at an outer-suburb price.

If you’re deciding between “buy in Yarraville” vs “buy cheaper and travel more”, use the Rentvesting Calculator as a sanity check. It helps you compare the real monthly cost of buying (repayments + holding costs) against renting in the lifestyle area you want.

Yarraville median house price 2025

If you’re here for the numbers, start here: the median house sale price (12 months) used in this report is around $1,146,000. That does not mean every house sells for $1.146m — it means half the house sales are above that point and half are below. In Yarraville, the spread can be large because condition, land size, street, parking, and renovation quality can move prices quickly.

For units / villas / townhouses, the indicative median sale price used here is around $647,500. For many first-home buyers (and downsizers), attached dwellings are the realistic way into the suburb — not because they’re “cheap”, but because the deposit and repayments can be materially easier to carry.

A practical way to use the median is to treat it like a planning anchor, then adjust for your target property. If you’re shopping freestanding homes with parking and a decent backyard, you may be above the median. If you’re okay with smaller land, older kitchens, or “do it over time”, you can sit closer to the median or below it. The point is: your loan strategy should match the version of Yarraville you’re actually buying.

Location & commute: why Yarraville’s distance to the CBD matters

Yarraville sits in Melbourne’s inner west at roughly ~7km from the CBD. For borrowers, that matters because time is money. A shorter commute can reduce the weekly “leak” that quietly kills borrowing comfort: petrol, tolls, parking, childcare timing, takeaway dinners, and the general cost of being time-poor. In higher-priced suburbs, that’s often the real decision: pay more for the home, but buy back time.

If you’re planning a move, model it like this: use the Max Borrowing Calculator to set an affordability ceiling, then stress-test repayments using the Mortgage Repayment Calculator. The loan might “work” on paper, but the household has to work in real life.

One underrated tip: when you’re buying inner-ring, check how your parking reality changes your routine. Some streets are easy; others are a daily shuffle. That sounds small, but it affects day-to-day satisfaction and, for some households, it influences whether you need a second car or can genuinely use public transport more.

For school-age families, your commute is not just “work to home.” It’s a three-leg loop: home → school/daycare → work → home. Inner-ring convenience can look expensive at the purchase price level, but it can save you time and money every week. This is why “is Yarraville a good suburb?” often becomes “is it good for our routine?”

Schools & zones: what families should check before buying in Yarraville

In Melbourne’s inner west, schools can be a genuine driver of demand. But the borrower-friendly rule is simple: never assume zone/catchment — always confirm it officially before you buy. Zones can change over time, and “close to a school” is not the same as being in-zone.

Victoria has an official tool for this — use it as part of your due diligence: Find My School (Victoria). Confirm the address you’re buying, confirm the year level, and then confirm directly with the school if you’re making a decision based on enrolment.

From a finance perspective, school choices often shift the “best” loan outcome. Some families choose a smaller home (or an attached dwelling) to stay in a preferred pocket and keep daily travel simpler. Others go further out for a bigger home, but then need to be honest about higher weekly travel costs and time. Neither path is wrong — the point is to choose a structure that stays comfortable.

If you’re broadening your comparison across the west, this guide can help you shortlist options: Best schools in Melbourne’s western suburbs (2025). Use it as a starting point, then verify zones with the official tool above.

Lifestyle & pockets: Yarraville isn’t one market

A suburb median hides the truth: Yarraville is a collection of micro-markets. Streets closer to the village vibe and train access often feel different to streets that are more car-oriented. Some homes are beautifully renovated period houses; others are older stock with “good bones” that need time and budget. That’s why it’s normal to see big differences in sale prices even within the same suburb.

What buyers typically love

Buyers usually love Yarraville’s walkability, cafés, and “neighbourhood feel.” If you’ve lived in car-dependent suburbs, the ability to walk to coffee, shops and local parks can feel like a lifestyle reset. For many owner-occupiers, that day-to-day enjoyment is the reason they’re willing to pay inner-ring prices.

What buyers should be honest about

Inner-ring living also means trade-offs: smaller land, older housing stock, the cost of renovations, and sometimes tricky parking. There’s also the reality that “perfectly finished” homes often sell at a premium, while “do-it-up” homes can be more affordable but require a plan. Borrowers who win in Yarraville usually do one of these: (1) bring a stronger deposit and buy the home they want, or (2) buy the stepping-stone home and renovate over time.

Why this matters for your loan structure

If you’re buying something that needs work, consider how you’ll fund it. A loan that stretches repayments to the limit leaves no room for real-world costs: painting, flooring, roof work, heating/cooling, fences, landscaping. Even if you never do a major renovation, older homes can have “surprise” costs. A good broker outcome isn’t just approval — it’s a structure that leaves buffer.

If you’re unsure whether you’re pushing too hard, do a quick check: run repayments at your likely rate, then run them again at +2%. If +2% breaks your budget, you may be building a plan that only works in perfect conditions.

Market & metrics: making the numbers usable for borrowers

Market data is useful, but borrowers need it translated into decisions: deposit targets, repayment comfort, and whether a purchase still works after duty, legals, inspections and a buffer. In Yarraville, the key driver is “inner-ring scarcity”: many households are willing to pay more for location and time, which supports demand even when rates change.

A simple way to read the suburb in 2025 is this: houses are premium lifestyle stock, while townhouses/units can be the entry point. If your goal is just to “get into the postcode”, attached dwellings often do that with a smaller deposit and lower repayments. If your goal is “the forever home”, the deposit and monthly cost become the main constraint.

If you want to turn “suburb data” into “loan reality”, these two tools do most of the heavy lifting: the Max Borrowing Calculator (affordability ceiling) and the Mortgage Repayment Calculator (monthly comfort). For owners, the Rate Review Calculator is the quickest way to check whether you’re drifting above market.

Deposit & buying scenarios: what “buying in Yarraville” looks like in practice

When buyers ask “can I buy in Yarraville?”, the answer usually depends on deposit strategy. In a higher-priced suburb, the deposit is not just a savings goal — it’s a monthly repayment lever. A larger deposit can move you into better rates, avoid LMI at 80% LVR, and reduce cashflow stress.

Scenario 1: 20% deposit (often the cleanest structure)

A 20% deposit on the $1.146m median house price is about $229,200 before costs. The upside: you avoid LMI at 80% LVR (in most standard cases), and you usually have more lender choice. The downside: it’s a big savings task — and many buyers will choose a townhouse/attached dwelling as a stepping stone instead.

Scenario 2: 10% deposit (possible, but model the real cost)

A 10% deposit on a median-priced house is about $114,600 before costs, but higher-LVR lending can involve LMI and tighter serviceability. This is not “good” or “bad” — it’s just a structure with trade-offs. The borrower-friendly move is to model repayments at a realistic rate, then add a buffer and check comfort.

Scenario 3: Buy an attached dwelling first

If your goal is “Yarraville lifestyle”, many buyers choose the attached market first: townhouses, villas or apartments. The median attached figure used here is around $647,500 — still meaningful money, but a smaller deposit and lower loan size can be the difference between “manageable” and “stretched”.

Scenario 4: Guarantor / family support (when it’s appropriate)

Some first-home buyers use a family guarantee structure to reduce (or avoid) LMI while buying earlier. This can be powerful, but it’s not something to rush: it puts responsibility on the guarantor and needs a clear plan. If you’re exploring it, treat it as a structured conversation, not a “quick fix.”

Want a fast “does this work?” check? Start with your income and deposit using the Max Borrowing Calculator, then sanity-check repayments with the Mortgage Repayment Calculator. If the numbers are tight, consider an attached dwelling first, or consider a suburb comparison (see below).

Investors: rent & yields in Yarraville

For investors, Yarraville is usually a “quality inner-west” play rather than a “high yield” play. Rents can be strong, but purchase prices are also strong — so yields can be moderate. The investor edge is often tenant demand and long-term desirability, not headline yield.

In this report’s rent guide, recent asking rents range from the low-$500s per week for smaller houses to around $1,100 per week for larger renovated homes. Units can run from the low-$400s into the mid-$600s depending on size and position. That spread tells you something important: in Yarraville, the property itself drives rent more than the suburb label.

A borrower-friendly investor rule: don’t just estimate yield; estimate cashflow after holding costs. Rates, insurance, council rates, property management, and maintenance all matter. If you’re juggling buying here while renting elsewhere (common in inner-ring), the Rentvesting Calculator can be a very practical planning tool.

If you’re investing with a longer plan (build equity, then upgrade your home later), consider how this purchase impacts borrowing power. Some lenders shade rental income; some have different servicing approaches. The details matter — especially if you want to buy again later. Use the Property Investment Calculator as a first-pass, then get a broker review if you’re building a multi-property plan.

Refinance & rate check: if you already own in Yarraville

If you already own in Yarraville, 2025–2026 is a period where rate drift and “set-and-forget” loans can quietly cost real money. Even if you don’t refinance, a repricing can sometimes improve your rate or structure. The point is to check, not guess.

The fastest starting point is the Rate Review Calculator. If you haven’t reviewed your loan recently, it’s worth doing a quick benchmark. Then, if you want the step-by-step on how refinance actually works (timelines, documents, common traps), read the Home Loan Refinance Guide.

A practical owner checklist: confirm your current rate and product, check whether you’re on a package with annual fees, check your offset/buffer strategy, and clarify your goal (lower repayments vs debt reduction vs using equity). Refinancing is a tool — it should match the goal, not just the headline rate.

If you’re considering renovations, equity use, or investing later, talk it through early. The “best” refinance is the one that supports your next 2–3 years, not just the next three months.

Compare nearby suburbs: what to consider if Yarraville stretches the budget

If you love the inner-west lifestyle but the Yarraville price point is too aggressive, it’s smart to compare nearby suburbs where you can still preserve commute access and “village feel” — while changing the deposit/repayment equation. A suburb comparison isn’t about “better” or “worse”; it’s about which trade-offs you prefer.

Common comparisons buyers make around Yarraville include: Seddon (similar vibe), Kingsville (small pockets with charm), Footscray (more density and broader price range), Newport (different lifestyle mix), and Williamstown (water lifestyle at a different price band). The borrower point: even a small shift in purchase price can materially change your monthly comfort.

If you’re deciding whether to “compromise on suburb” or “compromise on property type”, do it with numbers: model repayments on both options, then decide which lifestyle you’ll enjoy more for the next five years. The Mortgage Repayment Calculator is the simplest way to do this.