Lismore Property Market Update 1st Half 2026
Lismore is known for its vibrant arts and cultural scene, offering a unique blend of creativity and community spirit. The town's proximity to beautiful natural attractions like the beaches of Byron Bay and the lush hinterlands makes it perfect for nature lovers.
Property Trends
In Q1 2026, Lismore LGA (which in this report encapsulate sales and rental data for all Lismore Local Government Area) recorded a median house price of $680,000 and a median unit price of $613,000. This is an annual (Q1 2025 – Q1 2026) median price growth of 10.6% for houses and 12.9% for units. Comparing Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, total sales increased by 31.3% for houses (to 264 sales in Q1 2026) and by 88.0% for units (to 47 sales in Q1 2026). This confirms high demand for both property types, which created a buffer against higher interest rates, leading to continued price growth. Thus, now is still an ideal time for owners to capitalize on their investments.
Project Development
Lismore is set to see approximately $290.8M of new projects commencing construction in 2026. 76 units, 6 townhouses, and 29 dwellings are planned in 2026: with the majority being units. That said, given the high house sales volume in Lismore (264 in Q1 2026), the amount of new incoming stock will not be enough to answer demand. Thus, it can be expected that house and unit prices will continue to rise in the short-term.
Rental Market & Growth
House rental yield in Lismore was 3.7% as of March 2026, higher than Lismore City LGA (3.4%) and Sydney Metro (2.8%). This was paired with a 7.1% increase in median house rental price in the past 12 months to Q1 2026, at $750 per week, along with a -10.9% decrease in the number of houses rented (to 327 rentals in Q1 2026). The same pattern also can be seen in the unit market. This indicates a rental undersupply in Lismore, which is beneficial for investors.
Vacancy Rates & Property Investment
Lismore recorded a vacancy rate of 0.5% in March 2026, below the Lismore City LGA’s 0.8% and Sydney Metro’s 1.1%. Vacancy rates in the past 12 months have decreased slightly, which indicates an even tighter rental market. Further, a 0.5% vacancy rate is significantly below the 3.0% benchmark, suggesting quicker occupancy of rental homes in Lismore. This confirms a conducive environment for investors, even with a higher house and unit sales price (thus, entry price) in the past 12 months to Q1 2026.
