McGrath targets Yamba in NSW North Coast

McGrath Estate Agents announces the opening of a new office in the popular beachside community of Iluka to be followed by an office in nearby Yamba. It continues the network’s coverage across the New South Wales North Coast with offices on the Coffs Coast, Tweed Coast and Byron Bay.

McGrath Yamba/Iluka Principal Lauren Ford will be joined by Sales Agent and partner Andrew Ford in servicing the Clarence Valley’s real estate market.

Lauren Ford said, “While we are joining one of Australia's most recognised real estate brands, the heart of our business remains firmly local. As a family team, we share a passion for customer service and for helping people achieve their property goals.”

Head of Franchise at McGrath Estate Agents, Chris Mourd said, “Lauren and Andrew Ford have built an outstanding reputation based on trust, professionalism and deep local market knowledge, making them a natural fit for the McGrath network. They are deeply integrated into the fabric of the region with a genuine commitment to supporting the people and businesses that make these communities so special.”

Ms Ford sees the transition to McGrath as positive for both the business and their clients. “We believe this will allow us to deliver an even higher level of service and exposure for our clients while maintaining the personal touch that has always been at the core of our business,” she said.

McGrath Yamba and Iluka will cover the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA) – one of the state’s largest and most diverse regional markets. Key suburbs are Yamba, Iluka, Woombah and Maclean.

“Our focus is on the coastal communities including where we have established strong relationships and extensive market experience. These locations continue to experience strong buyer demand due to their unique combination of coastal lifestyle, natural beauty, and community appeal,” said Ms Ford.

“As the business grows, we will expand our presence throughout the broader Clarence Valley bringing the McGrath brand to the communities across the region,” she added.

McGrath Research* found the median house price for the Clarence Valley LGA stands at $707,200, a rise of 11.3 per cent over the past year although the beachside suburbs of Yamba and Iluka have higher medians of $941,000 and $905,000 respectively.* Average days on market stood at 56 days in the year to Q1 2026.

“Iluka is a somewhat shielded market due to its limited housing supply and constrained future growth,” said Ms Ford. “Being surrounded by national park and rainforest means there is very little opportunity for significant expansion, which helps maintain strong demand.”

The dominant presence of retiree buyers in Iluka provides a degree of market stability, as many are cash buyers and are less affected by interest rate movements. “Over the past few years, despite a number of interest rate increases, the Iluka market has remained relatively resilient compared with many surrounding areas, including Yamba,” said Ms Ford.

A younger demographic has entered the community following the sale of the Birrigan Iluka Beach Estate. This development attracted young families and first-home buyers due to its more affordable entry-level pricing.

Ms Ford reports that like many markets across Australia, buyers in Iluka have become more considered in their purchasing decisions over the past few months. “Accurate pricing has become increasingly important, with well-priced properties attracting strong interest and selling relatively quickly. Conversely, overpriced properties, particularly those above the $1 million price point, generally spend longer on the market,” she said.

Recent sales:

74 Spenser Street, Iluka

SOLD - $1,360,000

94 Spenser Street, Iluka

SOLD - $990,000

46A Duke Street, Iluka

SOLD - $1,125,000

McGrath Iluka Yamba is located at 3 Owen Street, Iluka

Ph: 0420 836 000