NSW Property Spotlight
Grafton property and home loan guide
Grafton is the Jacaranda City, on the Clarence River about 620 km north of Sydney by road and about 315 km south of Brisbane. It's a house market. In the 2021 Census 80.9% of homes in the Grafton urban area were separate houses and 46.4% had three bedrooms. About a third (34.5%) were rented. The city sits on a floodplain behind levees, so flood levels and regional valuations tend to matter most. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with Grafton buyers by phone and video.
Information last updated 3 November 2026
Market snapshot
| Houses | Units | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of homes | 80.9% separate houses, 7.9% terraces and townhouses | 9.1% flats and apartments | ABS Census 2021 (Grafton (Urban Centre and Locality)) |
In the 2021 Census, 62.1% of Grafton homes were owned outright or with a mortgage and 34.5% were rented. The median weekly rent across all homes was $300 (ABS). Rents by bedroom aren't shown for this area. Sale prices will be added once licensed figures are available.
Figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Living in Grafton
The Clarence River marked the border between the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr peoples. Cedar-getters opened the district to European settlement in the 1830s. John Small arrived on the Susan in 1838. Governor FitzRoy named the town Grafton in 1851, after his grandfather the Duke of Grafton.
Grafton was proclaimed a city in 1885. The Grafton Bridge opened in 1932 and completed the standard-gauge rail link between Sydney and Brisbane. Grafton and Maclean share the administrative work of Clarence Valley Council.
Transport
- Grafton is on the North Coast railway line between Sydney and Brisbane, with NSW TrainLink coaches to Byron Bay and Moree.
- Clarence Valley Regional Airport serves the city.
- The Pacific Highway bypassed Grafton in May 2020.
- Most people drive. In the 2021 Census 0.6% of working residents used public transport to get to work.
- Plan trips on the Transport for NSW trip planner.
Schools
Grafton High School and South Grafton High School are the government high schools. Clarence Valley Anglican School and McAuley Catholic College are non-government options.
Zones change, so check the NSW School Finder for any address before you buy.
Shopping and dining
Prince Street is the main street of the city centre, with shops, cafés and the heritage-listed Saraton Theatre. More shops and services are spread through South Grafton across the river.
Parks and recreation
- Jacaranda-lined streets bloom each spring, when the Jacaranda Festival is held.
- The Clarence River has riverside parks and boat ramps.
- Christ Church Cathedral on Duke Street was consecrated in 1884.
- The Grafton Cup on the second Thursday in July is the high point of the racing carnival.
Lifestyle
Grafton suits people who want a relaxed river city with regional services. The median age was 42 in 2021 and 62.4% of households were families. Expect older timber homes, a slower pace and the coast at Yamba within driving distance.
Grafton
Did you know?
A double-deck bridge
The Grafton Bridge was opened on 19 July 1932 by Governor-General Sir Isaac Isaacs. Road traffic runs on the upper deck and the North Coast railway on the lower deck.
A second crossing
The Balun Bindarray Bridge opened to traffic on 12 December 2019, about 70 metres east of the original bridge.
The Jacaranda Festival
Grafton's Jacaranda Festival was first held in 1935. It runs each October and November, when the city's jacarandas are in flower.
The record flood
The 2013 flood peaked at 8.08 m on the Prince Street gauge, the highest on record. The 2022 flood peaked at 7.66 m on 28 February.
Source: NSW SES: Grafton flood guide
Property types
Grafton is mostly a house market.
- Houses make up 80.9% of homes.
- Flats and apartments make up 9.1%.
- Townhouses and semis make up 7.9%.
- Size: 46.4% of homes have three bedrooms and 26.3% have four or more.
Check zoning and hazards for any address on the NSW Planning Portal spatial viewer. For flood levels see the Clarence Valley Council flood planning levels page, which links to Council's online map.
What lenders look at in Grafton
Grafton is a regional house market on a big river. Here's what tends to come up with lenders.
Flood risk and levees
The Grafton levee shields most of the city. The record 2013 flood peaked at 8.08 m on the Prince Street gauge and briefly overtopped the levee at Fry Street. Lenders and insurers look at flood risk, so check the address on Council's flood map and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Rural residential land
One LMI provider's public guidelines accept rural and rural residential properties up to 50 hectares, as long as they aren't income producing. Barns, stables and sheds are noted but left out of the value.
Regional valuations
Valuers use local sales. There are fewer of them in a regional city. Some lenders also have their own policy for regional areas. A valuation that comes in below the price changes your deposit.
Older timber homes
Grafton has many older weatherboard homes. Valuers look at condition, so a building and pest inspection is worth doing before you commit.
Postcode 2460
Grafton shares postcode 2460 with South Grafton and many surrounding localities. It isn't on one LMI provider's lists of excluded or single-industry postcodes.
Lender and LMI policies differ between lenders and change often. This is a general guide based on public lender and LMI information checked 3 November 2026. We can check current policy for the property you're looking at before you apply.
Buying in Grafton
In Grafton the flood level of the address shapes most purchases. Most of the city sits behind a levee, but low-lying fringes remain exposed. Insurance costs and valuations follow. Rural blocks out of town follow different lender rules. Getting both checked before you make an offer saves time.
First home buyers
Many Grafton first home buyers can look at a house rather than a unit. Check the building and pest report closely on older timber homes. A family guarantee may help some buyers with a smaller deposit.
Getting pre-approval before you look tells you your range. For NSW schemes, price caps and regional grants, see our first home buyer page for current details.
Upgraders
Grafton upgraders often move to a bigger house in a newer estate such as Clarenza or Junction Hill. Others move to a few acres out of town. If you're buying before you sell, ask about bridging finance early. A construction loan pays out in stages if you build.
Deposit and costs
On top of your deposit, allow for:
- stamp duty (transfer duty) under New South Wales rules, with concessions for some first home buyers (see Revenue NSW)
- conveyancing and legal fees
- building and pest inspections
- a survey or boundary check, plus septic, water tank and access checks where they apply
- lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) if you borrow more than 80% of the property's value
Our calculators give you a starting figure. Stamp duty rules differ between states, so check the New South Wales rules for your purchase.
Investing in Grafton
34.5% of homes in the Grafton urban area were rented in 2021 and the median weekly rent was $300. Investors here mostly look at houses. See our investing in property page for how lenders assess rental income.
Lender considerations
Grafton purchases often involve older homes, flood-prone land and rural blocks. Lenders look at your income, the property type and its flood and insurance position. Time Home Loans is Brisbane-based and works with Grafton buyers by phone and video.
Thinking about buying in Grafton?
Talk it through with a Brisbane broker before you sign a contract. We can check the property you're looking at against lender policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grafton mostly houses?
Yes. In the 2021 Census 80.9% of homes in the Grafton urban area were separate houses and 46.4% had three bedrooms.
Does Grafton flood?
The Clarence River floods regularly. A levee shields most of the city, but low-lying fringes remain exposed. Check any address on Clarence Valley Council's flood map and get an insurance quote before you sign.
Can I get a home loan for acreage near Grafton?
Often, if the property is residential rather than a working farm. One LMI provider's public guidelines accept rural residential properties up to 50 hectares that aren't income producing.
Can I buy in Grafton with a small deposit?
Possibly, depending on your income, the price and the lender. Some buyers use a family guarantee. Lenders mortgage insurance usually applies if you borrow more than 80% of the value.
Can a Brisbane mortgage broker help me buy in Grafton?
Yes. Time Home Loans is based in Brisbane and works with clients across Australia by phone and video. Lender policy is national, so the lending side works the same way. Stamp duty, first home buyer concessions and grants follow NSW rules, so we check those for your purchase. We don't have an office in Grafton.
What costs should I budget for besides the deposit?
NSW transfer duty (stamp duty), conveyancing, building and pest inspections and lenders mortgage insurance if you borrow more than 80% of the value. First home buyers may pay less duty under NSW rules. The calculators on our site give you a starting figure.
General information only. This page provides general information and doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it's appropriate for you and seek advice before making a decision. Market figures are a guide only and change over time. Past movements in values and rents don't predict future results.
Time Home Loans Pty Ltd ACN 161 695 012, Credit Representative 529395 is authorised under Australian Credit Licence 384324.