Forest Lake is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Hamilton, one of 51 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Forest Lake is the 22nd largest suburb of Hamilton in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Forest Lake provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1910 - 1919. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1950 - 1959. Residential housing stock in Forest Lake is made up of approximately 96% residential housing and 4% residential investment housing properties.