Karamea is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Buller, one of 17 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Karamea is the 4th largest suburb of Buller in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Karamea provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1900 - 1909. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1980 - 1989. Residential housing stock in Karamea is made up of approximately 42% residential housing , 1% residential investment housing and 58% lifestyle properties.