Brisbane overtakes the Gold Coast for unit sales
Brisbane City has become Queensland’s leading hotspot for residential unit sales, overtaking a long-time frontrunner, the Gold Coast.
According to the property technology firm InfoTrack, Brisbane City has recorded the highest volume of residential unit sales across the state from 1 January to 31 March 2025.
The latest InfoTrack Property Market Update marked the first time Brisbane has taken the top spot, outpacing the historically dominant suburbs such as Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Southport.
InfoTrack head of property Australia, Lee Bailie, said that Brisbane has finally taken over the Gold Coast market.
“In the past calendar year, Brisbane City came in second place in Q2 and Q3 of 2024, dropping to fourth position last quarter – but a surge in popularity has seen it take the crown for the start of 2025,” Bailie said.
“Several factors could be behind this renewed interest in CBD living, from increased investor activity to urban migration, and an uplift in apartment stock.”
Three other Brisbane suburbs also ranked among the top 10 performing Queensland suburbs for unit sales, including Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane and West End, in sixth, seventh and eighth places, respectively.
Despite Brisbane’s strong performance, InfoTrack’s data indicated that Gold Coast suburbs still held 50 per cent of the top 10 spots.
“There’ll always be a strong and sustained interest in beachside living, high-rise convenience, and the lifestyle appeal of the Gold Coast,” Bailie said.
The data revealed that Surfers Paradise has dropped to second place in the latest update, while Southport, which topped the list last quarter, has slid to fifth place.
Meanwhile, house sales data indicated a trend towards growth in outer-metro areas, with several suburbs debuting on the top 10 list, including Springfield Lakes, Burpengary, Ormeau, and Kallangur.
InfoTrack reported that Ormeau’s inclusion in the list reflected the increasing interest in its strategic location between the Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast.
“House buyers are increasingly exploring outer-metro areas with growth potential and more accessible price points, while a commutable distance to Brisbane and other urban centres is proving to be a key driver in purchasing,” Bailie said.
Caboolture in Moreton Bay remained Queensland’s most active housing market for a second consecutive quarter.
InfoTrack indicated that Moreton Bay’s proximity to both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast continues to make it a popular choice, while Springfield Lakes and Redbank Plains benefit from their closeness to Ipswich and Brisbane.
According to the data, houses remained the most sought-after property type in Queensland, making up 60.44 per cent of all property purchases in Q1 2025, up from 59.68 per cent the previous quarter.
Strata properties also saw a slight increase in the previous quarter, rising from 28.08 per cent to 28.13 per cent, while vacant land gradually declined to 11.41 per cent.