Northern Beaches Property Market Update 1st Half of 2025
Northern Beaches in Queensland offers stunning coastal views, a relaxed lifestyle, and easy access to pristine beaches, making it perfect for those who love the outdoors. With a strong sense of community and excellent local amenities, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a peaceful yet connected way of life.
Property Trends
In Q1 2025, Northern Beaches recorded a median house price of $630,000 and a median unit price of $355,000. This represents an annual (Q1 2024 –Q1 2025) price growth of 28.2% for houses and a slight softening of -1.1% for units. Comparing Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, sales declined by -33.5% for houses and -4.7% for units. There is an undersupply of houses, which created a buffer against higher interest rates, seen in continued price growth. Thus, now is an ideal time for homeowners to capitalise on their investment. The unit market is currently more affordable, which creates an opportunity for first home buyers. That said, with very little ready-to-sell houses planned in the 2025 pipeline, buyers need to act fast.
Property Development
The Mackay Local Council plans to see approximately $360.4M of new projects commencing construction in 2025. These projects are primarily set to deliver units and townhouses, which will not be enough to satisfy current and future demand. Land lots take time to develop (into a house), thus this is a long-term strategy to increase housing supply. In the meantime, this suggests that the existing undersupply will remain, which will push up property prices further.
Rental Market & Growth
House rental yield in Northern Beaches was 5.1% as of March 2025, much higher than Brisbane Metro (3.2%). This was paired with a 12.1% increase in median house rental price in the past 12 months to Q1 2025, at $650 per week, along with a 13.7% increase in the number of houses rented (to 431 rentals in Q1 2025). This suggests there is a highly demanded house rental market. This is good news for investors who are looking for an alternative more affordable option to Brisbane Metro.
Vacancy Rates & Property Investment
Northern Beaches recorded a vacancy rate of 0.9% in March 2025, which was on par with Brisbane Metro’s 0.9% but lower than Queensland Northern Coast’s 1.1% average. Vacancy rates in Northern Beaches have decreased in the past 3-4 months, indicating a tighter rental market. Furthermore, a 0.9% vacancy rate is well below the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3.0%, suggesting quicker occupancy of rental homes. This indicates a sustainable and conducive environment for investors.
