While Sydney’s real estate market goes backwards and Melbourne stays stuck, Brisbane just posted 0.7% growth in July, according to the latest Cotality Home Value Index released in August 2025.
“What we’re seeing in Brisbane is fundamentally different from the southern capitals,” says Summer Finlay, Principal & Director of Property Management at Premium Residential. “The growth isn’t just headline numbers – it’s being driven by genuine demand from people who want to live here, not just speculate.”
Real estate owners and investors are genuinely shocked by their current property valuations – sometimes they're ahead by $200,000 or more, says Summer Finlay from Premium Residential.
The Brisbane Story
Let’s get straight to it. Brisbane properties grew by 0.7% last month, while Sydney managed 0.6% and Melbourne only 0.4%. Over the year, Brisbane hit 7.3% growth with a median dwelling price now sitting at $934,623.
That price might sound like a lot, but compare it to Sydney’s $1.2 million or Melbourne’s $803,424, and Brisbane still looks reasonable. Additionally, if you purchased a property in Brisbane five years ago, it is now worth approximately 76% more.
Marion Sheerman from Premium Residential Sales has been watching these numbers closely for Ascot, Hamilton, Hendra and Nundah suburbs. “The challenge for many Brisbane property owners is that they don’t realise how much their property values have increased. We’re regularly doing appraisals where owners are genuinely surprised by current market values – sometimes by $200,000 or more.”
The rental market also tells an interesting story. House rents are growing at 4.3% annually, units at 5.6%. Gross rental yields are sitting at 3.6% – not spectacular, but steady.
What's Driving This?
Three main things are pushing Brisbane forward:
Not enough houses. The supply shortage isn’t getting better anytime soon. Building costs are high, approval times are lengthy, and there’s not enough new stock entering the market.
People keep moving here. Every month, more families pack up and move to Brisbane from Sydney or Melbourne. Can you blame them? You get a decent house, shorter commutes, and you’re not spending half your income on the mortgage.
Infrastructure investment. Cross River Rail isn’t just a transport project – it’s changing entire suburbs like Hamilton, Albion and Nundah. The same thing’s happening with other significant projects across the city.
Brisbane Suburbs Leading the Way
The growth story gets even more interesting when you look at individual Brisbane suburbs. Nundah is posting impressive numbers with a median price of $988,394 and 11.8% annual growth. That’s a suburb that’s transformed dramatically over the past few years.
Then there’s the Ipswich corridor, where several areas are recording double-digit growth. These aren’t just statistics – they represent real change happening in communities across Brisbane’s growth areas.
“Brisbane’s market has this steady rhythm that’s different from other capitals,” says Llara Minett from Premium Residential Sales. “Instead of those big jumps followed by flat periods, we’re seeing consistent month-on-month growth. Families aren’t treating properties as short-term plays – they’re genuinely choosing Brisbane as home.”
Infrastructure Driving Neighbourhood Change
That consistency is also evident in infrastructure. Cross River Rail isn’t just changing transport – it’s reshaping entire neighbourhoods. Take the areas around transport corridors and new developments – properties there are benefiting from improved connectivity and lifestyle amenities. Suburbs that were once considered outer areas are now becoming highly sought after as Brisbane’s urban sprawl catches up.
What’s driving these suburb-level changes? It’s a mix of factors. Better transport links make previously distant areas more accessible. New shopping centres and schools follow population growth. And as inner-city Brisbane becomes more expensive, buyers are discovering value in suburbs they might not have considered before.
Ipswich, for example, is no longer just about lower prices. The area is recording solid growth because infrastructure improvements have made it a viable option for people working in Brisbane but wanting more space and affordability. Some Ipswich areas are now seeing the kind of growth that established Brisbane suburbs experienced five years ago.
What This Means for Property Owners
If you own property in Queensland, you’re probably sitting on more value than you think. Brisbane properties have nearly doubled over the past decade. That’s real money, not just paper profits.
At Premium Residential, we believe in being proactive, not reactive, with radical transparency. That’s why Summer and her team regularly check in with clients about market values.
“I see this regularly with property management clients,” says Summer Finlay. “Owners bought a property years ago, it’s been quietly performing well as a rental, but they haven’t checked its current market value. When we do rental reviews, I often suggest they get an updated valuation because the numbers can be eye-opening.”
But here’s the thing – not every street or suburb is doing the same. The growth isn’t even across the board. Some areas are flying, others are just ticking along.
That’s where understanding your local real estate house values matters. Broad statistics don’t tell you whether your specific street is outperforming or lagging. These general reports don’t inform you about the potential to improve your rental return or whether your real estate is well-positioned for future growth.
Thinking About Investing in Real Estate?
Brisbane’s still cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne, but that window’s closing. If you’re eyeing real estate investment here, there’s still opportunity – don’t expect it to last indefinitely.
“When clients ask about timing, I tell them the data is useful but local knowledge is crucial,” says Marion Sheerman. “Brisbane’s market varies significantly even between neighbouring suburbs. Understanding your specific area’s performance compared to these broader figures is what helps people make informed decisions about buying or selling.” The same questions apply everywhere. The data shows strong performance, but every suburb has its own story.
Getting Local Knowledge
You can read all the reports you want, but it’s not the same as walking through a street and seeing what’s actually happening. Our team spends every day in these neighbourhoods – we know which side of Sandgate Road in Nundah gets the premium, and why some Ipswich streets are outperforming others by 3-4%.
“Last week I had a property management client ask why their rental property in Ascot was $50 below what they’d seen advertised nearby,” says Summer Finlay. “Turned out the advertised property had been renovated and had air conditioning throughout. Small details, but they make a $2,600 difference per year. That’s the kind of thing you don’t get from broad market data.”
When data shows unit rents growing at 5.6% annually in Brisbane, experienced property managers know which improvements might capture additional rental growth and how to position properties competitively.
Making Selling Decisions
When Llara’s working with sellers, she’s looking at the specifics that actually matter. “Someone calls asking about selling because they saw their suburb’s up 11%. But their house backs onto a busy road, while the comparable sales data might be from the quiet streets. Every property tells its own story – our job is reading that story properly.”
“Property owners often ask whether they should sell or hold,” says Marion Sheerman. “The answer depends on understanding the current market value compared to what they could achieve if they sold now. Sometimes a property that’s performed well might have reached a natural selling point, especially if the owner needs to access that value for other purposes.”
Sales professionals understand why certain suburbs are outperforming, which infrastructure projects are creating future value, and how market timing affects buying and selling decisions.
What's Next in Real Estate Investing?
The Queensland market is clearly in an intense phase. Brisbane’s leading the capitals, and fundamentals like supply constraints and interstate migration continue supporting growth.
But success in real estate investment isn’t just about following broad trends. It’s about understanding how those trends affect your specific situation and local area.
Whether you’re evaluating your current property’s performance, considering a purchase, or trying to understand what these market shifts mean for your plans, local knowledge makes the difference. The data shows Queensland real estate is performing well. The question is how to make the most of that performance in your particular circumstance.
The Numbers That Matter
Brisbane this month: 0.7% up
For the year: 7.3% growth
Median price: $934,623
Past decade: Nearly doubled
Suburbs Doing Well
Nundah’s up 11.8% this year
Several Ipswich areas: 9.9-10.7%
Moreton Bay pockets: Around 10%
Townsville (regional): 16.4%
Source: Cotality Home Value Index, July 2025. Markets change fast.
[View the complete Cotality Home Value Index report for detailed national statistics]
