Queensland’s cheapest median prices have been revealed in latest PropTrack data.

Homebuyers searching for bargains won’t find many cheaper than one Gold Coast suburb, where units are priced at a shock median of just $90k and houses at $150k in an otherwise surging market.

New data from PropTrack reveals the 20 cheapest suburbs on the Gold Coast still offer some relative affordability, with South Stradbroke’s median a rare outlier in an otherwise heaving market on the coast.

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Two homes, pool, beach – sold for just $340k 10km from CBD

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said many affordable suburbs had outdated reputations. Picture: Liam Kidston

Prices jump sharply after that, with Stapylton’s house median the next cheapest at $420,000 – still well below the Gold Coast average – though every other “affordable” option is for units.

Oxenford median units hover around $680,000, while Ormeau close on $684,000, Coomera’s at circa $690,000 along with Tallai, Southport, Bundall and Nerang.

Pimpama, Coombabah, Ashmore, Helensvale, Parkwood, Biggera Waters, Labrador, Highland Park, Upper Coomera, Tamborine Mountain and Pacific Pines go from $700k-$735k – showing how quickly affordability narrows in this coastal region.

For buyers eyeing the Gold Coast, these 20 cheapest pockets offer some of the last footholds in a region where property prices have surged beyond reach for many as it chases down Sydney-style medians.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella said many affordable suburbs were carrying old local reputations that no longer reflect today’s market.

This one-bedroom unit at 512/22 View Avenue, Surfers Paradise, sold earlier this month for $225,000.

“We are hearing first home buyers are increasingly looking further afield for housing options they can afford in the outer suburbs, readjusting their expectations around their preferred suburbs and perhaps recognising potential for growth and gentrification over time.”

She said “it can help to get to really know a suburb, rather than relying on stereotypes”.

Ms Mercorella said “over the past five years, Queensland’s property price growth has been unrelenting and while the pace has slowed, it has far from stopped”.

“When property prices rise faster than household income growth, the reality is that housing affordability deteriorates and the strain of entering the market intensifies.”

She said Greater Brisbane’s dwelling value to income ratio went from 8.2 in 2024 to 8.6 in 2025, while the rest of Queensland experienced an increase from 7.8 in 2024 to 8.2 in 2025.

“This means that the median dwelling value is more than 8 times higher than the typical annual household income.”

She warned that attributes that appeal to first home buyers also attract downsizers and investors. “Often the lower end of the market has the highest levels of competition.”

Gold Coast 20 cheapest suburb:

South Stradbroke U $90,000

South Stradbroke H $150,000

Stapylton H $420,000

Oxenford U $680,000

Ormeau U $684,000

Coomera U $690,000

Tallai U $690,000

Southport U $691,000

Bundall U $695,000

Nerang U $698,500

Pimpama U $700,000

Coombabah U $700,000

Ashmore U $705,000

Helensvale U $707,500

Parkwood U $710,000

Biggera Waters U $710,000

Labrador U $712,423

Highland Park U $725,000

Upper Coomera U $730,000

Tamborine Mountain U $730,000

Pacific Pines U $735,000

(Source: PropTrack)

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The home at 36 Nightcliff Rd, Rapid Creek. Picture: Supplied

A spacious family home with resort-style outdoor area has hit the Darwin market in the sought after suburb of Nightcliff.

The four-bedroom house at 36 Nightcliff Rd sits on 1210 sqm corner block with dual access, Colorbond fencing, pool and easy indoor-outdoor flow.

Owners Anthony and Tamara Heinrich bought the property six years ago when they still had two kids at home.

Mr Heinrich said it was the outdoor space with entertaining area, pool and Bali hut that sold him on the home.

“As soon as I opened the sliding doors to the outside area, I fell in love with it,” he said.

“It has such a welcoming, relaxed vibe.

“It’s great for entertaining friends and family, dry season is amazing – we spend all day out there, and we’ve hosted some of our main birthday parties and celebrations there.”

The home at 36 Nightcliff Rd, Rapid Creek. Picture: Supplied

Inside the home at 36 Nightcliff Rd, Rapid Creek. Picture: Supplied

The single-storey home features high ceilings, banks of louvres and timber floors.

“The floorboards give the house a cool, modern feel,” Mr Heinrich said.

The home has an open plan living, dining and kitchen space that opens to the poolside veranda.

The kitchen has a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances and plenty of cupboard space.

The master bedroom has a walk-in robe and an ensuite, while the remaining three bedrooms have built-in robes.

The family bathroom has a shower and a bath, and there is a separate toilet plus an additional toilet in the internal laundry.

A separate living area flows out to a second outdoor area while a family room, which could be easily used as a guest suite, also has easy access to the outdoor spaces.

Outside, the covered entertaining has fans and plenty of space for furniture.

Glass fencing allows a clear view through to the swimming pool while the Bali hut is perfectly positioned for lounging between swims.

The outdoor area looks out over the pool. Picture: Supplied

The property also has a Bali hut. Picture: Supplied

There is also an outdoor shower, tropical landscaping and a garden shed outside.

Mr Heinrich said the home was in a friendly neighbourhood close to the best of Nightcliff.

“We’re close to the footy club, not far from the city and everything you need is pretty much within walking distance,” he said.

“It’s just a short walk up the path to the foreshore and the beach.”

Mr Heinrich said the home was perfect for families of all ages.

“Anyone who enjoys that outdoor lifestyle will love it,” he said.

“The only reason we’re selling is to downsize.”

PROPERTY DETAILS

Address: 36 Nightcliff Road, Rapid Creek

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Carparks: 4

Auction: Wed, Sep 24, 6pm

Agents: Braden Menzies, 0417 840 880, Zayden Lewis, 0448 753 628, Real Estate Central

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Australia’s property market is a dynamic landscape, shaped by evolving trends and generational shifts.

Yet, amid this constant change, certain suburbs remain steadfastly out of reach for many aspiring homeowners.

These are the enclaves where Baby Boomers have firmly established themselves, holding onto their properties for decades and fostering tightly knit communities.

Anchored by family ties, lifestyle appeal, and deep emotional connections, these long-term homeowners are reluctant to move, creating significant barriers for younger buyers eager to enter these sought-after areas.

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New insights from PropTrack have revealed the suburbs with the longest homeownership periods, with residents in ten localities holding onto their properties for over 20 years.

Among these are Kirribilli, Bundeena, Raglan, North Epping, Woodpark, Bexley North, Bonnyrigg Heights, and Denistone in New South Wales, as well as Attwood and Moorooduc in Victoria.

Notably, all ten suburbs boast median property values exceeding $1m, underscoring their exclusivity.

Top 10 suburbs for longest hold periods – houses. Source: PropTrack

Beyond these top ten, the data highlights an additional 493 suburbs nationwide where the average hold period ranges between 15 and 20 years.

This includes areas such as Fraser and Stirling in the ACT, Yeerongpilly and Sunnybank Hills in Queensland, and Torrens Park and North Haven in South Australia.

This trend of extended hold periods is reshaping property markets across the country.

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Top 10 suburbs for longest hold periods – units. Source: PropTrack

Let’s delve deeper into how these long-term ownership patterns are influencing the housing landscape in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Exclusive PropTrack data shows the SA suburbs with the longest hold period – the average length of time between when a person moves in and later moves out – is North Haven.

North Haven units, which have a median price of $650,000, have a hold period of 18.23 years – almost two decades.

It narrowly edged out Torrens Park houses, which are held, on average, for 18.17 years.

Collinswood houses weren’t far behind, with owners staying put for 17.87 years, while Trinity Gardens and Maslin Beach house owners holding their properties for 17.85 and 17.46 years respectively.

Read the full story here.

VICTORIA

Melbourne families are staying in their homes longer than ever as new PropTrack figures reveal some suburbs now record the average hold periods of more than two decades.

The city’s “forever suburbs” stretch from the leafy eastern suburbs to the Mornington Peninsula lifestyle towns and hidden gems in the north and west.

But a real surprise topping the list is Attwood, a suburb near Melbourne Airport, where owners hold onto their homes for almost 23 years before selling, longer than blue-chip Mont Albert, coastal Queenscliff or semirural Moorooduc.

PropTrack figures shows Attwood’s average hold period is 22.7 years and Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula at 19.9 years.

Other suburbs held for more than 19 years include Clarinda, Wattle Glen, Lower Plenty, Mont Albert and Hughesdale.

Read the full story here.

Kim and John Kelloway purchased their home 31 years ago in Raby, NSW. Picture: Jonathan Ng

QUEENSLAND

In a city where property is always on the move, Brisbane’s Kenmore Hills is bucking the trend, with an average hold time of 21 years for a house — making it the hardest market in the state to break into.

About 20km further south in Durack, homeowners are also not willing to part with their houses, with the average hold time sitting at 18 years, according to the latest PropTrack figures.

In fact, homeowners in more than 500 suburbs across the state have held on to their properties for more than a decade, and 33 have stayed put for 13.2 years or more — the average period before divorce in Australia.

When it comes to units, the highest average hold period is 15 years in the suburbs of Ferny Grove in Brisbane, Frenchville in Rockhampton, and Moffat Beach in Caloundra.

Read more here.

Margie and John Goddard are selling their home in North Epping of 55 years. Picture Rohan Kelly

NEW SOUTH WALES

They’ve got a lifestyle so good homeowners rarely leave – but some Sydney suburbs are becoming victims of their own success as residents’ penchant for digging in for the long haul is choking the housing market.

New figures have revealed multiple Sydney pockets where local homeowners are holding onto their properties over two decades,on average, with local homes rarely coming up for sale.

Such hold periods were more than twice as long as the typical ownership tenure for houses citywide: currently 13 years, according to the PropTrack data.

Many of these tightly held suburbs were inner city and Harbourside enclaves where baby boomers moved during the 1980s and 1990s – and never left. They’re now locked up tight, with even cashed up buyers shut-out because people rarely leave.

Topping PropTrack’s suburb list was Kirribilli, with an average hold period of 23.89 years.

Following was Bundeena with an average hold period of 22.80 years, then North Epping with an average of 21.47 years.

The PropTrack analysis unveiled 24 other suburbs with average hold periods of 18 years or above.

Read the full story here.

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Solar can slash your energy bills but you need to install the right size system. Picture: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

With electricity bills skyrocketing over the past couple of years, more and more people are looking to the sun to power their homes, businesses and EVs. But when it comes to getting solar panel infrastructure installed, there are a lot of things to consider.

HOW MUCH TO INVEST

One of the risks homeowners face when installing solar is overcapitalising.

“With solar and battery it definitely needs to be ‘buy once, cry once’ as such,” says hipages solar expert Brittany Gardiner, general manager of MKG Electrical. “Overcapitalising is either getting a solar system that produces way too much solar that your house isn’t going to consume and that once your battery’s full, it’s just going to go back to the grid and you’ll only get a small tariff.

“Or, on the same token, getting a battery that your solar system’s never going to fill – it just really drags out that return on investment.”

With more homes installing it, solar is fast becoming the way of the future. Picture: Mario Tama / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

She says knowing how much to invest in solar really comes down to your household’s daily use, which can be estimated by doing an analysis of the last 12 months of energy bills.

Director of Stadium Real Estate Rachel Lawrie says it’s also important to consider your financial situation and goals before investing in solar.

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“Don’t put yourself under financial pressure just to get solar unless those numbers match up for you,” she says. “Speak to your financial adviser and your accountant.”

Batteries help you maximise your energy production. Picture: Solar Battery Group

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Prices vary depending on the type of inverter you install, whether you get a battery and where the equipment has been manufactured as well as the size of the system you require.

Gardiner says small solar-only systems tend to have a starting price of about $4000 while small solar and battery systems start from about $8000-$10,000.

“For a solar-only system, you really could get a payback period of anywhere between 18 months to two years,” Gardiner says.

In terms of how much you are likely to save on your energy bills, this is where the importance of a battery comes into play. Those who don’t have a battery and aren’t home during the day won’t see much savings from having solar, as most of their energy use will be at night when they aren’t generating electricity.

There are different types of inverters depending on your position. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

“Solar only, you definitely save at least 40 per cent of your bills,” Gardiner says. “If you’re talking solar and battery you could save anywhere up to 80 per cent.”

She says a battery is worth the extra investment because, without one, your excess electricity is sold to the grid for a “very low feed in tariff,” usually between 5-10 cents.

“And then you buy back at night anywhere from 38 to 45 (cents),” she says. “So you buy back basically four times what you actually sent back during the day.”

ADDING VALUE

Lawrie says adding solar power infrastructure can boost your home value in more ways than one.

Not only does it add to the list of features that appeal to buyers, but tenants are also likely to appreciate the savings potential – especially if the system includes a battery.

Stadium Real Estate’s Rachel Lawrie.

“What we’re finding now is that banks are now putting into place efficiency advisers,” Lawrie says. They’re starting to look at how much money they loan for houses based on features they have and solar is one of those ones that they consider.

“For future valuation of your property, it’s actually going to be quite important.”

DRAWBACKS AND ONGOING COSTS

Affordability is the only real drawback when it comes to installing solar, Lawrie says. While it will ultimately save you money and add value to your home, it requires an initial investment that may be hard to muster.

Gardiner says there are usually maintenance costs of about $200-$300 every two years to keep the system in good working order and the warranty valid.

Hipages tradie, Brittany Gardiner, General Manager of MKG Electrical. Picture: supplied

OTHER MEASURES

If you can’t afford to get solar panels right away, there are a range of other measures you can take to improve your property’s energy efficiency, Lawrie says. A good first step is to replace lights with LED globes and use powerboards that cut off when an appliance isn’t in use. You could also get an electrician to review switchboards.

Ceiling insulation and window shading are other things to consider, she says.

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Queensland’s cheapest median prices have been revealed in latest PropTrack data.

Queensland homebuyers desperate for bargains are racing to snap up properties in Cairns, where median prices are climbing fast but its 20 cheapest suburbs are still priced under $375,000.

New data from PropTrack reveals suburbs like Manunda and Innisfail have median prices at $293,500 and $295,000 respectively in the Cairns region, with nearby Bungalow, Woree, and Tully hovering just above $300k.

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Two homes, pool, beach – sold for just $340k

REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said affordable suburbs had surpassed old reputations that held them back previously Picture: Liam Kidston

For buyers chasing affordable homes in a hot market, these suburbs remain some of the last true bargains in an area that’s become fiercely competitive.

Peak industry body Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella said affordable suburbs are often overlooked due to old stereotypes, but that rhetoric was dying fast.

“It can help to get to really know a suburb, rather than relying on stereotypes,” she said.

“Buyers are readjusting their expectations around their preferred suburbs and perhaps recognising potential for growth and gentrification over time.”

With first-home buyers increasingly open to units or properties needing renovation and seeking government support, Mr Mercorella said demand remains strong.

Ray White agent Lisa Turner said fierce competition is driving prices higher even in cheaper pockets, with well-presented homes under the $400k market increasingly hard to find.

“To find anything sub $400,000 that doesn’t need work, like clean, very presentable properties that don’t need work, are quite hard to find. Hence why you have multiple offers.”

Lisa Turner sold this townhouse for $392,000 on September 10, 2025.

She warned buyers to be ready to act fast. “We don’t expect the market to change anytime soon. Buyers need to be well educated, do their homework, have their finances in order, and be quite aggressive in their negotiating.”

Ms Mercorella said “over the past five years, Queensland’s property price growth has been unrelenting and while the pace has slowed, it has far from stopped”.

“When property prices rise faster than household income growth, the reality is that housing affordability deteriorates and the strain of entering the market intensifies.”

She said Greater Brisbane’s dwelling value to income ratio went from 8.2 in 2024 to 8.6 in 2025, while the rest of Queensland experienced an increase from 7.8 in 2024 to 8.2 in 2025.

“This means that the median dwelling value is more than 8 times higher than the typical annual household income.”

She warned that attributes that appeal to first home buyers also attract downsizers and investors. “Often the lower end of the market has the highest levels of competition.”

Cairns 20 cheapest median prices:

Suburb | Property Type | Median Sale Price 12 months

Manunda U $293,500

Innisfail H $295,000

Bungalow U $305,000

Tully H $305,000

Woree U $305,000

Webb H $305,000

South Johnstone H $310,000

Earlville U $315,000

East Innisfail H $320,000

Edmonton U $335,000

Mareeba U $340,000

Ravenshoe H $340,000

Edge Hill U $341,000

Manoora U $345,000

Craiglie U $363,000

Holloways Beach U $365,500

Cardwell H $369,000

Westcourt U $370,000

Atherton U $372,000

Wongaling Beach U $375,000

(Source: PropTrack)

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