Brisbane’s median house price has jumped $136,300 in a year, rising three times faster than Melbourne, as five Queensland regions top 15 per cent growth.

The final PropTrack Home Price Index of the year, released Monday, found Brisbane (13.68pc) is still running far hotter than Sydney (6.98pc) and Melbourne (5.11pc) despite signs of easing in some pockets.

MORE: Revealed: Australia’s best affordable, liveable suburbs

Aus housing fail: Tankers forced to truck out sewer waste daily

Overall Brisbane dwelling values rose by $128,400, while regional Queensland increased 12.52 per cent or $94,300 in just one year.

Brisbane’s median house price increased by $136,300 to $1.15 million across 2025 – second only to Perth’s $142,300. But the Queensland capital’s unit surge topped the nation, jumping $121,200 in just one year to $788,000, more than double Sydney’s $52,500 increase.

REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said “the pace of price growth is slowing in Brisbane, but it still remains one of the strongest performing markets in the country”.

“Brisbane and Adelaide prices are still rising at a much faster pace than Melbourne, particularly this month. Brisbane’s monthly growth was three times as fast.”

MORE: Insurer’s warning after $27m hit from hail and lightning

From $93k to $4.75m: Departing radio stars’ property empires

Five Queensland SA4 regions posted annual growth above 15 per cent, led by Townsville (17.23 per cent to $600,000) – despite being pipped for top spot for the first time in years by Perth North East (17.39pc).

Median values in Queensland’s highest-growth regions range from $577,000 in Central Queensland (15.66 per cent) to $835,000 in Ipswich (16.79 per cent), with Mackay–Isaac–Whitsunday (16.81 per cent, $601,000) and Toowoomba (15.81 per cent, $744,000) in between.

Ms Creagh said both Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast are “likely benefiting from the 2032 Olympic plans” driven by infrastructure spending and continued investor activity at a time when lower interest rates have improved borrowing power with listings tight.

“The Gold Coast is still one of Australia’s strongest housing markets in level terms, with annual price growth still running well above the national average,” she said, “But momentum has eased slightly into late 2025, compared with the sharp acceleration in 2023 and 2024.”

Qld’s top SA4 region annual median home price growth:

Townsville 17.23% to $600,000

Mackay–Isaac–Whitsunday 16.81% to $601,000

Ipswich 16.79% to $835,000

Toowoomba 15.81% to $744,000

Central Queensland 15.66% to $577,000

Source: PropTrack|

Ms Creagh said Brisbane and the Gold Coast may be settling into a more sustainable pace of growth, where conditions are less frantic.

Southern buyers “pushing down the value chain” are still pouring into Queensland, Ms Creagh said, taking advantage of the price gap with southern capitals as interest rate cuts boost borrowing capacity.

“Both Townsville and Cairns are benefiting from relative affordability advantages,” she said.

“Townsville continues to record a very strong pace of growth.”

“Cairns isn’t accelerating, but is similar to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, transitioning into a steadier, more sustainable phase after very strong price rises earlier in the upswing.”

Of Australia’s highest capital city growth rates for all dwellings, Brisbane’s pace was third (13.68 per cent) behind Perth (15.48 per cent) and Darwin (14.06 per cent) – followed by the rest of Western Australia (13.23 per cent) and the rest of Queensland (12.52 per cent).

Greater Brisbane annual growth:

Houses Up 12.24% Up $136,300 New median $1,150,000

Units Up 18.1% Up $121,200 New median $788,000

All dwellings (U & H) Up 13.68% Up $128,400 New median $997,000

Regional Qld annual growth:

Houses Up 12.11% Up $93,900 New median $788,000

Units Up13.42% Up $93,600 New median $761,000

All dwellings (U & H) Up 12.52% Up$94,300 New median $779,000

Source: PropTrack|

MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS

The post Up $136k in a year: Brisbane house price surges as Qld booms appeared first on realestate.com.au.

It’s full steam ahead for the real estate market coming into Christmas with a new report revealing nationwide home value growth over the past month.

The December edition of PropTrack’s Home Price Index showed national home prices rose by 0.51 per cent in November, pushing annual growth for all dwellings to 8.7 per cent.

Australian houses rose by $89,700 for the year, to now sit at a median value of $969,000. Units grew by $57,400 to reach $713,000.

Three interest rate cuts this year, in addition to population inflow, investor activity and the federal government’s expanded home guarantee scheme were key factors in driving price growth, according to REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh.

STATE-BY-STATE

NSW: Sydney house prices soar on back of new scheme

QLD: Brisbane house price surges as Qld booms

SA: Adelaide property prices hit frightening new record

VIC: Typical Victorian priced out of most homes

“These will continue to bolster demand, along with upgrade activity,” Ms Creagh said. “Meanwhile, stock on market has been pretty tight this year, despite having seen an uplift over the past month with the spring selling surge.”

Regional areas led the way, growing by 0.6 per cent for the month and 9.26 per cent annually, while capital cities grew 0.48 per cent and 8.54 per cent for month and year respectively.

Perth remains the strongest performing capital, with 0.9 per cent growth for the month bringing its annual surge to 15.5 per cent.

MORE:Australian home prices set to surge in 2026

Adelaide matched Perth’s monthly growth and now sits 12.2 per cent higher for the year, while Brisbane’s 0.64 per cent growth has pushed its annual growth to 13.68 per cent.

“We have seen momentum broadening this year, with price growth re-accelerating in Sydney and Melbourne, but also in Hobart and Darwin,” Ms Creagh said. “In terms of annual growth, Darwin is actually the second strongest market in the country, outpaced only by Perth.

“There’s been a very clear acceleration in the pace of growth in Darwin and a very clear turnaround in market conditions.”

Ms Creagh said there were several factors that could slow growth in 2026

“Broadly, it looks like further price gains into summer, although the extended pause on interest rates and APRA’s cap on high debt to income lending is probably going to temper momentum into the first half of 2026,” she said. “So we could see the pace of growth easing off slightly.”

However, she believes the underlying lack of supply across the nation will “put a floor under home prices”.

REVEALED:How Aussies are dodging record home prices

“The delivery of new housing remains constrained, so conditions have been tilted towards sellers and I’d say that’s going to remain the case,” she said. “Building approvals, which are really the best case scenario of what gets built, are still tracking well below target.

“It doesn’t look like we’re going to see a surge in completions, but I’d probably say we’re moving from maybe acute stress toward gradual recovery.”

The post Expert predicts further gains for sellers as Australian house prices rise for another month appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Georgia Stubberfield and Nixon Smith knew they couldn’t stay in the rental market if they wanted to afford a home, and had to move back in with family to find a unit.

“We both are living at home with our parents,” Ms Stubberfield said. “I was living in Sydney, but the rent there was so expensive that it definitely impacted the budget.”

Ms Stubberfield lived and rented in Sydney for a year and a half, and knew continuing to rent after returning to Brisbane might have locked her out of home ownership.

Brisbane has just seen dire predictions for its own rental fees, with PropTrack research showing the average renter will pay $200 more a week by 2025.

The research has shown the average rent for a house will move from $650 to $852, and the average unit rent will jump from $640 to $839.

Across Queensland, more than 250 property markets will cost more than $1,000 a week.

When she moved back to Brisbane in 2024, Ms Stubberfield knew she wanted to get a home before the government’s First Homebuyer Grant made the market even tighter.

“That was quite stressful, because we were already feeling the market as so competitive when we went to open homes, and I thought it was just going to be more competitive after,” she said. “We got very lucky; we found [our] property off-market through our real estate agent, and we just thought it was the best option from what we’d seen.”

But the Morningside unit they bought for $680,000 was described as “unlivable”. When they had the home inspected, the couple found stains, holes and used drug utensils in several of its rooms.

“[The inspector] just said, basically, everything needed to come down,” Ms Stubberfield said. “It’s kind of what you can buy at this price point in these suburbs.”

Mr Smith, who works as a tradie at Momentum Building Queensland, said the couple knew the property would need work when they first saw it.

“I’ll be able to do a lot of it myself, and it’ll save us a fair bit of cash,” he said. “You gotta sacrifice a few things to be able to do it, but we both think it’s definitely worth it. It’s exciting but scary, getting a place of your own.”

Place Bulimba agent Shannon Harvey said renters looking to find a home with more long-term security will go a long way by having a plan in place, and developing a strong line of communication with agents.

“Sellers will often take security over price,” she said. “A buyer can be savvy by having their finances in place, so when they make an offer they … can offer something like cash unconditional.”

“A lot of people reach out to agents wanting to buy something, but they’re not really ready … if you’re serious, you’ll filter to the top.”

The post Inside the ‘sacrifice’ renters take to afford their first home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Could a new record price for Hobart housing be on the horizon?

An expert says: Yes.

PropTrack’s Home Price Index, released Monday, shows the southernmost capital city’s median dwelling price grew again in November by 0.16 per cent.

This took the annual figure to 7.59 per cent growth, which is higher than Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

It is also an increase of $51,700 to the city’s median price.

Hobart’s median dwelling value — houses and units combined — is now $699,000. Houses are up to $752,000 and units $594,000.

MORE: Typical buyer can afford only 8pc of homes

Expert predicts Hobart home prices to surge next year

PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh said there has been a “very clear turnaround” in Hobart’s housing market conditions and an acceleration in growth relative to 2024.

Ms Creagh said annual growth has picked up strongly throughout 2025 and momentum has pushed growth over the past quarter to be a lot stronger than a year ago.

“Hobart has been underperforming for quite a significant period — and does remain the only capital city market where prices are below peak levels — but with the turnaround in conditions that we’ve seen this year, I’d say Hobart is close to setting a fresh record high,” she said.

“This would wipe out those price falls that we saw through the underperforming period.”

In regional Tasmania, the report showed 6.69 per cent annual growth and a 0.58 per cent uptick in November.

Over $35,000 has been added to the median prices over the past 12 months, bringing the median to $536,000.

MORE: Hobart’s shock property hotspots that surpassed glamour suburbs

John McGrath: Tas best property buys for 2026

Buyers Agents Tasmania director Sam Spilsbury said since the 5 per cent deposit scheme came into effect in October, activity had “spiked dramatically”.

“Properties in this bracket are drawing 30 or more groups through open homes and attracting up to 15 offers — reminiscent of the competitive conditions of 2021–22,” she said.

“Many of these buyers are first-home purchasers, eager to take advantage of the scheme before limited allocations are filled, adding urgency to the market.

“Investors are also re-emerging, particularly in the northwest and outer Hobart suburbs, where yields remain among the most attractive in the country.”

Ms Creagh said the delivery of new housing remains constrained.

“Conditions have been tilted towards sellers, and I’d say that’s going to remain the case,” she said.

“It doesn’t look like we’re going to see a surge in completions … and building approvals are still tracking well below target.”

The post Surging home prices set to wipe out previous market falls appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Heath Ledger’s fortune continues to grow in value, seventeen years after his death.

The late Australian actor’s estate is now estimated to be worth $US25 million ($A38 million), Finance Monthly reports.

According to the outlet, the Oscar-winner’s wealth stems from renewed interest in his most iconic roles, royalties from The Dark Knight, and a posthumous revival of collectibles and digital tributes.

At the time of his passing in 2008, the 28-year-old’s net worth was estimated to be around $US16 million ($A24 million) as per Celebrity Net Worth.

In addition to his film earnings and royalties, Ledger’s other assets included real estate.

MORE: ‘Sad’, alone: Jack Nicholson reclusive life now

Irwin’s Aussie home rumour in overdrive after DWTS win

Mariah slips on side cash amid $540m wealth

Here is a closer look at what became of the star’s properties and who inherited his fortune.

Bronte home

Ledger forked out $4.45 million for a three-level house at Bronte Beach in 2004.

The Patriot actor renovated the four-bedroom property, adding a 1700-bottle wine cellar and a home cinema with tiered seating and Tasmanian oak-panelled walls. He sold the beachside stunner sold in 2006 for $7 million.

The home hit the market weeks after photographers sprayed Ledger with water at the Sydney premiere of Brokeback Mountain.

The Monster’s Ball star reportedly offloaded the coastal retreat because the paparazzi attention in the enclave was “scaring” him.

“Bronte is scaring me at the moment. I don’t feel like living there anymore,” Ledger explained to TeenHollywood.com.

“It’s a shame because I obviously love it. It’s breaking my heart because you can’t go back there.

“You can’t do anything. You don’t want to go with your wife and kids down to the beach and swim when there are 10 people photographing you.

“It really is awful so … that’s keeping me away from Australia.

“I feel like the paparazzi are going to kick me out of that city.”

LA hilltop pad

In 2005, Ledger offloaded a hilltop property in L.A.’s Los Feliz neighbourhood to No Doubt guitarist Tony Kanal for $US2.7 million ($A4.1 million).

The 10 Things I Hate About You star snapped up the five-bedroom mansion in 2000 for $US1.4 million ($A2.2 million).

The Spanish-style estate has a period courtyard with an outside fireplace, fountain and vintage tile. Other features are a media room, gardens and a detached guesthouse.

Hollywood Hills Treehouse

Around the time of his Los Feliz sale, the Knight’s Tale actor bought a Hollywood Hills house from Ellen DeGeneres for $US2.3 million ($A3.5 million).

Nicknamed “The Treehouse”, the two-bedroom pad features a deck with an outdoor grill and a screening room. The deck offers views of the private wooded hillside property.

After his death, Ledger’s estate sold the home for $US2.5 million ($A3.8 million).

Brooklyn Townhouse

Back in 2005, Ledger and then-partner Michelle Williams purchased a six-bedroom home in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill for $US3.6 million ($A5.5 million).

The townhouse features a library, a wine cellar, and a 92 square metre loft-like parlour floor.

After his death, Williams continued to live in the property with their daughter Matilda.

The Dawson’s Creek alum sold the house in 2017 for $US8.8 million ($A10.8 million).

NYC Apartment

At the time of his death, Ledger was renting an apartment in Manhattan’s SoHo neighbourhood for roughly $US25,000 ($A38,000) a month.

On Jan. 22, 2008, the Australian actor was found dead in his bedroom — his death caused by an accidental overdose of prescription medication, the New York Post reports.

Shortly after his passing, the building, built in 1873, was transformed into a condominium and renovated with two storeys added. The pad sold in 2023 for $14.25m (AU$21.3m).

Made up of three bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home has an open-floor plan with a great room, and comes fully furnished.

The abode also includes coffered ceilings and cast-iron columns. Before and after photos show that the unit has remained fairly the same with updated features.

In the years since, the chef’s kitchen has been renovated with high-end appliances.

The bedroom has exposed brick, and the bathroom has been updated to include marble walls and flooring.

The unit has 3m-high ceilings, and the building also comes with sound-insulated windows.

The loft also has a woodburning fireplace, central aircon and its own laundry room.

Who inherited Heath Ledger’s estate?

Ledger left his entire estate to his parents and three sisters, Kate, Ashleigh and Olivia.

The will, which was written in 2003, preceded his relationship with Williams and the birth of their daughter, Matilda.

“Matilda is an absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family,” Ledger’s father, Kim, told People in 2008.

“They will be taken care of and that’s how Heath would want it to be.”

A few months later, the family decided Matilda would be the sole beneficiary.

“Our family has gifted everything to Matilda,” Kim told People.

“That was the plan from the moment my boy passed away.

“There was never any question about the fact that Heath’s estate would go to Matilda.

“Never a question. We are very close to Michelle and Matilda.”

In addition to inheriting her father’s money and assets, Matilda also received donations from Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law.

The three actors who stepped in to replace Ledger in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus gave their salaries to his daughter.

Parts of this story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

MORE: ‘Final straw’: Meghan Harry quit UK over gift

‘Insult’: Vanished Salt Bae’s secret demise

‘Broke’: INXS star died with just $506 in cash

The post Inside Heath Ledger’s property portfolio, fortune appeared first on realestate.com.au.