Summer sales surge for Gold Coast real estate market

Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

A record $5.2 billion tourist spend has triggered unprecedented demand for Gold Coast apartments, threatening to push prices even higher amid supply shortages.

It comes as thousands of cashed-up holiday-makers prepare to flock to the Gold Coast this summer, with a surge in sales enquiry expected in the city’s key property hotspots.

Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

The latest data from Tourism Research Australia reveals 6.5 million domestic visitors dropped $3.7 billion into the local economy in the first six months of this year, while 636,000 international visitors splashed a record $1.5 billion in the year to June 2025.

Real Estate agents anticipate an influx of visitors will see a significant spike in enquiry over Christmas and New Year with thousands of interstate and international buyers lining up alongside locals for a slice of Gold Coast property.

Real estate principal Michael Kollosche.

Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

“While other real estate markets tend to pause over the Christmas break, the Gold Coast kicks up a gear,” said prestige property specialist Michael Kollosche.

“With huge numbers of visitors relaxing on the coast this summer, people have the time and headspace to explore local property.

“We expect a lot of that focus to be on new beachside apartments.”

Over the past year, demand has been strong for luxury beachfront apartments, with projects along Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads setting record prices per square metre.

The Gold Coast median apartment sale price reached $956,000 in September, nudging past Sydney’s $927,000 for the first time on record.

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Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

Premium residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise.

At residential tower Coast on Garfield Terrace, in the exclusive Northcliffe enclave of Surfers Paradise, more than 80 per cent of apartments, totalling $280m, have sold off the plan, with construction forecast to top out by March next year.

Further south on First Ave in Broadbeach, $160 million worth of high-end apartments have sold off the plan at Sea Glass.

Contracts have been signed on more than 60 per cent of stock inside the 26-level tower, with remaining apartments priced from $5,250,000.

“What we’re seeing is a lifestyle migration,” Mr Kollosche said.

“People are not simply buying apartments, they’re buying the Gold Coast way of life —sunshine, walkability and sophistication that rivals Sydney or Melbourne, without the congestion.”

Sea Glass.

Sea Glass.

Gold Coast construction director Cy Pearson has secured a full-floor residence on level six of Sea Glass, citing the walkable beachfront lifestyle and reduced maintenance as key motivators for right sizing from a large family home.

“As you get a little bit older and you have worked hard, what you really want is more time with your family, not looking after a house,” Mr Pearson said.

“Living in an apartment on the beach, we can lock it up and someone else takes care of the building maintenance.

“I can come home from work, we can grab our bikes, cruise into Broadbeach for a meal and head home.

“For me, that’s what it’s all about.”

Sea Glass buyer Cy Pearson.

Despite the momentum, Mr Kollosche warns the imbalance between demand and the supply of new apartments remains acute.

“The real challenge is that we do not have enough new product coming through to meet demand,” Mr Kollosche said.

“With construction pipelines constrained, upward pressure on prices is likely to continue into 2025, especially for premium beachfront apartments.”

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