The dream of beachside living on a budget remains a reality in only a handful of South East Queensland suburbs, with prices surging more than 100 per cent in just 12 months in some hotspots.
New research from PropTrack reveals Bellara and Deception Bay are now the only Greater Brisbane locations where the median house price is under $700,000.
RELATED: The surprise beachside region with a huge housing boom on the horizon
For those with up to $1m to spend, buying a house close to the sand is still possible in Beachmere, Bongaree, Redcliffe, and Sandstone Point.
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This four-bedroom house at 46 Jabiru St, Bellara, is on the market for $820,000.
A unit by the water can still be snagged for around $500,000 in Deception Bay, Thorneside and Woorim — but not for long.
Apartment prices in these suburbs have jumped by up to 22 per cent in the past 12 months.
About half a dozen once-affordable beachside suburbs smashed through the million-dollar mark in 2024 as buyers began to realise their value.
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The median house price in Wynnum rocketed 34.5 per cent to $1.3m, while Thorneside, Birkdale, and Lota, all climbed to $1.1m.
This three-bedroom house at 90 Osborne Tce, Deception Bay, is on the market for offers over $719,000.
Outside South East Queensland, the data shows more affordable options for a beachside lifestyle, but flooding is a regular occurrence in many of the regions listed.
| Cheapest Beachside Suburbs for Houses in South East Queensland | ||
| Suburb | Median sale price | Median change % |
| Bellara | $673,000 | 3.90% |
| Deception Bay | $695,000 | 15.80% |
| Beachmere | $725,000 | 11.50% |
| Bongaree | $770,000 | 2.70% |
| Sandstone Point | $771,000 | 7% |
| Toorbul | $798,000 | 19.90% |
| Redcliffe | $815,000 | 9.40% |
| Woody Point | $845,000 | 5.60% |
| Margate | $848,000 | 15.50% |
| Redland Bay | $895,000 | 5.30% |
| Source: PropTrack | ||
The median house price in Barney Point, near Gladstone, has climbed 31 per cent in the past year to $360,000, while even Innisfail has seen strong growth.
Proptrack economic analyst Megan Lieu said Queensland’s beachside suburbs were performing “particularly well”, although the pace of price growth had slowed since the pandemic.
This four-bedroom house at 26 Columbia Dr, Beachmere, is on the market for offers over $799,000.
“Lifestyle regions continue to be popular in the Sunshine State more so than in other states, however, price growth and demand remain stronger in certain areas compared to others,” Ms Lieu said.
| Cheapest Beachside Suburbs for Units in South East Queensland | ||
| Suburb | Median sale price | Median change % |
| Deception Bay | $485,000 | 22.80% |
| Thorneside | $550,000 | 14.60% |
| Woorim | $570,000 | -2.90% |
| Bellara | $590,000 | 18.00% |
| Thornlands | $593,000 | -0.40% |
| Sandstone Point | $595,000 | -5.70% |
| Bongaree | $596,000 | 22.30% |
| Victoria Point | $605,000 | 14.90% |
| Ormiston | $646,000 | 11.90% |
| Birkdale | $650,000 | 9.10% |
| Source: PropTrack | ||
“While demand for coastal suburbs is not at the heightened levels seen during the pandemic,
there continues to be interest in the seaside lifestyle. This is evident in the above-average
growth in prices and increase in property saves in numerous beachside suburbs.”
Demand for some Queensland beachside suburbs has also surged in the past year, based on the year-on-year change in property saves per property listed on realestate.com.au.
This three-bedroom house at 10 Tulip St, Wynnum, is on the market for offers over $1.05m.
Toorbul, Beachmere, and Bongaree had the largest increase in property saves for houses in the state’s southeast, while demand for units in Sandstone Point skyrocketed by more than 100 per cent.
Hotspotting managing director Terry Ryder said the Moreton Bay region had been experiencing strong sales activity and had the potential for further capital growth — particularly apartments.
“One of the big trends we’re noticing is the rise in demand for apartments, and I’m coming across more and more suburbs across the country where apartments are starting to outperform houses in terms of capital growth,” Mr Ryder said.
It is still possible to get a house for $1m or less in the beachside suburb of Wynnum.
“I think Margate’s a good location. The Redcliffe Peninsula has definitely come a long way in the last 10 years.”
Mr Ryder said the median house prices in Beachmere, Toorbul, and Sandstone Point were all still reasonably affordable and had strong, 10-year average capital growth rates of between eight and 11 per cent.
While Deception Bay had a poor reputation in the past, Mr Ryder said it was improving and the data showed units in the suburb were selling within 13 days.
Thorneside is one of the cheapest beachside suburbs in Greater Brisbane, according to PropTrack.
“If you’re looking for an affordable option by the water near Brisbane, apartments could be a good option,” he said.
“One of the things many houses don’t have that apartmetns do have is a view, which is an attractive selling point.”
Belle Property Redcliffe agent Jonathan Koleszar said an interest rate cut could push prices up in beachside areas like Redcliffe.
This four-bedroom house at 102 Collingwood Rd, Birkdale, is on the market for $995,000.
“Buyers obviously get more borrowing power, which allows houses to move quicker, and then obviously in return, prices go up,” he said.
“The lifestyle is the biggest [reason] people would gravitate towards here. A lot of people are working from home nowadays, and they can afford to go more for lifestyle than having to accommodate for their work.”
“A lot of older demographics of people now look to downsize. So, I suppose downsizers have been the biggest reason for that growth … you’ve got the beach at your fingertips, and then you’re walking distance from all the restaurants.”
