Regional Queensland | Autumn 2026 Residential Report

Regional Queensland continues to deliver strong performance within Australia’s residential property market, driven by population growth, lifestyle appeal and constrained housing supply. The Autumn 2026 Regional Queensland Property Report highlights a market defined by rising prices, tight rental conditions and ongoing demand despite softer sales volumes.

For buyers, investors and owner‑occupiers, regional Queensland real estate remains a compelling opportunity, with solid capital growth prospects and strong rental performance expected to continue into 2026.

Sales activity softens but demand remains steady

Residential sales across Regional Queensland eased over the past year, declining 4% to 68,612 transactions, reflecting broader economic factors including interest rates and affordability pressures.

Despite this moderation, the region still accounts for 57% of total Queensland residential sales, underlining its importance within the state’s housing market.

Homes are continuing to sell relatively quickly, with average days on market holding steady at 32 days, indicating ongoing buyer demand and well-priced listings across key regional markets.

Limited housing supply supporting market conditions

Housing supply remains constrained across Regional Queensland. New property listings have declined 5.7% year-on-year, while total listings are down 13.9%, tightening available stock and supporting price growth.

At the same time, population growth of 1.8% in 2024 continues to place pressure on housing availability, reinforcing demand for regional housing, coastal property and lifestyle real estate.

With new construction increasing modestly (+4.4%) and building approvals rising (+12.1%), supply may improve over time, but near-term shortages are expected to persist.

Strong price growth across regional markets

Regional Queensland property prices have recorded significant growth, rising 13.7% annually to an average of approximately $703,000.

This growth has been supported by limited supply, interstate migration and strong demand for lifestyle-focused housing across coastal and regional hubs.

Looking ahead, McGrath Research forecasts price growth of 8% in 2026, followed by a further 6% increase in 2027, reinforcing the strength of the regional Queensland property market over the medium term.

Rental market remains critically undersupplied

Regional Queensland’s rental market continues to experience significant supply shortages, with vacancy rates at just 1.1%, well below the balanced level of around 3%.

This tight rental environment is driving rent growth, with average weekly rents increasing 5.9% year-on-year to approximately $625 per week.

Rents are forecast to rise a further 9% in 2026, supported by population growth, investor activity and limited rental stock.

While gross rental yields average 4.60%, slightly lower than long-term benchmarks, strong rental growth continues to support attractive returns for investors focused on regional investment property.

Economic fundamentals underpin long-term demand

Regional Queensland benefits from strong underlying economic conditions, including low unemployment of 3.2%, steady national economic growth and ongoing population increases.

Interest rates remain a key influence on affordability, with the cash rate at 4.10%, although long-term forecasts point to gradual stabilisation.

These fundamentals continue to support demand for regional housing markets in Queensland, particularly in lifestyle-driven and coastal locations.

Outlook for Regional Queensland property in 2026

Despite softer sales volumes, Regional Queensland’s property market remains underpinned by strong fundamentals—high demand, limited supply and solid economic drivers.

With forecast price and rental growth, the region is well positioned to remain a leading performer within Australia’s regional real estate market, offering opportunities for both homebuyers and property investors seeking affordability, lifestyle and long-term capital growth.

Explore the full Regional Queensland Autumn 2026 Property Report for detailed insights into sales trends, pricing, rental performance and key regional market activity.