By Rich Harvey, CEO & Founder, propertybuyer.com.au
For decades, the New South Wales Central Coast region was in a property market holding pattern. It was flying under the radar of homebuyers and investors alike. But COVID’s significant upheaval brought the region into the limelight. Now, a raft of drivers across the political and economic spectrum will deliver exciting times to the Central Coast – and those who own property will be among the biggest beneficiaries.
Anthony Knight, Principal buyers’ advocate for Propertybuyer on the Central Coast, has lived in the region for decades. We recently chatted about the region and why he’s excited about what’s to come.
The Gold Coast continues its transformation into a global lifestyle destination, with sustained and significant growth across its housing market. Over the past 24 months, many suburbs have seen remarkable capital growth, and with a combination of infrastructure projects, strong employment, and a maturing economy, these areas are expected to achieve minimum growth projections that could be exceeded in 2025 due to favourable conditions.
Mermaid Beach
Last 24 months: Mermaid Beach has recorded approximately 25% capital growth, driven by its exclusive beachfront properties and limited land availability.
2025 Minimum Growth: 8-10% minimum growth is expected in 2025. However, factors such as a potential reduction in interest rates, executive migration and low listing volumes may push growth beyond this minimum, positioning Mermaid Beach for even higher gains.
Broadbeach Waters
Last 24 months: Broadbeach Waters has enjoyed 22% growth, fuelled by its proximity to Broadbeach and waterfront living.
2025 Minimum Growth: The suburb is expected to achieve a minimum of 8-10% growth in 2025. If conditions such as easing interest rates, continued low listing volumes and ongoing demand from high net worth migrants and investors play out, growth could surpass these projections.
Sanctuary Cove
Last 24 months: Sanctuary Cove has seen around 20% growth, as luxury buyers flock to this gated community with marina access.
2025 Minimum Growth: At least 7-9% growth is anticipated for 2025. Any reduction in interest rates, continued lower than average stock volumes and the continued focus on this market by Australian and international migrants may see growth again exceed these minimums.
Pimpama
Last 24 months: Pimpama has experienced 18-20% growth, thanks to its affordability and infrastructure investment.
2025 Minimum Growth: A minimum of 6-7% growth is expected, but with ongoing infrastructure development, lower interest rates, and restricted new housing supply, this growth could easily exceed these figures.
Coomera
Last 24 months: Coomera’s property market has seen 17-19% growth, benefiting from the Coomera Town Centre and proximity to schools and transport.
2025 Minimum Growth: Coomera is forecasted to achieve at least 6-7% growth, with potential for even greater increases if market conditions such as limited supply and easing borrowing costs materialize.
Ormeau
Last 24 months: Ormeau has experienced 16-18% growth, with strong demand for family homes close to Brisbane-Gold Coast transport corridors.
2025 Minimum Growth: Ormeau should see a minimum of 5-6% growth, but this figure could be outpaced if interest rates drop, and housing supply remains constrained.
The Gold Coast is shedding its old boom-and-bust reputation and emerging as a stable, maturing city with a diversified economy. While tourism once dominated, sectors like health, education, and construction are leading the charge, providing the foundations for strong wages, sustained employment growth, and population increases.
Much like global lifestyle destinations such as Miami and Barcelona, which have seen massive property market expansions as their economies matured, the Gold Coast is on a similar evolution. These cities have set the stage for how diverse employment and high quality of life can drive sustained capital growth—and the Gold Coast is following suit.
The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 and M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades are key infrastructure projects driving development across the region. As transport links improve and more areas become easily accessible, demand for housing will continue to rise.
At the heart of the Gold Coast's growth is the finite supply of land, particularly for detached housing. This limited land availability is driving strong competition among buyers, pushing prices up and ensuring long-term capital appreciation.
With rental yields consistently higher than Brisbane, the Gold Coast continues to draw investor interest, providing exceptional rental returns. The scarcity of rental properties and high tenant demand mean that the rental market will continue to bolster property values, further enhancing the investment appeal of the Gold Coast.
Looking forward to 2025, the Gold Coast is expected to continue its ongoing growth phase. The combination of sustained employment growth, a finite land supply and significant infrastructure investments will ensure that housing markets across the city achieve at least their minimum growth projections—with many suburbs likely to surpass these expectations due to favourable conditions such as a reduction in interest rates, migration and investment, continued supply bottlenecks, and low listing volumes.
This new era of prosperity positions the Gold Coast as one of the more exciting markets in Australia, with the potential for substantial capital growth that could outstrip various forecasts. The time for investors and homebuyers to capitalize on this market is ongoing.
The Gold Coast unit market is positioned for strong capital growth heading into 2025, driven by a combination of limited supply, escalating construction costs, and robust demand. Units remain particularly attractive to both investors and residents, including younger migrants and retirees seeking coastal living, while short-term letting opportunities provide further high returns for investors.
The limited capacity for new dwelling delivery due to current building industry conditions, such as material shortages and labour constraints, is helping keep the market buoyant. The high cost of constructing new apartments means that off-the-plan prices are significantly higher than the prices of existing units. This gives established properties an edge in capital appreciation as buyers seek out value in an increasingly competitive market.
Potential reductions in interest rates in 2025 could further fuel demand, as borrowing becomes more affordable, pushing even more buyers into the market. Additionally, the Gold Coast continues to attract migrants, particularly younger people and retirees who are drawn to the city's coastal lifestyle, climate, and amenities. These demographic shifts are boosting demand for units, as both age groups prefer low-maintenance living, with units providing an ideal balance between affordability and location.
For investors, the Gold Coast’s unit market also offers attractive short-term letting opportunities, particularly through platforms like Airbnb. The city’s popularity as a holiday destination ensures high occupancy rates and strong rental yields throughout the year, particularly in beachfront and centrally located areas. This adds a further incentive for investment in existing units, with investors able to capitalize on both capital growth and rental income.
Mermaid Beach
Last 24 months: Mermaid Beach units have experienced approximately 25% capital growth, driven by their prime beachfront location and limited stock.
2025 Minimum Growth: At least 7-8% growth is expected in 2025, but with continued migration, interest rate reductions, and limited new supply, growth could exceed these forecasts.
Broadbeach
Last 24 months: Broadbeach units have enjoyed around 22% growth, benefiting from proximity to the beach and major retail hubs.
2025 Minimum Growth: A minimum of 6-7% growth is projected, though this could be higher if demand remains strong and new developments struggle to keep up with demand.
Surfers Paradise
Last 24 months: Surfers Paradise has seen approximately 20% growth in unit prices, driven by high-end apartments with ocean views and tourism demand for short-term rentals.
2025 Minimum Growth: A minimum of 5-6% growth is expected, with the potential for even higher returns due to continued strong short-term letting demand and constrained supply of new units.
Southport
Last 24 months: Southport’s unit market has seen steady growth of about 18%, appealing to investors and first-home buyers seeking affordability close to major amenities.
2025 Minimum Growth: A minimum of 5-6% growth is expected in 2025, but rising migration and low new supply could drive even stronger capital growth.
Labrador
Last 24 months: Labrador has experienced modest growth of around 16%, but the area’s affordability and proximity to the Broadwater make it a popular choice for young families and investors.
2025 Minimum Growth: At least 5-6% growth is forecast, with potential for even higher gains as the demand for affordable coastal living continues to increase.
Palm Beach
Last 24 months: Palm Beach units have experienced solid growth of about 19%, attracting buyers with its relaxed lifestyle and beach access.
2025 Minimum Growth: At least 6-7% growth is expected in 2025, with the potential for more, particularly with strong migration trends and limited new developments.
Across the broader Gold Coast unit market, minimum growth of 5-8% is anticipated in 2025. The combination of restricted supply, higher construction costs, and strong migration trends from both younger people and retirees will continue to drive demand. The potential for interest rate reductions, along with the high returns from short-term letting, ensures that the Gold Coast unit market remains one of the most attractive in Australia. These factors will allow many suburbs to surpass the expected minimum growth rates, making 2025 a promising year for both investors and homebuyers.
About the Author
Rich Harvey is the CEO and Founder of Propertybuyer, Australia’s most awarded buyers agency. With decades of experience in property investment, Rich and his team are dedicated to helping clients achieve their property goals with confidence and success.
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