Sunshine Coast Market Watch: August Gains Set the Tone for a Busy Spring
By Leigh Martinuzzi | Martinuzzi Property Group – eXp Australia
After what’s felt like a steady but cautious winter, the latest property data confirms what we’ve been seeing on the ground: the housing market is warming up again. Both PropTrack and Cotality have just released their August figures, and while their indices differ slightly, they both point in the same direction, prices are rising, demand is strengthening, and spring is shaping up to be one of the busiest selling seasons in recent years.
National market momentum builds
According to PropTrack, Australian home values rose by 0.5% in August, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth and pushing prices to a fresh record high. Annual growth now sits at +5.3%. Cotality’s Home Value Index tells a very similar story, though with a slightly stronger read, values lifted 0.7% nationally in August, the fastest pace since May 2024, taking annual growth to +4.1%. The consistency across both data sets underlines that this isn’t just a seasonal bump; it’s a sustained upswing.
Where the growth occurred does vary a little between reports. Cotality highlights the “mid-sized” capitals as August leaders, with Brisbane up 1.2%, Perth up 1.1%, and Adelaide up 0.9%. Hobart was the one market in decline, slipping slightly into negative territory. PropTrack, meanwhile, shows Darwin (+0.8%) and Sydney (+0.7%) leading the gains, while Hobart (-0.5%) once again underperformed. Regardless of the exact rankings, both agree that strength has broadened across more cities as 2025 has progressed.
Regional markets continue to shine
It wasn’t just the capital cities making moves. PropTrack reports that regional markets rose by 0.3% in August, bringing annual regional growth to a healthy +6.6%. Regional Queensland was a standout performer, recording +9.9% over the past 12 months, a clear signal that affordability pressures and lifestyle trends are continuing to drive demand outside the capitals. And what’s more impressive is the five year growth figures, with regional outperforming, 65.2% vs 46.0% growth. Affordability and lifestyle appeal being the key players for this difference.
Why are prices rising?
A key reason behind the renewed price growth is supply, or rather, the lack of it. Cotality notes that the number of homes available for sale is still around 20% below the long-term average. At the same time, auction clearance rates surged to about 70% in late August, the highest since early 2024. In other words, buyer demand is rebounding at a faster pace than listings are coming to market, creating upward pressure on prices.
As Tim Lawless from Cotality put it: “We are seeing a clear mismatch between available supply and demonstrated demand placing upwards pressure on housing values.”
PropTrack’s senior economist, Eleanor Creagh, echoed this sentiment but added another layer, observing that buyer activity is beginning to re-accelerate in markets that had slowed earlier this year, while growth in previously hot markets such as Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane is beginning to normalise. That rebalancing suggests that the upswing is broadening, not just being carried by a handful of outlier cities.
Implications for buyers, sellers, and investors
For buyers, the conditions heading into spring mean competition is likely to remain strong, especially for turnkey homes in family-friendly suburbs. Finance pre-approval and a clear bidding strategy will be essential as more stock gradually comes onto the market.
For sellers, the message is encouraging. Prices are at new peaks nationally, clearance rates are trending higher, and enquiry levels are healthy. With listings still low, those who launch a campaign in early-to-mid spring may benefit from reduced competition before stock levels normalise later in the season. Presentation, pricing, and strong digital marketing remain the keys to standing out.
For investors, the landscape is nuanced. Yields and relative affordability continue to support interest in select capitals and regional corridors. While last year’s strongest markets are moderating to more sustainable growth, previously lagging metros like Sydney are starting to pick up pace again. The lesson here is to go local: suburb-level analysis and due diligence are more important than ever.
Sunshine Coast outlook
Closer to home, the Sunshine Coast reflects much of what the national data is showing. Well-presented homes are attracting multiple quality buyers, while properties that need work or are priced ambitiously are sitting longer. PropTrack’s report highlighting regional Queensland’s near-10% annual growth speaks directly to our region’s resilience and continued buyer appeal. With Brisbane posting a strong August rise of 1.2% (per Cotality), it adds another layer of confidence for buyers considering the broader South-East Queensland corridor.
Spring will likely bring a lift in new listings across the Coast, but from a very low winter base. This gives early-spring vendors a real edge: motivated buyers are already active, but they don’t have a lot of choice. The next 6–8 weeks could offer some of the best conditions we’ve seen since early 2024.
Final thoughts
August confirmed that the Australian housing market is back in positive territory, with growth now consistent across capitals and regions alike. For the Sunshine Coast, the mix of rising demand, still-tight supply, and growing confidence makes this an excellent window for both buyers and sellers to act decisively.
If you’d like help navigating the market, whether you’re buying, selling, or just planning ahead,feel free to reach out.
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