Queensland’s most in-demand suburbs of 2025 have been revealed, and they range from flood-prone locations to working-class postcodes and sought-after school catchment areas.
Driven by FOMO, amid rising house prices, buyers are flocking to affordable suburbs that were once considered no-go zones for investors due to market volatility or unsavory reputations, but these same areas are enjoying the influx of demand as buyers try to get a foot on the property ladder.
REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty said the most in-demand suburbs in most Australian capitals were overwhelmingly in cheaper areas, mostly in the suburbs.
“This highlights the fact that more and more buyers from a growing number of established inner- and middle-ring suburbs are priced out,” she said.
Economist Anne Flaherty of Realestate.com.au
The team at realestate.com.au have compiled their data to reveal the most in-demand suburbs of 2025 based on key questions, as opposed to views per ad.
Key questions refer to the number of actual inquiries from potential buyers, rather than the number of clicks per listing.
In Brisbane, Rocklea was the most popular with potential buyers, with an average of 153 views per listing, despite being at risk of flooding.
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39 Inskip Street, Rocklea, sold for $870,000
Forestdale in the Logan-Beaudesert area was the second most popular with 125 requests per listing.
Redbank Plains, another flood-prone suburb, was also in Brisbane’s top 10 most in-demand suburbs with 123 inquiries per listing, followed by Waterford (122), Hillcrest and Darra (116), Woodridge and Gailes (115) and Logan Central (114).
4 Beaver Crescent, Redbank Plains, sold for $890,000
Marsden, home to the sought-after Marsden State High School, came in 9th place with 114 applications per listing.
Marsden State High School. Photo: Liam Kidston
For units in Brisbane, the upper suburbs were Herston (130), Graceville (118), Berrinba (111), Meadowbrook (109), Upper Mount Gravatt (106), Goodna (105), Doolandella and Dutton Park (102), Logan Central (100) and Spring Hill (99).
Elsewhere, the most in-demand suburbs in the red-hot Gold Coast market were Bilinga and Stapylton (houses, 101) and Molendinar (units, 98).
Stapylton is the Gold Coast’s second cheapest suburb for houses, averaging $420,000.
1 Cypress Crescent, Stapylton sold for $432,800
In northern Cairns, the most popular suburbs were White Rock (houses, 65) and Earlville (units, 52).
3 Yates Court, White Rock, sold for $675,000
In Townsville, the top suburbs were Condon (houses, 63) and Cranbrook (units, 70).
Suburbs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Townsville were named in national investment advisory group Positive Property’s 2024 No Go Zones report, which included a mix of densely populated inner-city areas, regional coastal towns and suburbs that boomed following the pandemic.
There were 13 in the Gold Coast region, seven in Cairns, three in Townsville and three in Brisbane.
But continued high demand and lack of supply have continued to fuel Queensland’s regions, with Townsville consistently cited as one of the country’s strongest markets.
34 Hodges Crescent, Vincent, sold for $550,000
The latest REA Market Trends report shows that of Queensland regions analyzed, average values have risen by as much as 23.4 per cent for units in Townsville this year, and by 21.6 per cent for houses.
It’s a similar story in Cairns, where average unit values have risen by 10.4 per cent and house values by 10.1 per cent.
Prices on the Gold Coast have increased by 9 percent (houses) and 8.5 percent (units) respectively.
The average house price in Brisbane reached a new high in November, with values rising by $136,300 in 12 months to $1.15 million.
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House prices in Brisbane continue to rise. Source: iStock
Ms Flaherty said similar factors that drove buyers to the south-east corner were also affecting performance in regional markets.
“In the case of Townsville, its relative affordability, population growth and robust economy are attracting property owners and investors, many of whom are priced out of Queensland’s more expensive regions,” she said.
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Townsville has been a hotspot for owners and investors. Photo: supplied
And that competition is forcing more hopeful buyers to work with experts.
Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA) president Melinda Jennison said it was no longer just wealthy clients contacting buyer’s agents for help cracking the market.
They now range from first-home buyers to investors, interstate and overseas buyers, and even those short on time trying to get to grips with the fast-moving market.
“Properties can be under contract in a matter of days, and many people don’t really understand the market,” says Jennison.
“A recent report shows that many buyers are shopping behind the scenes and looking for something that no longer exists.
“They don’t understand the market value and are looking for help to get some alignment to ensure they can actually enter the market.”
REEBA President and Streamline Property Buyers Director Melinda Jennison
Ms Jennison said the problem buyers now face is that many properties in south-east Queensland are being offered without prices, or with price ranges that do not reflect buyer demand.
“Agents like large amounts of research because it makes them look good to their clients, but it makes it difficult for buyers to understand the tricks some agents use to create competition, especially in an environment where listings are scarce,” she said.
“And it’s only going to get harder because of high demand and lack of supply, which creates FOMO (fear of missing out) as buyers fear that if they don’t act quickly, prices will only rise further in a few months, especially as the supply pipeline isn’t keeping pace.
“The problem with that (FOMO) is that it can lead to buyers making irrational decisions that put them at financial risk.”
Ms Jennison said the parents of many first-time homebuyers use buyer’s agents to help them enter the market, avoid overpaying and understand the risks of certain property purchases, such as buying into an incorporated company.
“No doubt we will see further price growth due to supply shortages, and the reality is that prices are rising rapidly,” she said.
“And buyers are afraid that buying a house will only become further out of reach.”
Canstar’s latest Consumer Pulse Report has also outlined these fears, with the cost of housing set to be the biggest financial problem heading into 2026.
It’s the fourth year in a row that housing costs, including mortgages and rents, have been the biggest fear factor for Aussies.
“Despite three cash rate cuts this year, the cost of housing is still the country’s biggest financial strain,” said Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall.
“The RBA relief has helped, but not nearly enough to unwind years of rising mortgage repayments and escalating rents.”
The RBA kept the cash rate unchanged at 3.6 percent at its December meeting.
But with inflation and consumer spending exceeding expectations, money markets have turned around and now expect the next interest rate move to be a rate hike.
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TOP 10 SUBURBS FOR QUESTIONS
BRISBANE (houses and units): Rocklea (houses, 153), Herston (units, 130), Forestdale (houses, 125), Redbank Plains (houses, 123), Waterford West (houses, 122), Graceville (units, 118), Hillcrest and Darra (houses, 116) and Woodridge and Gailes (houses, 115).
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GOLD COAST (houses and units): Bilinga and Stapylton (houses, 101), Molendinar (units, 98), Coomera (houses, 94), Canungra (houses, 88), Pimpama (houses, 84), Kingsholme (houses, 83), Yatala (houses, 82), Coomera (units, 82) and Helensvale and Currumbin (houses, 81).
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TOWNSVILLE (houses and units): Cranbrook (units, 70), Condon (houses, 63), Vincent (houses, 61), Aitkenvale and Kirwan (units, 60), Stuart and Thuringowa (houses, 55), Garbutt (houses, 54), Mundingburra (houses, 53), Kirwan (houses, 51) and West End and Garbutt (units, 51).
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CAIRNS (houses and units): White Rock (houses, 65), Barrine (houses, 57), Earlville (units, 52), Cairns North and Bungalow (units, 51), Mooroobool (houses, 50), Aeroglen, Manoora and Edmonton (houses, 49), Mount Sheridan (houses, 47) and Smithfield (units, 47).
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