Sunshine Coast Quarterly Growth Slows: Price Gains Down 40% from Last Year

The Sunshine Coast property market is cooling into winter, with fresh quarterly data revealing a marked slowdown in price momentum compared to last year's robust gains.

Between April and June 2026, the region recorded median price growth of 2.8%, significantly below the 4.7% lift recorded in the second quarter of 2025—a deceleration of roughly 40% year-on-year. Despite the softer trend, median values across the broader region now sit at approximately $895,000, up from $870,000 at the same time last year, reflecting steady if unspectacular capital gains.

The slowdown is most pronounced in established beachside suburbs. Maroochydore, long the region's growth engine, saw quarterly growth of 2.1%, with typical homes selling between $1.15 million and $1.35 million. The construction activity surrounding the newly opened Maroochydore CBD precinct has tempered price momentum as apartment supply increases, though long-term fundamentals remain solid. Nearby Mooloolaba's quarterly growth of 2.4% tells a similar story—plateauing rather than plummeting.

Noosa Heads presents a different narrative. The ultra-premium enclave, where median values now exceed $2.15 million, recorded quarterly growth of just 1.9%—the lowest on the coast. High-end buyers are choosy in a slowing market, with trophy properties along Hastings Street and around Noosa National Park taking longer to shift.

The more resilient performance has come from lifestyle and hinterland pockets. Buderim and Bli Bli recorded quarterly growth of 3.2% and 3.5% respectively, as remote workers and young families seek value north of the CBD developments. Caloundra's northern beaches precincts, anchored by community assets like Kings Beach and Dicky Beach reserves, grew 3.1% during the quarter.

Real estate agents attribute the pullback to multiple factors: rising construction supply, interest rate stability at elevated levels, and seasonal buyer fatigue as winter traditionally dampens auction activity. The remote worker influx that turbocharged the market in 2023–2024 has also normalized, with migration patterns to the Sunshine Coast stabilizing rather than accelerating.

Analysts stress the broader context remains supportive. Annual growth of roughly 7% is still above inflation, and the region's lifestyle premium—proximity to Noosa National Park, year-round beach culture, and emerging employment hubs—continues attracting capital from southern states. First-home buyers remain most exposed to affordability headwinds, though mid-tier suburbs under $950,000 continue attracting active bidding.

The question for the second half of 2026: Does quarterly growth stabilize around 2.5–3%, or does the cooling trend deepen further?

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.