Gold Coast Real Estate Market Update – June 2025

Market Overview – Steady Growth and Strong Demand

The Gold Coast property market continues to perform strongly in mid-2025, maintaining the momentum built over the past few years. Broadly, dwelling values have risen by double digits year-on-year – CoreLogic data showed a 12.7% annual surge in Gold Coast property values through 2024, pushing the overall median above $1 million for the first time. In fact, the Gold Coast recently climbed to Australia’s second most expensive housing market, with a current median house price around $1.22 million, second only to Sydney (and well ahead of Brisbane). More than half of Gold Coast suburbs now boast million-dollar-plus house medians, underscoring how widespread the growth has become.

Key factors underpinning this strength include sustained interstate migration and buyer demand for the Gold Coast’s lifestyle. A steady influx of new residents from Sydney, Melbourne and elsewhere – drawn by the coastal lifestyle, relative affordability, and remote-work flexibility – continues to fuel housing demand. At the same time, limited supply (especially of quality homes) is creating competition and supporting price growth. Market sentiment is upbeat, with no sign of a slowdown in the local economy or population growth. Property analysts are even forecasting another mini-boom in 2025 – price gains of 10–13% over the year have been predicted for the Gold Coast market. While interest rates remain higher than previous years, there is growing confidence that rate cuts (potentially ~1% over the next year) could arrive, which would further boost buyer capacity and market activity. Overall, the Gold Coast enters winter 2025 with a generally positive outlook, although the frenetic pace of the pandemic-era boom has eased into more moderate, sustainable growth. Below, we spotlight Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach – three marquee coastal suburbs – to see how they’re faring and what trends are emerging.

Main Beach: Prestige Coastal Enclave on the Rise

Luxury high-rise apartments line the coastline in Main Beach, one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious beachside suburbs. Main Beach offers exclusive coastal living with world-class amenities and uninterrupted ocean views. High demand and limited land ensure property in this suburb remains tightly held and highly sought-after.

Main Beach is a boutique, upscale suburb at the northern end of the central Gold Coast, renowned for its exclusivity and high-end real estate. It remains a tightly held market, with relatively few properties changing hands – but when they do, prices are lofty. Median house prices in Main Beach sit around $4.0 million (based on the small number of house sales over the past year). In fact, Main Beach now claims the highest house prices in the city, recently recording a median above $3.5M (helped by several ultra-premium sales over $10M). The median unit price is approximately $1.5 million, reflecting the suburb’s inventory of large luxury apartments and penthouses. These values have been edging up – unit prices rose about 9% in the past 12 months – as buyer interest remains robust despite the already high entry point.

Lifestyle and appeal: Main Beach offers a blend of tranquil coastal living and first-class amenities that continues to attract affluent buyers (often downsizers, professionals or retiree couples). Residents enjoy quiet, uncrowded patrolled beaches, the popular Tedder Avenue dining/café precinct, and proximity to the Marina Mirage shopping center and Southport Yacht Club. The suburb’s location between the ocean and the Broadwater provides coveted water views and boating access. These lifestyle factors consistently rank Main Beach as a top choice for those seeking a prestigious beachside address.

Recent developments and trends: Notably, Main Beach is seeing new luxury development activity for the first time in decades. Lagoon Main Beach, a twin-tower project of 259 apartments (the area’s largest development in 30 years), is under construction and slated for completion by late 2025. This injection of new high-end units – already ~85% sold off the plan – underscores confidence in Main Beach’s appeal. Several other boutique projects (e.g. Lune, a six-apartment ultra-luxe building) are also underway, adding modern stock to the suburb. However, overall supply remains very limited and new land is scarce, which should keep upward pressure on prices long-term. Buyer demand in Main Beach is fueled by both local and interstate high-net-worth individuals drawn to its exclusivity. With the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon and ongoing improvements to nearby infrastructure (such as enhancements to The Spit parklands and marine facilities), Main Beach’s position as an elite enclave looks set to continue. Expect interest to stay strong for its high-rise apartments with ocean views and the few prized houses that do hit the market.

Surfers Paradise: High-Volume Hub Balancing Luxury and Tourism

Surfers Paradise remains the glittering heart of Gold Coast real estate, with a dynamic market that spans from entry-level apartments to trophy mansions. It’s the city’s tourism capital and high-rise hotspot, and current property data highlights a tale of two markets: a robust unit sector and a smaller, more volatile house segment. Median house price in Surfers Paradise is around $1.2 million, although this figure can swing with the mix of sales. (Surfers Paradise’s “house” statistics often include the prestigious enclaves of Paradise Waters, Chevron Island, and Isle of Capri, where many homes are multi-million-dollar waterfront properties. Indeed, including those blue-chip islands, the area’s house values rank among the highest in QLD – recent estimates put the broader Surfers Paradise house median near $2.4M. The lower $1.2M figure reflects a normalization after some exceptionally high sales last year.) On the other hand, the median unit/apartment price is about $715,000 as of early 2025, up roughly 10% year-on-year amid solid demand. Surfers Paradise saw over 1,300 unit sales in the past 12 months – by far the highest sales volume of these three suburbs – indicating a very active apartment market. Investor interest remains keen, thanks in part to strong rental returns; typical gross rental yields for Surfers units are around 5%, bolstered by the suburb’s year-round popularity with tourists and renters.

Lifestyle and appeal: Surfers Paradise offers a vibrant urban beach lifestyle that continues to draw a broad spectrum of buyers. The suburb’s iconic beachfront (with the famous Surfers Paradise sign and Cavill Avenue mall) is a major drawcard for holidaymakers and locals alike. High-rise residential towers – some of the tallest in the country – define the skyline here. Residents have walkable access to hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops, as well as entertainment venues and nightlife. This energetic atmosphere appeals especially to younger residents and investors banking on the short-term rental market. Surfers Paradise is ground zero for Airbnb and holiday-let apartments; the constant tourist demand ensures high occupancy and robust rental yields, particularly for well-located beachfront units. At the same time, the area has seen an influx of luxury developments that target owner-occupier downsizers and affluent buyers (for example, new luxury high-rises with large full-floor apartments). This blend of glitzy holiday vibe and upscale living is unique to Surfers Paradise.

Trends and developments: The apartment market in Surfers continues to evolve with an emphasis on amenity-rich, higher-end projects. Developers are actively building and planning new towers – from the recently completed super-tall buildings to upcoming projects (several new residential towers are under construction in or near Surfers Paradise, adding hundreds of apartments in the next few years). Buyer demand has bifurcated somewhat: quality is king, meaning well-positioned modern units with ocean views and amenities command premium prices and quick sales, whereas older or poorly maintained buildings see softer interest. According to local agents, buyers in 2025 are prepared to pay top dollar for “the right property in the right location” but are more selective with dated stock. Surfers’ housing market (encompassing the luxury waterfront houses) has a steady prestige segment as well – recent months saw a few record sales in Paradise Waters. Going forward, infrastructure upgrades like the expansion of the Gold Coast Light Rail (which already links Surfers to Broadbeach and beyond) and beautification projects in the city center will further enhance livability. Surfers Paradise is expected to retain its status as a high-demand hub, though price growth for units may moderate to mid-single-digits annually after the big jumps of previous years. Overall, the suburb’s mix of strong rental returns, lifestyle appeal, and new luxury offerings keeps it on the radar of both investors and owner-occupiers nationwide.

Broadbeach: Lifestyle Hub with Solid Growth

Broadbeach has solidified its reputation as one of the Gold Coast’s most desirable lifestyle suburbs, and recent market performance reflects that appeal. Median house prices in Broadbeach are about $1.16 million (over the year to May 2025). Houses in this suburb saw outstanding growth of around +20% in the past 12 months, although it’s worth noting relatively few houses trade in Broadbeach proper (the suburb is geographically small and dominated by units; many free-standing homes are in neighboring Broadbeach Waters). The median unit/apartment price in Broadbeach is roughly $950,000, after climbing about 8–12% year-on-year (depending on unit size). This puts Broadbeach unit values among the highest on the Coast, second only to a few ultra-premium enclaves. The market has been buoyant – Property Value data shows unit prices trending up and units typically selling in just over a month on market, indicating lively demand. Investors also find Broadbeach attractive, with typical apartment rental yields around 4% and very low vacancy rates (the median unit rent is about $750 per week).

Lifestyle and appeal: Broadbeach offers a blend of beachside leisure and urban convenience that continues to drive its popularity. The suburb is known for its vibrant dining and entertainment precinct – including the Oracle Boulevard restaurants, cafes, and bars – and hosts popular events (like the annual Blues on Broadbeach music festival). It is home to major attractions such as the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre (one of Australia’s largest malls) and The Star Gold Coast casino and hotel complex, as well as the Gold Coast Convention Centre. All of this is within walking distance of many residences, adding to Broadbeach’s appeal as a place where “you have everything at your doorstep.” The gorgeous Kurrawa Beach and beachfront parklands are another key draw, especially for families and retirees seeking relaxation paired with amenities. Broadbeach also benefits from infrastructure connectivity – it is the current southern terminus of the G:Link light rail (with Stage 3 extension to Burleigh Heads under construction), providing easy tram access up to Surfers Paradise and beyond.

Developments and trends: Broadbeach’s property market has been marked by strong growth and significant development interest. Several new high-rise projects have been completed in recent years, and more are on the way. Notably, a massive **$2 billion project known as “The Landmark” – a four-tower apartment and hotel development adjacent to Pacific Fair – is slated to commence in 2025. This development, once underway, will further enhance Broadbeach’s status as a residential and mixed-use hub. The suburb’s unit market has enjoyed ~22% price growth over the last two years, and while future gains may be a bit steadier, demand is expected to remain high. Downsizers from within the Gold Coast and Brisbane have been particularly active in Broadbeach, drawn by the combination of luxury apartments and walkable lifestyle. Additionally, interstate buyers (including investors) continue to target Broadbeach; they see it as offering strong long-term fundamentals – a finite supply of land, enduring popularity with tenants and tourists, and upcoming infrastructure improvements. Supply of new apartments is still struggling to keep up with demand in some segments, which could support further price appreciation. Looking ahead, Broadbeach stands to benefit from broader regional growth and events. With major infrastructure and developments in the pipeline and the city gearing up for the Olympics in 2032, this suburb’s growth trends should stay positive. Buyers can expect Broadbeach to remain a sought-after locale, balancing laid-back beach living with urban convenience, and the property market here is likely to reflect that enduring appeal.

Outlook

In summary, the Gold Coast real estate market as of June 2025 is characterized by healthy growth and confident sentiment. The market performance has been strong – prices are generally up on an annual basis – but not unchecked, with a more measured pace than the frenetic spikes of 2021-22. Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach each illustrate different facets of this trend: from ultra-prestige high-end gains in Main Beach, to the high-turnover apartment scene in Surfers, to Broadbeach’s sustained growth on the back of lifestyle demand. All three suburbs are benefiting from the Gold Coast’s broader appeal and investment in the area. Ongoing projects (transport upgrades, new residential and commercial developments, etc.) and the approach of international events are bolstering confidence. Buyer demand remains elevated, especially for properties that offer unique lifestyle advantages – whether it’s a panoramic ocean view, proximity to dining and entertainment, or simply the promise of strong rental income. If current trends continue, the Gold Coast is set to maintain its upward trajectory through 2025, with these key suburbs leading the way in both growth and desirability.

Sources: Latest suburb sales and price data were sourced from CoreLogic and Property Value/Your Investment Property reports. Market commentary and trend insights reference industry analyses and news updates. Recent development news and infrastructure projects are cited from local news and developer reports. This report provides a general overview for informational purposes.

This blog is for general information only and does not constitute professional advice. Nortons Real Estate Agency makes no guarantees about accuracy and recommends seeking independent advice before making property decisions.