M:
Headlines
Winter/26
Brisbane Residential
Economy
Residential sales
Brisbane recorded a lower number of residential sales over the past year Sales trended down 0 3% with a total of 52,443 transactions in the year ending Q1/26, outpaced by the five year annual average of 53,606 sales A change in sales activity can be influenced by interest rates, economic confidence, housing supply, government policies and shifting population trends which impacts buyer demand. Isolating the 11,886 sales in the Q1/26 quarter, this was 9 2% below the previous quarter, whilst lower than the 13,507 five year quarterly average
Auctions
In the last active week of Q1/26, 66 residential auctions were held across Brisbane. According to Cotality, 55.7% of these homes were sold under the hammer Clearance rates above 70% suggest strong demand and a seller’s market, while a rate below 60% indicates weaker demand and a buyer’s market This result was higher than 52 2% one quarter ago when 182 auctions were held By comparison, the same quarter last year saw 52 9% homes sold, from 173 auctions
Rolling tally of annual residential sales
Brisbane
Auction clearance rate
Brisbane
Brisbane, Q1/26
Brisbane homes are taking less time to sell than one year ago Residential homes averaged 17 days on market in Q1/26, from the time they were listed, to the day they went under contract This average duration was 18 days the quarter before (-1 day) and 18 days one year ago (-1 day) A lower number of days on market typically indicates that homes are selling more quickly, often reflecting strong buyer demand and well priced, desirable properties. In contrast, a higher number of days on market may signal slower buyer activity or that homes are priced above current market expectations Looking back over the past five years, it has taken 19 days on average, to sell a home
More Brisbane homes have been newly listed for sale than this time last year. Newly advertised listings in Brisbane were 3 3% higher in the month of March 2026 than the equivalent period last year, according to Cotality. This change in new listings trended above the Australian average of -3 3% and above the -6 3% across Australian capital cities
Overall, the total number of homes listed for sale in Brisbane is down on last year. Brisbane's total number of listings in the month of March 2026 were 13 7% below the equivalent period last year, according to Cotality. By comparison, the Australian average change for total listings was -11 5% and across Australian capital cities was -8 6%
Brisbane, Q1/26
Residential prices
Median price $1,127,300
Brisbane residential property prices have trended higher than a year ago Prices across Brisbane rose by 22 2% in the year ending Q1/26, with a 6 5% increase recorded in the most recent quarter As a result, the median residential value reached $1,127,300. Residential values shift with changes in interest rates, supply and demand, economic conditions, population trends and local infrastructure which influences market appeal and buyer capacity Annual residential price growth has averaged 13 7% over the past five years
Price outlook +7%
Tracking median prices
Looking ahead, Brisbane residential prices are likely to rise over the coming year McGrath Research forecast Brisbane residential property prices to increase by 7% at the end of 2026, followed by a further 2% rise in 2027 Residential price forecasts consider borrowing capacity, the balance of supply and demand, economic conditions, population trends and local infrastructure which shapes affordability, demand and market direction
Forecast for median prices
Brisbane, Q1/26
Residential rents
The number of residential rental homes in Brisbane is currently undersupplied Brisbane rental vacancy was recorded at 0 7% at the end of Q1/26, falling 50 bps in the quarter whilst falling 20 bps over the past year according to REIA Generally, around 3% vacancy is considered a balanced market between rental supply and demand. Below this equilibrium is considered to be an undersupplied pool of rental homes, which places upward pressure on weekly rents For the past five years, Brisbane residential rental vacancy has averaged 1 1%
bps
Brisbane gross rental yields have trended lower over the past year Residential yields fell 5 bps in the Q1/26 quarter to be 3.61% across Brisbane, whilst 34 bps lower compared to a year ago A yield pushing beyond 4% is more desirable for investment properties located in capital cities, while below this, tends to show higher property values relative to rental income Brisbane gross rental yields have averaged 4 00% over the past five years
Gross rental yield
Residential rents
Tracking median weekly rents Brisbane Median weekly rent
Residential rents across Brisbane trended above the weekly rate recorded a year ago Brisbane rents rose 3 1% in Q1/26, whilst increasing 7 3% over the past year, to stand at a median $665 per week Rent changes are driven by rental supply, tenant demand, migration trends, economic conditions and investor activity which together impact the vacancy rate For the past five years, Brisbane rents grew an average 9.2% per annum.
Forecast for median rents Brisbane Rental outlook +8%
The Brisbane residential market is continuing to experience upward pressure on weekly rents McGrath Research forecast Brisbane rents to rise 8% at the end of 2026, with a further 6% rise likely in 2027 The rental forecast takes into consideration new and existing supply levels, population changes, economic conditions and upgraded local infrastructure which can influence future tenant demand, vacancy rates and rental growth
Brisbane, Q1/26
Definitions
Brisbane
Brisbane refers to the Greater Capital City Statistical Area or ‘Greater Brisbane’ as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Interest rate target
The cash rate target is the interest rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia to influence borrowing costs, economic activity, and inflation across the economy
Unemployment
The unemployment rate measures the share of people in the labour force who are willing and able to work but currently without employment
Sales
Sales of residential homes refers to the number of houses or apartments sold within a specific area and time period, most commonly being reported within the quarter or year
Sales velocity
The length of time a property spends on the market from listing to exchange, with the duration measurement represented as being number of days.
Median price
The median price is the midpoint of all property sale prices, where an equal number of homes sell above and below that value
Yield
Gross rental yield is the annual rental income of a property divided by its market value, showing the return before expenses.
Subregion
A subregion is a defined geography formed by grouping neighbouring statistical local areas for regional analysis, also known as a statisical sub-division by the ABS.
Economic growth
Economic growth is the rise in a country’s production of goods and services over time, reflecting how much the economy is expanding
Population growth
Population growth increases the number of people needing homes, boosting housing demand and influencing supply, prices, and future development needs
Auction clearance rate
Auction clearance rates show the percentage of properties sold at auction compared with those taken to auction over a given period
Listing
New listings are recently advertised homes, while total listings represent all properties currently for sale in the housing market at a given time.
Vacancy
Total residential vacancy refers to the proportion of rental properties unoccupied and available for tenants at a specific point in time
Median weekly rent
Median weekly rent is the midpoint of all weekly rental prices, with half of properties renting for more and half for less.
Guiding you home
Michelle Ciesielski National Head of Research, McGrath Research
www.mcgrath.com.au/research
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