M:
Research
Spring/26 Gold Coast Prestige Residential
Headlines Gold Coast recorded a higher number of prestige residential sales over the past year, whilst homes are taking less time to sell than one year ago.
The number of residential rental homes on the Gold Coast is currently undersupplied. Gold Coast rental vacancy was recorded at 1.1% at the end of Q2/26.
More Regional Queensland homes have been newly listed for sale than this time last year. Overall, the total number of homes listed for sale is up on last year.
Prestige residential rents along the Gold Coast trended 8.1% above last year's weekly rate, with prestige rents forecast to rise 6% at the end of 2026.
Gold Coast prestige residential prices have trended 0.3% lower than a quarter ago, with 2.4% annual growth. Stable price change is forecast at the end of 2026.
The construction delivery of new homes in Queensland was 1.9% below the last reported year, whilst residential building approvals trended 26.5% higher.
Economy Key drivers
Interest rate
Spring/26
4.35%
Interest rates were last set at 4.35% after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted the cash rate target by 25 bps in May 2026. At this time, most lenders adjusted their mortgage lending rates for homeowners and investors accordingly. By setting borrowing costs, interest rates strongly influence both housing affordability and demand for home loans. Westpac forecasts the cash rate target to be 4.60% by the end of 2026 and 4.10% in 2027, with inflation, energy costs and the global economy being closely monitored as a leading indicators for any possible adjustments during this time.
Stock market return
+2.1%
Economic growth
Australia recorded annual economic growth of 2.1% at the end of Q2/26, following a five year annual average performance of 2.2%. A growing economy fuels the property market by generating employment, lifting household incomes and strengthening overall demand. In general, sustainable annual economic growth is viewed as trending between 2% and 3%. Looking forward, Westpac forecasts economic growth of 1.5% by the end of 2026 and 1.7% in 2027.
+2.8%
Ultra-high-net-worth population growth
The stock market has returned sustainable annual growth. Australia’s stock market performance on the S&P/ASX 200 saw total growth of 2.8% over the past year, although the last quarter recorded growth of 3.5% in Q2/26. Looking back, the five year average return was 4.0%. Historically, strong stock market performance has been a leading indicator for future wealth creation and potential upside for prestige residential property, though current global uncertainty suggests a more cautious stance.
+12.2%
The ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) population across Australia continues to expand despite the world adjusting to renewed, geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing inflationary pressures. Australia’s ultra-wealthy population grew by 32.5% between 2021 to 2026, to 16,460 people with net wealth of more than US$30 million. This population is forecast to grow by a further 58.5% by the end of 2031 (or an average 12.2% per year) when almost one in every thousand Australians will be considered an UHNW individual. According to the Knight Frank Wealth Sizing Model, Australia is considered to be the fifth fastest forecast during this time.
Economic outlook, Q2/26
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026F
2027F
Interest rate target
0.10%
3.10%
4.35%
4.35%
3.60%
4.60%
4.10%
Economic growth in Australia
4.9%
3.3%
1.3%
1.2%
2.6%
1.5%
1.7%
Business investment in Australia
8.8%
6.2%
8.9%
0.4%
7.0%
4.3%
3.2%
Source: McGrath Research, Knight Frank Research, RBA, ABS, Westpac
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Prestige residential sales Update
Prestige sales
Spring/26
+20%
Rolling tally of annual prestige residential sales Gold Coast prestige ($3m+)
Gold Coast recorded a higher number of prestige residential sales above $3 million over the past year. Sales trended up 20% with a total of 523 transactions in the year ending Q2/26, outpacing the five year annual average of 396 sales. Sales activity tends to shift with interest rate movements and changes in economic confidence, whilst ongoing global uncertainty continues to influence decision-making. Isolating the 153 sales in the Q2/26 quarter, this was 11% above the previous quarter and higher than the 105 five year quarterly average.
Source: McGrath Research
Super-prestige sales
40%
The share of super-prestige sales (above $5 million) was recorded at 40%, compared to the total number of prestige sales (above $3 million) on the Gold Coast in the year ending Q2/26. This was higher than one year ago when the proportion was 24% and remains above the 32% share recorded five years ago. Over the past year, Gold Coast super-prestige sales volume has rose 95% and grown over the past five years by 418%.
Share of super-prestige sales ($5m+), by number Gold Coast prestige Source: McGrath Research
Gold Coast prestige, Q2/26
Houses
Apartments
Residential
Number of homes ($3m+) sold in past quarter
115
38
153
Change from a quarter ago
21%
-12%
11%
Number of homes ($3m+) sold in past year
377
146
523
Change from a year ago
13%
43%
20% Source: McGrath Research
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Prestige residential sales Update
Sales velocity
Spring/26
-3 days
Average days on the market Gold Coast prestige
Gold Coast prestige homes are taking less time to sell than one year ago. Prestige homes across the Gold Coast averaged 36 days on market in the year ending Q2/26, from the time they were listed to the day they went under contract. This duration was also 38 days a quarter ago (-2 days) and 39 days one year ago (-3 days). 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. Looking back over the five-year average, it has taken 33 days to sell a home.
Source: McGrath Research
New listings Regional Queensland
+2.4%
Total listings Regional Queensland
More Regional Queensland homes have been newly listed for sale than this time last year. Newly advertised listings in Regional Queensland were 2.4% higher in the month of June 2026 than the equivalent period last year, according to Cotality. This change in new listings trended above the Australian average of 2.1% and above the 2.3% across Australian capital cities.
+9.8%
Overall, the total number of homes listed for sale in Regional Queensland is up on last year. Regional Queensland's total number of listings in the month of June 2026 were 9.8% above the equivalent period last year, according to Cotality. By comparison, the Australian average change for total listings was 8.4% and across Australian capital cities was -1.7%.
Gold Coast prestige, Q2/26
Houses
Apartments
Residential
Number of days homes on market
39 days
33 days
36 days
Change from a quarter ago
-1 day
-3 days
-2 days
Change from a year ago
+0 days
-6 days
-3 days Source: McGrath Research
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Prestige residential prices Update
Prestige prices
Spring/26
+2.4%
Tracking prestige prices Gold Coast prestige
Gold Coast residential property prices have trended higher than a year ago across the prestige market. Gold Coast prestige property prices rose by 2.4% in the year ending Q2/26, although a fall of 0.3% was recorded in the last quarter. Looking back at price growth since Q2/21, prestige apartments (35.4%) outpaced prestige houses (18.5%) over the five years. In Q2/26, prestige house prices were 0.9% lower after being 1.8% above the previous year. In the same quarter, prestige apartment prices rose by 0.3% after rising 2.8% in the past year. Annual residential price growth has averaged 5.1% over the past five years.
Source: McGrath Research
Prestige price outlook
+0%
Forecast for prestige prices Gold Coast prestige
Looking ahead, Gold Coast residential prestige prices are likely to be stable over the coming year. McGrath Research forecasts the Gold Coast prestige residential prices to remain steady at the end of 2026, followed by a 2% rise in 2027. Factors taken into consideration include the projection of a challenged economy and business environment, a solid performing stock market, anticipated pressure on the interest rate target, as sales volume remain lowered.
Source: McGrath Research
Gold Coast prestige, Q2/26
Houses
Apartments
Residential
Price change from a quarter ago
-0.9%
0.3%
-0.3%
Price change from a year ago
1.8%
2.8%
2.4% Source: McGrath Research
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Prestige residential rents Update
Prestige yield
Spring/26
+25 bps
Gross rental yield Gold Coast prestige
Gold Coast prestige gross rental yields have trended higher over the past year. Residential gross rental yields rose 4 bps in the Q2/26 quarter to be 4.64% across the Gold Coast prestige market, whilst being overall 25 bps more than a year ago. Gross rental yields are a good initial measure of comparing the return of a property investment before expenses are deducted. A yield greater than 3% tends to be considered most desirable for prestige properties located in capital cities, while below this, tends to indicate high property prices relative to rent, or low rental demand. Gross rental yields have averaged 4.20% over the past five years.
Source: McGrath Research
Vacancy
1.5%
Residential rental vacancy Gold Coast
Gold Coast residential rental vacancy was recorded at 1.5% in Q2/26, lifting 40 bps in the quarter and 40 bps over the past year, according to REIQ. 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. Over the past five years, rental vacancy has averaged 1.0% per year.
Source: McGrath Research, REIQ
Gold Coast prestige, Q2/26
Houses
Apartments
Residential
Gross rental yield
4.15%
5.03%
4.64%
Change from a quarter ago
+6 bps
+2 bps
+4 bps
Change from a year ago
+34 bps
+18 bps
+25 bps Source: McGrath Research
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Prestige residential rents Update
Prestige rents
Spring/26
+8.1%
Tracking prestige rents Gold Coast prestige
Residential rents along the Gold Coast trended above the weekly prestige rate recorded a year ago. Gold Coast prestige property rents rose by 8.1% in the year ending Q2/26, with a rise of 0.6% recorded in the last quarter. Looking back at rental growth over the five years since Q2/21, prestige apartments (78.6%) outpaced prestige houses (74.8%). Prestige apartment rents in Q2/26 were 0.9% above a quarter ago, and were 7.4% higher over the year. In the same quarter, prestige house rents rose by 0.3% after rising 9.1% over the past year. On average, in the past five years, prestige rents grew 12.3% per year.
Source: McGrath Research
Prestige rental outlook
+6%
Forecast for prestige rents Gold Coast prestige
The Gold Coast prestige residential market is continuing to experience upward pressure on weekly rents. Only a modest number of new homes built on the Gold Coast are available in the prestige rental pool, with many buyers opting to retain the accommodation as a second home within their portfolio. As a result, McGrath Research forecast there will remain upward pressure on rents of 6% at the end of 2026, with a further 3% rental growth likely in 2027.
Source: McGrath Research
Gold Coast prestige, Q2/26
Houses
Apartments
Residential
Rental change from a quarter ago
0.3%
0.9%
0.6%
Rental change from a year ago
9.1%
7.4%
8.1% Source: McGrath Research
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Definitions
Prestige property The most desirable and most expensive property in a given location, generally defined as the top 5% of each market, by value. Prestige sales Gold Coast prestige sale transactions hold a threshold of A$3 million. Super-prestige sales Gold Coast super-prestige sale transactions hold a threshold of A$5 million. UHNWI An ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI) is someone with a net worth of US$30 million or more.
Guiding you home
Michelle Ciesielski National Head of Research, McGrath Research www.mcgrath.com.au/research
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