Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast housing market's price growth outstripping Brisbane's: BIS Oxford Economics

Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast housing market's price growth outstripping Brisbane's: BIS Oxford Economics
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

House prices on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have generally moved in tandem with Brisbane.

The same drivers of population growth present in the capital are present in these regions, primarily net interstate migration inflows and, to a lesser extent, overseas migration, according to the latest report from BIS Oxford Economics.

However, both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have experienced significantly stronger price growth than Brisbane since 2012.

The economists noted that, "These markets experienced a larger post-mining boom downturn", this caused a slump in new dwelling construction in these markets creating significant under-supply, with vacancy rates of 1.1 per cent and 1.0 per cent recorded in each of these markets respectively in March quarter 2018.

However, after average median house price growth of 6.3 per cent per annum in the five years to June 2017 in Brisbane, price growth has now slowed to an estimated two per cent in 2017/18 based on economic data.

In contrast on the Sunshine Coast, median house price growth has averaged 5.4 per cent per annum, although the upturn has continued with an estimated seven per cent rise in 2017/18.

"The local economies are also relatively strong, driven by a growing tourism sector, and several large construction projects," noted the report.

"However, a number of projects on the Gold Coast are now complete after a push to have them finished by the Commonwealth Games."

Similarly, the next round of projects on the Sunshine Coast are not as large as recent work, such as the expansion of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The economists suggested that, in addition to these other factors supply has been rising in both markets and this will alleviate some of the price pressures in place.

The strong recent price growth relative to Brisbane will also make it less attractive for Brisbane seachangers to move north or south.

The report forecasts that, these factors are expected to slow price growth to a total six per cent in both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast over the three years to June 2021.

For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21".

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