Every year around this time, I get the same question: “Is now a good time to buy on the Sunshine Coast?” The honest answer in 2026 is that the market hasn’t given buyers much relief, and the data suggests it’s unlikely to in the near term. Here’s what I’m seeing on the ground, and what it means for anyone looking to buy this year.
Where prices are right now
The Sunshine Coast’s median house price is now sitting at approximately $1.08 million — a figure that would have been almost unthinkable ten years ago when the region’s median was well under $500,000. Over the past five years, values have surged by around 70–76%, making this Queensland’s most expensive regional market and one of the top four nationally. Units have followed, averaging around $770,000, a 52% increase over five years.
The growth rate has moderated from the extraordinary pace of 2021–22, but the market hasn’t stalled. Forecasts from most credible analysts are pointing to 3–5% growth through 2026, with some more bullish projections sitting higher if interstate migration and tight supply conditions hold. Vacancy rates remain around 0.6%, which tells you everything you need to know about rental demand and the pressure on stock.
What’s driving demand
The headline driver is still population movement. The Sunshine Coast’s resident population has been growing consistently, and a meaningful proportion of that growth is coming from interstate particularly from Southeast Queensland, Sydney, and Melbourne. These aren’t people moving here for affordability; they’re moving here for lifestyle, and many are arriving with significant equity from southern markets.
Major infrastructure investment is layering onto this. The Sunshine Coast Airport expansion, the Maroochydore City Centre development, the Bruce Highway upgrades and continued investment in health and education infrastructure are making the region more functional and more attractive as a long term base, not just a lifestyle escape.
The growth pockets worth watching in 2026
Not all suburbs are equal, and part of what we do is identify where value is emerging before it’s obvious. A few areas I’m watching closely:
Palmview and Bokarina, These areas continue to benefit from proximity to the new city centre and improving road connections. Infrastructure is still catching up, but land supply is diminishing faster than most people realise.
Buderim, One of the most consistently strong performers on the Coast. Family-friendly, elevated, well-serviced, and increasingly popular with downsizers as well as younger families.
Nambour, Still significantly below the regional median, with genuine character housing stock and improving connectivity. This is the kind of suburb that gets “discovered” quickly once the value gap becomes obvious to more buyers.
Peregian Beach and Coolum, Lifestyle properties in this stretch are attracting growing interest from buyers priced out of Noosa but unwilling to compromise on beach access.
What auction data is telling us
Clearance rates on the Sunshine Coast have been firm, and the trend toward auction campaigns for well presented properties has continued. Competition at auction, particularly in the $700,000 to $1.2 million range, remains real. Buyers who aren’t prepared, who haven’t done their due diligence in advance, and who don’t have unconditional finance ready consistently miss out.
I’ve seen buyers lose properties they’ve been searching for, for months, because they weren’t ready to move decisively on the day. In a market with this level of competition, preparation is not optional.
What the data tells us about 2026
The conditions that have driven Sunshine Coast price growth, constrained supply, sustained interstate migration, limited new housing stock, and major infrastructure investment, remain in place across the region. Third-party forecasts from analysts are broadly pointing to continued growth in the 3–5% range through 2026, though some projections sit higher depending on migration flows and interest rate movements.
What I observe week to week is a market where well-presented, well-located properties attract genuine competition and move quickly. Buyers who have done their research on their target suburbs, understand the auction process, and have their due diligence prepared in advance are consistently better placed in that environment. Those who haven’t tend to find themselves reactive rather than ready.