Move over Ascot and Bulimba – there is a new wave of Brisbane suburbs shaping up as the latest blue-chip locales.
And they are drawing attention from aspirational homebuyers seeking prestige and lifestyle without the premium price tag.
Hot Property Buyers Agency Managing Director Zoran Solano said suburbs once considered middle-tier are now rivalling traditional blue-chip areas in both amenity and buyer demand.
“These are suburbs that have matured and are attracting aspirational property buyers,” Solano said.
“They’ve gone from post-war housing stock to vibrant, family-friendly communities with strong infrastructure, schools, and lifestyle appeal.
“Buyers are recognising the value and making strategic moves into these new blue-chip suburbs.”
Zoran Solano
Solano identified five suburbs where price gaps between emerging and established prestige areas nearby can exceed $1 million with buyer expectations also evolving.
“We’re seeing demand for four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes with a proper ensuite, a second living area, and high-quality finishes – especially in kitchens and bathrooms,” he said.
“There’s also a strong appetite for knockdown-rebuilds, where buyers can customise their homes to suit modern family life.”
And those emerging suburbs are Wavell Heights, Morningside, Holland Park, Kedron and Mitchelton.
Sam Butler and Craig Sidey with kids George 7, Tom 5 and Reggie 1 at their 10 Nind St, Wavell Heights home, which will go to auction on September 6. Adam Head
Solano said there are two distinct buyer groups emerging in these markets.
“You’ve got value seekers, who are moving out from traditional blue-chip suburbs to get more for their money,” he said.
“They’re often looking for five-bedroom, three-bathroom homes with double garages – properties that would cost $5 million or more in Hamilton but can be found for closer to $3 million in Wavell Heights.”
Emerging hotspots
He said the other buying group includes families upsizing from their first homes.
“They’re moving from townhouses or older three-bedroom homes into what they see as their ‘forever’ homes,” Solano said.
“It’s not just about future capital growth and strategic location selection, it’s about lifestyle, community, and long-term planning.
“As Brisbane’s property market continues to evolve, these emerging suburbs are offering a compelling alternative for savvy property buyers who want prestige without the postcode premium.”
11 Hicks Street, Mitchelton, is listed for offers over $1.05m
It comes after new research revealed Brisbane’s overvalued and undervalued suburbs.
SuburbData crunched the numbers to reveal that buyers could save over $400,000 just by shifting their search to a neighbouring suburb just streets away.
Buyers hoping to crack the inner-city market should look to Fortitude Valley, where the typical dwelling value is $500,000 thanks to the grunge suburb’s unit-heavy market.
The current median unit price in Fortitude Valley is $550,000 compared to $967,500 at Teneriffe, according to the latest REA Market Trends report.
Dwelling value refers to the median price across detached houses, townhouses, units and villas.
But it was the family-friendly suburb of McDowall that came in as the most undervalued suburb based on a number of key metrics – typical dwelling value compared to the Brisbane average, demand to supply ratio, price compared to neighbouring suburbs and its potential to see a ripple effect in value.
The research found that the typical dwelling value in McDowall was $937,000 – $9000 less than its neighbours.
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100 De Mille Street, McDowall, is going to auction
Norman Park was the second most undervalued suburb, with a typical home value of $1.1 million – $66,000 below that of its closest neighbours, which includes Seven Hills, Coorparoo and Camp Hill.
Also making the top three most undervalued suburbs was Mitchelton, where the typical home value is $884,000, $36,000 less than neighbouring suburbs.
Rounding out the top five most undervalued suburbs were Kedron and Wavell Heights.
Many of Brisbane’s most overvalued suburbs were premium lifestyle suburbs that neighboured locations still undergoing gentrification.
SuburbData director Jeremy Sheppard said those who purchased in “undervalued” suburbs could look forward to rapid capital growth as better value for money attracted more buyers and increased competition for property.
Overvalued suburbs offered a higher risk of new homeowners having to wait years to get growth on their investments, he said.
An area was deemed undervalued if prices were lower than in neighbouring areas – without a reason that could be explained by geographic differences, such as a lower lying location or a lack of coastal access.
Undervalued markets were also those where growth in real estate values had been lacklustre over a lengthy period, with this period coinciding with sharp rises in values across nearby markets.
Another critical ingredient in the local market was a recent shift in supply and demand, with buyer demand beginning to outweigh the supply of property sales, indicating rises in values were imminent.
RELATED: Brisbane’s overvalued and undervalued suburbs revealed
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