Fortitude Valley was highlighted as an investor hotspot where one-bedroom units sell for under $600,000
Future growth hotspots have been flagged amid intensified calls for Brisbane to build up, not out as the city falls well short of meeting housing demand.
With just 14 per cent of the city zoned for low-to-medium density housing despite projections showing more than 210,000 new homes will be needed by 2046, Brisbane City Council has proposed planning changes lifting current two or three storey limits to three storeys, and in some well-located pockets, up to four storeys.
Your Future Strategy managing director Gareth Croy said the shift could reshape where buyers and investors target next, as capacity is unlocked closer to transport and services.
This three-bedroom house on a 837 sqm block at 8 Alkoomie St, Wynnum sold for $2m
Mr Croy highlighted suburbs tipped to benefit from future infill development and continued demand for well-connected lifestyle locations.
Greater Brisbane hotspots included Wynnum and Manly, where large blocks and waterfront appeal continued to draw families and downsizers.
Fortitude Valley was also flagged as a high-growth inner-city fringe suburb benefiting from continued development and proximity to the CBD and major transport links.
On the Gold Coast, Mr Croy pinpointed Broadbeach as a proven investment hotspot with major development activity and strong rental demand, alongside Burleigh Waters and Burleigh Heads, where limited stock and infrastructure upgrades had helped underpin competition.
Broadbeach was among the Gold Coast picks, though you’ll need north of $1m to buy a unit with water views
“These are the types of areas where there’s significant opportunity,” he said.
Mr Croy said Brisbane was “at a crossroads”, warning the city’s low-density footprint risked locking more residents out of well-located neighbourhoods.
“Demand for housing and lifestyle in this city is extraordinary, but supply has not kept up, especially when it comes to well-connected urban living,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of opportunity for buyers in Brisbane but we need to build smart and that may mean building up, not just out.”
Council data shows housing delivery in low-to-medium density areas has lagged behind demand, with just 445 new homes built in those zones in 2023.
Gareth Croy of Your Future Strategy
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Mr Croy said Brisbane’s rapid price growth had also changed market sentiment, with buyers increasingly assuming the city’s best value had already passed.
“Brisbane prices are starting to approach and in some places surpass Sydney levels, and people are assuming the opportunity is already gone,” he said.
“Brisbane still has plenty of juice left, especially for investors who know where to look. The key is understanding how the market is shifting and having the right strategy behind the purchase.”
Bayside Manly is located about 30 minutes commute from the CBD
The push comes as Brisbane continues to add around 600 new residents every week, intensifying pressure on housing supply and affordability.
Thirty-two-year-old Bianca Skene saved for five years to get a deposit together to buy into her home city, racing to keep pace with rising values.
She has since settled on a 30-minute commute, buying a three-bedroom townhouse in Brisbane’s bayside for $840,000.
K&S Property Group consultant KC Yeung said investors were benefiting from an “extremely tight rental market” driven by the influx in both interestate and overseas migration.
KC Yeung of K&S Property Group. Image supplied.
“Brisbane is transforming from a domestic lifestyle city into an international destination city, and that fundamentally changes the property market,” Mr Yeung said.
“The fact that we are receiving so many new residents means rental demand will remain elevated because people almost always prefer to rent before they buy while they learn the area.
“For buyers, this creates strong long-term fundamentals, while sellers are seeing heightened competition from both local and interstate purchasers.”
The discussion will form part of the Thrive 2026 financial workshop, a one-day event on Saturday February 21 focused on property, wealth, investment and personal finance strategies.
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