The markets with the most unencumbered property wealth have been revealed
Queensland’s mortgage-free homeowners are sitting on a $467.19 billion property goldmine, with new data revealing some unexpected pockets of unencumbered housing wealth across the state.
Yet as these debt-free enclaves grow, young buyers without access to the burgeoning bank of mum and dad are finding it even harder to break into markets dominated by equity-rich owners.
Analysis by SuburbTrends, drawn from Census and current market data, shows nearly half of all private dwellings in the Noosa Hinterland on the Sunshine Coast are owned outright—totalling an estimated $4.57b in debt-free real estate. That makes it Queensland’s top suburb for mortgage-free housing wealth.
This family home at Samford Valley offers a massive 2.1ha parcel in a quiet location
Brisbane’s Carindale follows, where half the homeowners also have no mortgage, amassing $4.1b in unencumbered value.
Rounding out the top 10 are three more Sunshine Coast locations — Buderim North, Golden Beach-Pelican Waters, and Maroochydore — alongside Bribie Island, Samford Valley, and The Hills District in the Moreton Bay region, plus Burleigh Waters and Hope Island on the Gold Coast.
Almost 60 per cent of Bribie Island homeowners are debt-free, amounting to $4.04b, while Burleigh Water’s combined unencumbered wealth among 43 per cent of owners is $2.97b.
Suburb Trends founder Kent Lardner.
SuburbTrends founder Kent Lardner said suburbs with high levels of mortgage-free homeownership tended to be “more stable, less vulnerable to interest rate changes, and experience lower housing turnover.”
“These areas often have older, long-term homeowners who have built significant equity, meaning they are less likely to sell, keeping supply tight,” Mr Lardner said.
Carindale agent Anna Dunne, of Place, said a noticeable shift was underway as many residents who bought into the suburb 30 years ago now look to downsize.
“It’s a very family-oriented area,” Ms Dunne said. “These older homeowners who moved here when they were young professionals will sell once their home becomes too big and might move to an apartment in Bulimba, but they’ll help their children buy in Carindale to keep a footprint here.”
Carina agent Anna Dunne with vendor Susan Briant
She noted the suburb’s appeal for its sought-after school catchments of Mansfield State High, Belmont State School, and City Point Christian College, along with large block sizes.
“I’d say 90 per cent are owner-occupied — we rarely come across any tenants,” Ms Dunne said.
Having lived in Carindale for 20 years, Ms Dunne described it as “just beautiful,” with “30 per cent green space,” a fully renovated golf course, and easy access to the Gateway.
“Being a bit further from the city, buyers get really good bang for their buck,” she said.
Mr Lardner also noted a rise in mortgage-free equity in regional areas this year.
3 Corella Ave, Burleigh Waters is for sale at offers above $2.35m
“A key shift is that outright property wealth is growing fastest in affordable, high-growth regional areas, not just premium lifestyle markets.
“Another trend is that outer Brisbane and semi-rural areas like the Southern Moreton Bay Islands are attracting mortgage-free downsizers and cash buyers, pushing up unencumbered wealth,” Mr Lardner said.
Belle Property Samford agent Georgie Haug said the Moreton Bay South region still presented an undervalued market, particularly in Samford Valley.
“Samford Valley offers a healthy lifestyle that appeals to retirees and downsizers, as well as younger families who want their children to grow up in this incredible village community,” Ms Haug said.
Samford Valley agent Georgie Haug
“A lot of my sellers have been in their homes for 25, 30 or even 50 years, while many of the buyers are committing to the area until they are forced out.”
She said opportunities still existed for younger buyers, provided they were prepared and proactive in a fast-moving market.
“You have to be organised as a buyer to get into the mid-$1m market because properties do move quickly when they come up,” Ms Haug said.
“At this price point you are looking at original homes which need a lick of paint or an updated kitchen or bathroom, but they are on some of the best blocks of land.”
The Bribie Island area is popular with downsizers and mortgage-free retirees
Extended families are also increasingly attracted to the area, Ms Haug noted, often seeking dual-living arrangements.
“For those retirees without a mortgage, you have so much room for the granny flat or a second dwelling for kids to live in while they get set up — or it can work the other way around.”
Townsville, Gladstone, and Rockhampton also saw big wealth gains, driven by strong house price growth and affordability.
In contrast, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast suburbs had steadied, reflecting limited supply and already high values.
6 Winchcombe Ct, Carindale is for sale via expressions of interest
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The top wealth hotspots effectively served as a collective bank of mum and dad, brimming with equity and ready to assist the next generation in cracking an overheated property market.
“Intergenerational wealth is now one of the biggest factors in determining homeownership, especially in high-equity suburbs. Family wealth can fund deposits, reduce borrowing costs, or provide loan guarantees, giving those with property-owning parents a major advantage,” Mr Lardner said.
Conversely, younger buyers without family support faced longer rental periods, higher mortgage debt, and greater financial pressure.
This five-bedroom, four-bathroom home is for sale is the cash-flush Noosa Hinterland
“Without property wealth to pass down, younger generations may struggle to enter the market at all, increasing the divide between those who inherit property wealth and those who remain locked out,” Mr Lardner said.
“If this trend continues, homeownership risks becoming a privilege rather than an achievable goal for all Australians.”
Possible solutions included incentivising downsizing to increase supply, expanding first-home buyer assistance, and planning reforms for higher-density housing in high-equity areas.
“Without intervention, property wealth may become increasingly inherited, limiting economic mobility for future generations.”
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