Investor activity across Queensland is at its highest since 2007, with investor loans more than doubling in the past five years.
The PropTrack Westpack Investor Report 2026, released today, revealed investor loans in Queensland were up eight per cent from 2024 to 2025, with investors making up 41 per cent of lending in the state – double what was recorded in December, 2020.
Soaring rents and attractive yields have made investors hungry for property, with investor home loans growing faster than that of owner occupiers.
Queensland investors are at their highest levels of activity in 18 years, nearing record highs at 41 per cent of lending across the state.
The state’s median rent increased by six per cent annually over the past 12 months.
REA Group senior economist Angus Moore said this jump was only the latest in a series of concerning hikes.
“Since the start of 2020, weekly median advertised rents in Brisbane are up $270,” he said.
“Which is wild for six years – and even slightly more than that, regionally.”
REA Group senior economist Angus Moore said Brisbane’s investors were eager to capitalise on profits in a city where rent has risen by $270 in just six years.
The report revealed limited rental supply and rising prices contributed to 99 per cent of Brisbane investors making a profit from sales in the last three months of 2025.
Across all of Queensland, this number only goes down to 96 per cent, with renters all across the state feeling the heat of a tighter market.
Mr Moore said Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide continued to see similar levels of investor growth over the past six years.
“Each of them have had much tighter rental markets than in Sydney and Melbourne,” he said. “All three of them are seeing near record or record shares of investor loans, [and] incredibly strong price and rent growth in recent years. All of this leads to an incredibly profitable share of investor sales.”
In the last three months of 2025, 99 per cent of investors selling a Brisbane home made a profit on their property.
The Gold Coast and Ipswich recorded some of the best performances for investors last year, with Biggera Waters, North Booval and Lowood making up the top three suburbs for houses.
Biggera Waters had the largest annual median growth in housing by 34.7 per cent. Meanwhile, North Booval and Lowood recorded growth rates of 22.8 and 23 per cent across a typical 19 and 26 days on the market.
The report found price growth for houses in these regions was almost double the rate observed in regional Queensland or Brisbane.
Across Queensland, the Gold Coast and the Ipswich areas saw the greatest suburb performances for investments, with only one suburb from Brisbane making the top 10.
Units saw greater results for Brisbane’s inner areas, though rental returns were slightly lower than other national rates.
Mr Moore said while the Gold Coast had grown into a strong market of its own, Ipswich and Logan were stories of “relative affordability” in the greater Brisbane area.
“Ipswich, Logan have been relatively strong performers in Brisbane,” he said.
“Investors are [always] looking for less challenging areas, where affordability is doing a lot better.”
With a tight housing market keeping many homebuyers from snagging a property, investors are looking to grab homes in cheaper suburbs while they still can. Picture: Rob Williams
For units, Greater Brisbane fared better — with the Inner city suburbs of Spring Hill and Brisbane City making up spots one and three, while Thorneside in Brisbane’s east took the number 2 spot.
Median annual growth in Spring Hill reached 24.1 per cent with a rental yield of 4.9 per cent, while Thorneside managed to find a growth of 33.9 per cent and a yield of 4.2 per cent.
“Yields were higher than what was typically seen in the capital, while rental properties were leased within three weeks,” the report said.
Since a low point in early 2023, new home loans from investors had risen by 63 per cent nationally. Picture: iStock
“Capital gains on units in these areas were also significant. Brisbane and South-East Queensland recorded strong double digit price growth and high demand from renters compared to the national level.
“Despite rental returns being slightly below those seen nationally, many suburbs had strong results and are well-positioned for investment.”
The report found new investor loans had risen nationwide by 64 per cent from early 2023, its lowest point in recent years.
Overall, investors are making nearly their highest share of housing lending since 2017.
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