Brisbane’s best suburbs for real estate growth in 2026 have been revealed, with 17 hotspots across the state making the nation’s top 100.
This year’s annual realestate.com.au Hot 100 list has found the best suburbs set to grow across Australia, thanks to nominations from some of the country’s top property experts.
17 suburbs across Brisbane made it onto realestate.com.au’s Hot 100 list, with suburbs such as Herston spiking thanks to Olympics infrastructure. Picture: QLD Government.
REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said while Queensland’s acceleration had slowed from last year, strong price rises were thanks to a boom in infrastructure ahead of Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Queensland’s entries are split between inner Brisbane gentrification and the broader southeast Queensland growth story,” she said, “with relatively affordable housing, strong jobs growth and transport hubs and Olympic-tied infrastructure underpinning demand from owner-occupier buyers and investors.”
Herston, found in Brisbane’s inner-city, was the suburb most expected to grow thanks to increased attention for the future games.
REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said the state’s acceleration had slowed since 2024, but was still seeing strong growth thanks to strong buyer demand.
Stats for several of Queensland’s best suburbs for property growth in 2026, according to realestate.com.au.
The area is known for Victoria Park, where the site of a new 63,000-seat stadium will be built for the massive global event.
University of Adelaide’s Peter Koulizos said the stadium will be one of many things drawing attention to Herston in the coming years.
“Much of the new infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will be centred in and around Victoria Park, which will further improve the liveability and demand to live in this suburb,” he said.
Yeronga’s lifestyle and access to public transport marked it as a suburb near the city to watch out for.
Yeronga was another suburb close to the inner city placed on the list, nominated for its convenient location and infrastructure.
REBAA president Melinda Jennison said the area was a “standout”, thanks to public transport allowing residents to get wherever they like.
“The suburb is also set to benefit from the Cross River Rail project, with nearby upgrades to transport infrastructure expected to improve connectivity and drive long-term growth,” she said.
Petrie made the list because of the growing community surrounding the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus. Picture: David Clark
Brisbane’s North side saw four suburbs nominated, primarily for family appeal and investment prospects.
Bray Park’s affordability, along with its proximity to a wide range of schools, shops and green spaces, earned it a spot on the list. Griffin, a short distance from North Lakes, made the cut for similar reasons, thanks to a low vacancy rate and tight vacancy.
Petrie’s popularity has spiked thanks to the opening of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s campus in Moreton Bay, with its second phase of development concluding in 2024.
LJ Hooker’s Mathew Tiller said university life allowed Petrie to become its own hub.
“Owner‑occupiers like the stability and amenity, while investors like the steady tenant pool,” he said.
Four suburbs to the west of Brisbane were found to be rising markets, with Highfields being just a few kilometres from Toowoomba.
Wavell Heights saw two nominations from by two real estate experts. REBAA president Melinda Jennison and Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee both felt the area was in high demand for families thanks to its proximity to schools and shops, with gentrification leading to professional families and younger buyers moving in.
Four suburbs west of Brisbane made the top 100. Ripley has seen a 132 per cent rise in its median house price over the past decade, with new schools and services encouraging first homebuyers.
Moving further west, the nearby suburbs of Lowood and Plainland were both called out for their affordability and potential for investment.
Lowood had seen a spike in popularity after the Covid-19 pandemic drew buyers to the regions, while Plainland’s position near the Warrego Highway was helping it expand as a retail hub.
A development in Upper Coomera: one of two spots near the Gold Coast that managed to get on the list of rising locales.
Closer to Toowoomba, the suburb of Highfields scored a nomination for its spacious homes, rising population and short distance from several well-regarded schools.
Towards the Gold Coast, Logan Central and Upper Coomera were marked as the top suburbs to watch out for.
Logan Central was mostly nominated for its investment potential, the suburb seeing high rental yields, strong transport options and a 146 per cent home price growth in the past decade.
On the other hand, Upper Coomera saw a sharp rise in young families: looking for a lifestyle near the sea without the coastal prices, while being very close to the Gold Coast’s many theme parks.
Baringa’s reputation as a newer suburb meant people were flocking to it for cheaper modern homes, driving up demand in the area.
On the Sunshine Coast, Baringa saw a nomination for its amenities and appeal towards a family lifestyle, along with its growing population as a developing suburb.
Within the Aura community and only a short drive to Caloundra’s beach, the suburb was noted for its more affordable modern houses, with high migration levels set to drive up prices across the area.
Four regional suburbs north of the Sunshine Coast were nominated for the list, with a focus on larger communities at more affordable prices than in Brisbane.
“The regional picks tend to centre on larger regional hubs with more diversified economies supported by health, education, agriculture, logistics, and tourism,” Ms Creagh said.
Bundaberg’s spot on the top 17 was thanks to low vacancy rates and high demand.
Bundaberg was nominated for affordability, lifestyle and economic factors driving growth: such as its agriculture, fishing and tourism industries.
Meanwhile, Townsville was nominated for its lifestyle and growth, with high demand, strong rental yields and low vacancy rates leading to home prices shooting up.
Aside from its proximity to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, Mackay’s investment prospects were highlighted in its nomination. This was largely thanks to the area recording double-digit price growth across both houses and units over the past year.
Cairns had seen home price growth of 70 per cent over the last five years, and a rental vacancy rate below 1.5 per cent.
Finally, Cairns made the list for its home price growth of 70 per cent over the last five years.
Propertyology’s Simon Pressley said rising industries outside of tourism, along with a tight housing market, have led to new infrastructure being built for its growing population.
“Housing is very tight, including a rental vacancy rate which has been below 1.5% for more than five years,” he said.
“Government investment in pending stadium upgrades will create a legacy for Cairns hosting events for the 2032 Olympic Games.”
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