ONE of Australia’s leading property commentators has revealed the suburbs to invest in property in Queensland in 2025.
In the McGrath Report for 2025, released today, property guru and McGrath Estate Agents founder John McGrath has handpicked his top suburbs from across the state, including three from Greater Brisbane’s southwest, one from the Sunshine Coast, and one from the north.
Springwood, about 20km south of Brisbane’s CBD, is Mr McGrath’s top pick, with the suburb offering convenience, diverse housing options, and family-friendly attractions such as a 36ha conservation park “brimming with koalas and swamp wallabies”.
This four-bedroom house at 34 Wenlock Cres, Springwood, is on the market for offers over $939,000.
“Springwood is undergoing change as young professionals and families move in, and baby boomers move out,” Mr McGrath said.
RELATED: Buy here: John McGrath reveals top Qld suburb picks for 2023
The median house price in Springwood is now $820,000, up from $540,000 five years ago.
About 25 minutes away via the motorway is Forest Lake — Brisbane’s first master-planned community when built in the early 1990s.
“Centred around a man-made lake, properties here offer more bang for your buck than in the inner city — and people are starting to take notice,” Mr McGrath said.
This four-bedroom house at 29 Evergreen Place, Forest Lake, is on the market for offers over $950,000.
Further west is the suburb of North Ipswich, where the real estate guru says you can “nab a Queenslander at a fraction of the price you could expect to pay closer to town”.
“Located on the Bremer River, 40km west of the CBD, the historic suburb of North Ipswich is set to benefit from improved Olympics public transport and infrastructure, including the $30 million North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct.”
On the Sunshine Coast, Mr McGrath said it was Caloundra West’s time to shine after playing second fiddle to the neighbouring and “arguably more glamourous” seaside suburb of Caloundra.
This three-bedroom house at 45 Canning St, North Ipswich, is on the market for $650,000.
“This is now changing, as Sunshine Coast buyers take an interest in Caloundra West’s less expensive housing,” he said.
“What’s more, the suburb’s location close to the coast, and the new Stockland Aura development, makes it an appealing lifestyle choice.”
And Mr McGrath’s final pick for buyers looking to invest in property in the coming year is Townsville.
“Savvy sea changers are snapping up properties in this surprisingly cosmopolitan city, which offers hatted restaurants, a growing number of breweries and distilleries and gorgeous beaches,” he said.
This four-bedroom house at 57 Sunshine Cres, Caloundra West, is on the market for offers over $950,000.
Kings Beach is near Caloundra West.
“Prices are still on the lower side compared to many other parts of Queensland and gross rental yield is among the highest in Queensland, making Townsville a safe bet for both investors and owner occupiers.”
According to PropTrack, some of Greater Brisbane’s most affordable suburbs are in the southern Logan-Beaudesert and Ipswich regions.
“The west of Brisbane, particularly Ipswich, also features favourable affordability,” it stated in its recent affordability report.
This four-bedroom house at 52 Bluewattle Blvd, Rasmussen, Townsville, is on the market for offers over $559,000.
The Strand is a seaside foreshore in Townsville, popular with locals and tourists.
“Inner Ipswich and the hinterland both remain promising locations for first-home buyers looking to buy a house.”
Buyers can still secure a house for under $600,000 in 43 Ipswich suburbs, with prices ranging between $392,500 and $592,500.
Logan-Beaudesert has 10 suburbs with a median house value below $600,000.
In the McGrath Report for 2025, Mr McGrath said the age of 2 per cent to 3 per cent mortgage rates was over, and many buyers were responding to tighter credit by moving to more affordable areas and/or buying smaller homes.
“Meanwhile, one of our largest-ever population demographic has reached a stage of life when they’re making some major decisions.
“The Baby Boomers hold half of Australia’s private wealth, so when a lot of them are buying and selling at the same time, it has the power to move markets.”
English (US) · 